A friend of mine spoke last year on a panel for Thrive, The Third Metric Conference in New York, hosted by media mogul Arianna Huffington.  We all know the first two metrics: money and power.  Arianna has started a worldwide movement that posits the importance of including a Third Metric if we hope to find true fulfillment in life, one that consists of four pillars: well being, wisdom, wonder, and giving. Time is said to be the most valuable asset that successful people claim.

In her commencement address at Smith University, Arianna dared the graduating class to redefine success in their own terms, something I have found imperative for my clients.  Success is different for everyone; millionaires will tell you it’s not all about money, celebrities will say it’s not just about fame, and many say it can be lonely in positions of power. Success that leads to lifetime fulfillment cannot be defined by anyone else; it must be defined by you.

As we change, so does our definition of success. Society is changing, the healthcare system is changing, our careers are changing, and we are changing. We are left with a choice to ride the wave of change like a determined surfer or to be crashed beneath the wave, as we try to climb over it.

Our best step forward toward fulfillment is to begin with a solid foundation. A personal or professional foundation involves identifying your specific needs, values, priorities, standards, and boundaries.  To build without these principles is like trying to build a house on sand; when the winds and the rains come, the building simply washes away.  With a solid foundation, however, the tides of change merely signal which direction to follow and when best to act. So as Arianna challenged the graduating class at Smith University, I challenge you to redefine success for yourself today, in your own terms, with your own vision, mission, and purpose toward a lifetime of fulfillment.