Rethinking Success: Are You Playing the Right Game?
“Success isn’t about winning someone else’s game; it’s about having the courage to play your own.”
We've all been there: scrolling through Instagram, seeing another designer's perfectly curated portfolio, or watching a freelance colleague land that dream client. The familiar sting of comparison hits, and suddenly our own achievements feel somehow... smaller.
It's a common experience in the creative industry. One moment you're feeling confident about your work, and the next, you're questioning everything because of someone else's highlight reel.
But what if we're measuring success by someone else's benchmark? What if the standards we're holding ourselves to aren't actually serving our true ambitions?
The Default Game We Play
In the creative industry, we often unconsciously adopt a universal definition of success.
It might look like:
- A certain income threshold
- Number of Instagram followers
- High-profile clients
- Speaking at major conferences
- Being featured in design publications
These metrics aren't inherently wrong. The problem arises when we accept them without questioning whether they align with our personal values and aspirations. We're playing a game, but have we ever stopped to ask if it's the right one?
Defining Your Own Game
Success is deeply personal.
A freelance illustrator might find more fulfilment in creating meaningful work for local charities than chasing corporate clients.
A graphic designer might prefer teaching and mentoring over building a personal brand.
Your version of "winning" might look radically different from what the industry tells you it should.
Consider these alternative metrics of success:
- Impact on your community
- Personal growth and skill development
- Work-life integration
- Creative satisfaction
- Relationships built
- Lives touched through your work
The Cost of Playing the Wrong Game
When we chase someone else's definition of success, we pay a price:
- Burnout from pursuing goals that don't energise us
- Creative blocks from forcing work that doesn't align with our values
- Impostor syndrome from comparing ourselves to others
- Missed opportunities that don't fit the "traditional" path
- Lost time that could be spent on meaningful pursuits
Most importantly, we risk reaching our "goals" only to find they don't bring the fulfilment we expected.
The creative industry loves its milestones and standards of “making it,” but real success is a personal thing. Fulfilment often comes when you ditch the universal scoreboard and set your own rules. Choose goals that genuinely matter to you, and play a game that aligns with your unique values and ambitions.
Reimagining Your Success Metrics
Start by asking yourself these questions:
- What would success look like if no one else would ever know about it?
- When do you feel most energised and fulfilled in your work?
- What kind of impact do you want your work to have?
- What would you create if money wasn't a factor?
- What parts of your current "success strategy" feel forced or unnatural?
Your answers might reveal that you're more interested in mastery than recognition or that you value creative freedom over financial maximisation. Perhaps your ideal success includes mentoring others or contributing to causes you care about.
Creating Your Own Playbook
Once you've identified what truly matters to you, it's time to create new rules for your game:
Redefine Your Metrics
Instead of tracking followers, track the number of meaningful connections you've made. Replace income goals with impact goals. Measure growth by how often you step outside your comfort zone rather than by client prestige.
Adjust Your Timeline
Your game might be longer or shorter than others. Some pursue quick wins, while others play the long game of building lasting impact. Neither is wrong—what matters is choosing the pace that serves your vision.
Choose Your Arena
Success looks rather different depending on where you're at, right?
A thriving design practice in a charming market town might be more suitable for you than the hectic pace of a London agency gig.
Perhaps you fancy carving out a proper niche working on passion projects—it might bring you far more joy than chasing after bigger fish, even if they do pay better.
The Courage to Play Your Game
It takes bravery to step away from conventional measures of success. You might face questioning from peers or doubt from family. The industry might not understand or validate your choices. But remember: the most innovative and fulfilled creatives often carved their own paths.
Success isn't about winning someone else's game; it's about having the courage to play your own. When you align your work with your values and define success on your terms, you're more likely to find lasting fulfilment and create a truly meaningful impact.
The next time you feel that familiar pull of comparison or doubt, ask yourself, "Am I playing the right game?" The answer might lead you to rewrite the rules in a way that serves not just your career but your whole life.
Remember, there's no universal scoreboard in creative work. The only metrics that truly matter are the ones that align with your values and vision. So, what game will you choose to play?
Thanks for reading, and until next time, remember that success is yours to define. Let go of the urge to measure yourself against someone else’s path, and trust in the game you’re choosing to play. Your journey is unique, and the world needs what only you can bring.
Wishing you clarity, courage, and confidence.
—Gary
