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How to Define Success
Honor your values, invest in yourself and don’t forget your ‘happy circle,’ this business professor advises
By , Lecturer in Strategy and Innovation, Boston University
As the Class of 2025 graduates into an uncertain and , they face a crucial question: What does it mean to be successful?
Is it better to take a job that pays more, or one that’s more prestigious? Should you prioritize advancement, relationship building, community impact or even the opportunity to live somewhere new? Sorting through these questions can feel overwhelming.
a professor who spends a lot of time mentoring students and alumni in Generation Z — those . As part of this effort, I’ve surveyed about 300 former undergraduate students and spoken at length with about 50 of them.
Through these conversations, I’ve watched them wrestle with the classic conflicts of young adulthood — such as having to balance external rewards like money against internal motivations like wanting to be of service.
I recently revisited their stories and reflections, and I compiled the most enduring insights to offer to the next generation of graduates.
