When I was 16, I thought by the time I turned 25 I’d be a real adult. It seemed so old. But then I turned 25, and I was definitely not old and still didn’t feel like an adult. It feels like that with success sometimes. When I went out on my own and started a business, I thought for sure if I could make it to year five, the benchmark that 50% of businesses fail to reach, I would have things figured out. But when I got there, I realized I had a whole new set of challenges to navigate. At the same time, some might have viewed all I had accomplished as a huge feat, maybe even something to aim for. Are we ever satisfied?
The thing about success and hitting milestones is that, for some, it’s a never-ending race against ourselves.By the time you reach one goal, you’re already going for your next. We barely take time to bask in the glow of our hard work. Is that healthy? Success and wellness — two things that seem hard to have at once. Another thing that you don’t often find, if you dig deep enough, is success without failure.
Gasp! I said the F word. Failure — and in the success & wellness issue of all things! As you flip through this issue, it’s important to remember that the people featured in these pages didn’t get here without some pitfalls, setbacks, rough days, and maybe even rough years. No matter where you are in your journey and what aspirations you have for your life, remember that even when you feel like you’ve failed, you’ve really only learned, and that is worth it.
Cheer for your friends. Celebrate their accomplishments. And if you don’t see someone you know in this issue, find someone to admire. I have always believed that the people you surround yourself with directly correlate to your happiness, success, and well-being. It can work for or against you, and I’ve been in both scenarios. Recognizing those who inspire you is an excellent way to identify relationships to foster.
The new year is a fresh start — a time to assess what’s working for you and what’s not. Where do you want to be in 12 months? Who do you want to be? As we approach new opportunities, keep in mind that every time we say yes, we are saying no to something else. Be selective on who and how you spend your time, and as they say: If you are the smartest person in the room, then you are in the wrong room.

Cheers to success and wellness in 2022,

Missy Creed McFerron, Publisher
(she/her/hers)