Last week, I learned a lesson about success as I experienced the frustrating moment of waiting endlessly for a car from a ride app. After a long wait, multiple drivers cancelled, leaving me feeling stressed. Eventually, I was picked up by a wonderful driver. She was calm and welcoming, asking how I was. I vented about the cancellations, and she explained that drivers often avoid long journeys with low fares, which was the case that day. She told me that if I had chosen a different app with higher fares, I might have had better luck securing a ride, as many drivers won’t earn much after factoring in time and fuel. I asked her why she accepted the job when others hadn’t. Her reply was simple: “I’m just happy to be driving.”
Stuck in London’s usual traffic, we continued talking. Her positivity struck me. I find driving in London to be tedious and slow, especially across town. To me, it feels more like a punishment than a privilege. She then explained, “Where I come from, women aren’t allowed to drive. Being on the road feels like freedom.” Suddenly, my stress dissipated. She continued, “I’ve always wanted to drive and now, here I am.”
At this point, my lateness seemed trivial. In that moment, she embodied success—not in the typical sense of wealth or prestige, but in the realisation of a personal dream. As a woman, I felt proud for her. She had achieved something powerful, and showcased how deeply individual our definitions of success really are.
Defining Success
Too often, success is viewed through a narrow lens: financial achievement, promotions, and recognition. The dictionary defines success as the accomplishment of a goal or purpose, yet we often allow external influences to shape what that should look like. The driver’s story highlighted how success is far more personal, shaped by our own values and experiences. Her version looked nothing like mine, hers was about the freedom to drive. This made me question: are we truly chasing our own definition of success, or someone else’s?
True success, I realised, isn’t about fitting into society’s idea of achievement. It’s about purpose.
In the Workplace
In any organisation, success operates on two levels: the business’s success and that of individuals within it. Business success is easier to measure, meeting targets and achieving goals. But individual success is much more nuanced. A successful team isn’t just one that hits its numbers; it’s one where each person feels that their unique goals and purposes are understood and valued.
Leaders often focus on the big picture, but real progress happens when they take the time to understand what motivates each individual. No two people truly define success the same way, and workplaces are at their best when they support that diversity of ambition.
Why Individual Success Matters
The significance of individual success became clear to me during that car ride. My driver, though financially she wasn’t gaining much from the journey, was content. Her personal sense of accomplishment in simply driving made her enthusiastic about her job, which in turn impacted my experience as a customer. The booking app benefited because of her attitude.
This story exemplifies why personal success is so critical: when people feel they are fulfilling their own goals, their performance excels. They bring that sense of purpose into their work, benefiting not only themselves but also the organisation.
What Workplaces Can Learn
Understanding and supporting individuals can drive overall business success. My driver’s goal wasn’t to work for a ride-hailing app; her dream was simply to be able to drive. That passion carried her through the less appealing parts of the job.
By creating an environment where people feel safe to express their true goals, leaders can better align individual motivations with business needs. Open, empathetic conversations, free from judgement, can reveal what truly excites people and drives their best work. It might not always be the job title or the day-to-day tasks that fulfil them, but when you help someone connect with their personal definition of success, they’re more likely to invest in the success of the business.
When workplaces create a culture where personal success and business success are aligned, employees are more engaged, motivated, and committed to achieving results.
It’s not just about the workplace. When we achieve our goals, we feel better, and this positivity extends to those around us – in the car that day my stress was alleviated, my mind was shifted, and my energy became more positive as a result of that wonderful driver.
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