Am I making enough money to sustain my life?
I don’t care if that number is impressive to anyone else or if it’s growing every year. All that matters to me is: am I making my version of enough to sustain my life and pay for and save for the things that shape a simple, meaningful, and joyful life to me?
Am I doing meaningful work with humans that I enjoy working with?
Does my work feel purposeful? Am I building working relationships that feel joyful and fulfilling? Am I proud of the work that I do in the world?
Do I feel free to experiment, play, and explore in my work?
Do I feel like I can follow my rabbit holes, explore my curiosities, and take risks and experiment along the way? I never want to feel stuck in just one way of doing things in my business but instead feel free to experiment a little whenever my curiosity guides me to.
Am I working no more than around 10 hours each week?
This is my enough number when it comes to the amount of hours it feels sustainable for me to work each week as a chronically ill working parent. Reshaping my business to be able to make my enough number but now by working half of the amount of hours that I used to work a few years ago is one of the things that I’m most proud that I’ve been able to make possible for myself in my work.
Do I have the flexibility to take a sick day when needed?
Just a few years ago I wouldn’t give myself permission to take sick days in my business if it meant that it would inconvenience someone else to do so. I worked through nasty chest infections and severe morning sickness just so that I wouldn’t let anyone else down, and because my schedule didn’t have enough breathing room to do so without causing future me stress too. These days I can take a sick day without fearing that everything will fall apart if I do - I have the space I need to move my workload around and the self-love now to know that I’m worthy of putting my needs on the table too.
Am I able to have mini adventures with my husband and son throughout the week?
Can I sign off early for the day so that we can go for an adventure to the park? And am I able to work very part time hours each week so that I can enjoy this season of life together as a family with our 3 year old along for the adventure? This is something that I’m so damn grateful that I’m able to say yes to each week in my work.
Am I spending more of my life minutes reading each week than I am in my inbox?
I’m often happiest curled up with a good book lost in the world the author has brought to life. I want to spend more of my life reading, going for walks, baking with my son than I do in my inbox each week - something I can happily say is true in my business.
Can I take a week off to rest, recharge, or go on an adventure with ease?
Before having my son in 2020 I would build my entire year around the trips I wanted to take and the adventures I wanted to go on and I have always been so grateful for the freedom my business has made possible for me to do so. These days I travel less due to my health but I’m still so grateful to be able to take regular time off to rest, recharge, and go on the occasional trip away too.
Do I feel like I can breathe when I look at my schedule and to-do list?
Does my workload feel more than managable? Does my schedule no longer give me anxiety when I look at what’s coming up for me with my work? Do I feel like I can breathe my way through my workload each week instead of panicking that I won’t be able to get everything done? This is what matters most to me.
Do I feel fulfilled and energised by my work?
More than anything, does my business feel like home? Do I feel like I can show up as my whole self? Do I have relationships in my business that feel nourishing and supportive? Do I feel inspired and energised by my ideas? Being able to say yes to all of these is what truly brings me joy.
In a noisy world of entrepreneurship that is often encouraging us to dream bigger and chase bigger goals defining success for myself has been how I’ve stayed in my own lane and stayed true to myself every step of the way over this past decade of self employed.
What are the questions you want to ask yourself when it comes to defining success in your small business? Feel free to use any of mine if they resonate with you too ✨
Until next time,
Jen
I loved all of these questions and think they will be a helpful journalling prompt for checking in with myself periodically throughout the year. Thank you for sharing them, Jen!