Dear Designer,

Does the word “success” make you cringe too?

It does for me a little because of everything that’s associated with it: A certain type of job, an amount of money, having status, stuff, _______ (fill in the blank).

But it’s for that very reason I talk about it so much. Because I believe it to be totally different.

Success isn’t something you achieve.

It’s not a destination you reach.

I wish someone had told me this 10+ years ago.

Success is about LIVING. It’s about the freedom and ability to live your life.

To me, that looks like freedom to spend time and energy on the things that matter most to me: investing in relationships, being generous and creative, and helping others. Any wealth, status, and/or recognition that comes along with it is just a bonus.

That’s what Grace Kim Portland is about. It’s about supporting designers with resources to build a career that supports a life worth living so that you can take control of your career, not the other way around.

2 Tips for Success:

1. Unlearn it – Think of what you used to know to be “success.” Then throw it out.
2. Define it – Success isn’t a one-size-fits-all definition. Not only do you get to define what it looks like for you, it’s important that you do. Otherwise, you will always feel like you’ve fallen short or are behind.

Success doesn’t need to be a negative word that makes you feel like you’re not good enough. What it needs is to be thought of differently—in a way that excites and empowers you instead of brings you down.

Here’s to living.