Rethink Success: Define It For Yourself, Measure What Matters And Lead With It
- Jaide Massin
- Jun 30
- 3 min read
Ask any high performer at the top of their game what success looks like, and you’ll usually hear a version of this: growth, impact, influence, performance. But behind closed doors—when the KPIs are hit, the board is satisfied and the calendar is full—many leaders quietly ask themselves, “Is this it?”
That question doesn’t mean you’re losing your edge. It means you’re evolving.
As an executive coach to leaders at companies like Google, Microsoft, Citi and Amazon, I’ve seen the pattern: people who’ve spent years mastering business performance but haven’t updated what personal success looks like since their early 30s. They’ve optimized for achievement—but not always fulfillment.
Here’s the truth: If you don’t define success for yourself, someone else will. And often, they’ll get it wrong.
Below are four strategies to help you reclaim your definition of success, measure it with precision, communicate it with confidence and use it to lead and grow.
1. Start With What Actually Matters—To You
Forget the press release version. Ask yourself:
• What challenges do I genuinely enjoy solving?
• Where do I bring my highest value?
• What outcomes matter to me beyond profit or position?
If your success metrics haven’t shifted in a decade, it’s time for a recalibration. Maybe success now means building a high-trust culture. Maybe it’s legacy, time freedom or the ability to grow leaders under you.
Own it—even if it’s not what people expect. Especially then.
2. Measure Success Like A Strategist
Top executives wouldn’t run a business without clear performance indicators. So, why run your life without them?
Start identifying personal performance metrics like:
• How much time you spend on strategic work vs. reactivity
• The depth and ROI of your key relationships
• Quality of decision-making under pressure
• Your team’s ability to execute independently
• Your personal energy or focus at peak hours
These are measurable. And they’re far more telling than just revenue or headcount.
3. Learn To Articulate Your Value—Without Sounding Like A Pitch
Whether you're talking to a board, your CEO or your direct reports, communicating success isn’t about bravado—it’s about clarity.
Frame your value with intent:
• “Here’s how I define success this quarter: deepening cross-functional influence to accelerate execution.”
• “I’ve shifted my focus to building a second layer of leadership. My success metric isn’t just performance—it’s how quickly my team can move without me.”
This shows confidence, not ego. It demonstrates ownership, alignment and vision. The right people notice.
4. Use Your Metrics To Lead Better Conversations
Once you’ve redefined success for yourself, help others do the same.
Ask your team:
• What does winning look like for you right now?
• What metrics make you feel like you’re operating at your best—not just your busiest?
This is how you elevate performance conversations beyond check-ins and quotas. You create a leadership culture where results matter and people stay engaged long-term.
Final Thought: Success Is Seasonal—Adjust Accordingly
The success metrics that drove you to the top aren’t always the ones that will keep you fulfilled—or effective—once you’re there.
The most effective leaders I know review their personal success criteria like they review their business goals: regularly, objectively and without apology.
Don’t just chase wins. Define them, track them, talk about them—and lead from them.
Jaide Massin, Author & Exec. Coach, is founder of Soar Executive Coaching helping leaders grow with clarity, courage, and impact. Read Jaide Massin's full Forbes Coaches Council executive profile here.
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