Hitch that Wagon: Why Supporting Others Doesn't Diminish Us

Success often feels like a race.

Who crossed the finish line first?

Whose name is top-billed?

How many engagements did that post get?

Did you beat last month’s numbers?

We’re taught to measure success by comparison—against people who appear to have achieved more, earned more, or gained more recognition.

But what if success isn’t a single destination or a universal standard?

What if it’s a personal journey—one that sometimes asks us to hitch our wagon to someone else’s momentum, lift alongside them, and redefine what “winning” even looks like?

And honestly—who am I to tell someone their definition of success is wrong? Or to accept someone else’s definition as the only valid one?

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." — Winston Churchill

Defining Your Own Success

Success means different things to different people. For some, it’s financial stability. For others, it’s creative fulfillment, strong relationships, personal growth—or peace.

The real work is defining success on your terms instead of inheriting someone else’s.

I’ve always called this knowing your professional love language. For me, it’s flexibility, real work–life balance, the ability to afford the joys I care about—and the time to actually enjoy them—while feeling like I’m contributing something meaningful.

That clarity matters.

Set goals that align with your values, not just external markers like titles or income. Don’t let anyone convince you that your goals are “less than” because they don’t fit a traditional mold.

And celebrate small wins. Long-term goals are important, but they shouldn’t steal the joy of progress. I still remember being thrilled just to get a “maybe” from Catherine Gildiner about joining the podcast. Now that episode exists—something I never imagined would.

Success isn’t “up” or “done.”

It’s a path. Constant. Evolving.

We tend to think of success as up, or final - in reality, it's a constant path.

For those of us who focus on very specific industries often are fighting against definitions of success that are set for us, whether that be healthcare, banking, art, education, media, etc. It may be hard, but if those goals don't align with us as individuals, it's important that we consider ways that we can push back against the status quo that has been placed upon us.

The Competition and Comparison Olympics

Comparison is seductive—and incomplete.

"Comparison is the thief of all joy." - Theodore Roosevelt

We’re all shaped by different environments, opportunities, identities, and seasons of life. When we compare our full story to someone else’s highlight reel, we miss the complexity—and the humanity.

Success is not a zero-sum game. Someone else’s progress does not erase yours.

Sometimes the better question isn’t How do I beat this? but Could this be better together?

What happens when you collaborate instead of compete—when you hitch your wagon to a shared goal instead of splitting off alone?

Row your boat together. Progress comes from moving in the same direction—not watching how far ahead or behind someone else is.

The Power of Contributing to Others’ Success

Success gets richer when it’s shared.

Collaboration builds stronger communities.

Mentoring deepens your own understanding.

Celebrating others’ wins shifts the mindset from scarcity to connection.

Next month, Motivation N’at is launching a set of mini-episodes focused on those murky professional moments—the ones we don’t talk about enough. The idea didn’t come from me alone. It came from a conversation with a peer who helped me reframe an experience I’d written about. My immediate thought was: Why isn’t this its own podcast?

In the past, I might’ve worried about whose idea it was or whether another project could outshine my own. Now? I’m genuinely excited to elevate someone with the exact expertise these conversations need. It's true, other's success won't diminish our own, especially if we're hands on with it.

Keep an eye out for Get a Grip - with Dr. Gauri.

Embracing the Idea of Being in Beta

If this is resonating, there’s one more concept to hold onto: being in beta.

It’s the idea that you are always a work in progress. Joe Babarsky - Director, Not Impossible Institute explains this beautifully on the upcoming Motivation N'at episode and you won't want to miss it.

This mindset encourages:

• Staying flexible and open to change

• Viewing mistakes as information, not failure

• Letting growth replace perfection

  
  

Some failures don’t stop us—they redirect us. They help us see where our impact actually belongs.

Practical Steps to Redefine Success and Support Others

• Write down what success means to you today—and revisit it often

• Support one person this week in a tangible way

• Reflect on how your role contributes to something larger

• Practice gratitude for both your progress and others’

• Tune into the upcoming podcast episodes for deeper tools and perspective

Success isn’t a competition or a finish line. It’s a personal, evolving journey—one that becomes more meaningful when shared.

If this resonated, here’s your next step:

👉 Share this with someone whose definition of success you admire

👉 And listen to the next Motivation N’at episode when it drops—because these conversations are just getting started.