What is Success & How Can You Achieve It?

By Sammy Warrayat

Millennials sometimes get a bad rep, but our generation has faced serious social and economic hurdles. We’ve seen the rise of technology and social media, but we weren't born into it. In many ways, we’re a hybrid generation caught between those who came before and those who will come after us, but without some of the benefits! That’s not to say we don't have potential. There are some amazing people in our generation who are making waves and changing the world. My dream is to inform, empower, and inspire my fellow millennials to get out into the world and live their most successful lives. 

But what exactly is success? In the first episode of The Successful Millennials Podcast, I introduce myself and my definition of success, outlining five key categories for you to focus on when identifying your life goals and setting yourself up to live your best life.

Money 

The big M. What does financial success look like? I define it as the ability to be financially independent enough to choose what you do. Money makes the world go round, but it’s not the end-all be-all when it comes to achieving success. Data shows that Americans cite financial stress as the biggest stressor in their lives, and my work in financial coaching has helped other millennials learn to budget and pay off over $200K in personal debt. I’ve been able to pay off my debt and live debt free for the majority of my working career, while still spending on the things I love doing, like traveling the world.

Happiness 

True happiness is knowing what makes you happy and giving it to yourself. Successful people don’t depend on anyone else to provide their happiness. The trick with this one is that it isn’t a fleeting emotion, happiness is something that you feel for the majority of the time and radiates to others.

Health 

Health is possibly the most important key to success. We’ve all heard the phrase "look good, feel good," and physical health is certainly important. But how about "feel good, do good?" From emotional intelligence to self-compassion, your mental health is vital. Take good care of Number One (your mind) and success is sure to follow.

I use a mixture of working out, hiking, and playing basketball to stay in active shape and have the vitality and energy needed to be successful. Everyone has a different body type. For me, I want a strong physique, so I lift weights 5 times a week. Some people prefer building endurance, so they do more cardio. Whatever it is, success in the physical health sphere is excelling in whatever body you strive for. I use morning hikes and reflections as well as night drives with no music to clear my headspace and unwind, which I’ve found to be amazing for my mental health and de-stress after a long day.

Career/Purpose

It’s not enough to just have money; you have to earn it and love what you do. Humans are wired to work, and your career is your “why” and your purpose. That’s where this podcast comes into play for me. I’ve been able to be financially independent to the extent of leaving my well-paying corporate job in order to do something more fulfilling and purposeful to me. Everyone has something they’ve always wanted to do in their lives, but for some reason (parental influence, social judgement, lack of perceived money to be made, etc.) pushed them aside. Build your financial success in the Money category and then step into your purpose and find a way to make money off it, that is the most rewarding thing you can do in your professional career.

Relationships

Family, friends, or lovers — your ability to maintain healthy relationships and your openness to loving and being loved are a huge driver for success. Humans are social creatures, we’ve heard that saying a million times. Even if you had all the money you need, worked in a career you love, and were mentally and physically healthy, it’s tough to be happy if you’re alone. You would suffer from imposter syndrome, loneliness, and more. You might even want to trade all that “success” for a loved one, friends, and/or family.

So there we have our five categories of success. Find a way to fit all of these pieces together and you’ve got yourself the keys to ultimate success. Sounds great, right? But there’s simply no way to rush it. You need to set yourself a goal and a vision, and the Successful Millennials Podcast is here to help. Future episodes will feature more of a deep dive into each of these topics and interviews with other millennials doing great things. But in Episode 1, I walk you through the basics of these five key categories and how to start setting your personal goals for success. I hope you’ll tune in. 

Were you born in the years 1990-1997? Are you ready to change your life for the better? The Successful Millennials Podcast is here to help you discover the keys to success and guide you to become the very best version of yourself. Check it out on Spotify, Apple, and Google Podcasts.

To connect:

IG: @financezilla

Or visit www.financezilla.net to get a FREE consultation meeting to crush your financial and life goals.

Meet the Writer

Sammy is an avid learning enthusiast, who loves reading, hiking, sports, and traveling. Raised in Atlanta, GA and currently living around wherever the world takes him, his focus on financial freedom has been crucial to his outlook on life. He started this podcast in order to help spread positivity and actionable tips to get closer to achieving success in the 5 major categories: Happiness, Career/Purpose, Money, Physical/Mental Health, Relationships (Intimate, Familial, and Social).