Success Means Being Personal

Thanks for taking a few minutes to read this, I respect your time and of course, everyone wants success. My realization on how being personal has contributed to my success became evident more recently, and I hope this connects with you.

Success Means Being Personal by Sean Ackerman

A Chameleons Journey

As most of my listeners and readers know (but I’ll summarize it quickly to make it less painful), I started blogging and podcasting after a life changing event (Hurricane plus Flood equals Homelessness multiplied by Emergency Room Visit for Stress). My goals were pretty simple I wanted to leave an example and legacy for my children to be proud of, and a mark on the world helping others. In helping others, I created a business that was built from the ground up by me, inspired by the things that I believed in.

Along the path I saw the successes of others, and I got lost, I confused THEIR success for the success that I wanted to achieve. I followed those whose only real goal was to make a quick buck, instead of making a longstanding impact.

I even benefited from this financially, but I was not aligned. I lacked the heart and passion in the projects I was working on and in turn, ran out of gas.

I lacked the heart and passion in the projects I was working on and in turn, ran out of gas.

Enjoyment To Insanity

Initially with both the podcast and writing I was pouring an extra 25-30 hours a week into a work week that was already being driven with a corporate ful time role. I was surprised by my energy levels. Before I started doing this stuff, I realized I had been squandering the precious gift of time. Now I was at the other end of the spectrum. I had replaced my stress filled time with a fulfilling side.

As the time progressed, I found the tasks involved with getting my content out there turned into work. Suddenly, like a ton of corporate deliverable due dates, I was back in the same stress filled place, except this time it was a prison of my making. I had defined insanity (doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result).

Episodes were late. Time lagged between articles and posts. My sense of failure was mounting, and internal disappointment turned into disdain for the work.

Why? because I followed others expectations of success. I wasn’t living up to a six figure income monthly, or ten million shares on an article or 10,000 downloads per episode.

I was looking in the wrong place.

Why? because I followed others expectations of success.

Success Is Bottled Inside Me

Like reaching a boiling point, I stopped recently to reflect, and looked at what I had accomplished in the time I made a decision to take action.

I created a podcast that has reached almost 150 episodes and gained a global audience (me the small time Hudson Valley, NY guy)

I created a coaching business helping leaders find direction, balance, and sustainable growth

I’m writing for multiple outlets with audiences in the millions

I’ve achieved press credentials and met amazing people in the entrepreneurial and business, music, film and comics industries.

Currently, I’ve contributed for an upcoming book in which I share the writer’s titles with my daughters, Ally and Cassie (check it out here Father Daughter Conversations and thank you Jason Pockrandt for the opportunity)

Father Daughter Conversations – Jason Pockrandt

I found that when I reflected on these things, I was alive when I was doing something related to being a father, embracing my longstanding interests and helping others achieve success. That is finally the intersection that I needed to move forward.

I needed to stop my focus on success, and instead, focus on what makes me happy, that’s what nurtures my energy levels. Recently I started doing more with entertainment writing, and I enjoy this and see where I can put my learned skills to use.

My podcast, while I previously focused on business leaders from all over the world and their stories, I realize that I enjoy a more local focus. I like face to face interactions as much as remote ones. In the coming months, the show will take a more intimate approach. I’ll be getting to know those guests and their impact where I live.

My challenge to you it to look inside your activities, whether work or personal and see where your successes lie. If you’re not achieving what you think is success, perhaps it’s because you’ve not connected with the action.