You Will Get Lost: 4 Questions to Lead You Back to Your Path of Success
If entrepreneurship and the journey back to my most authentic self have taught me anything, it’s that getting lost is a part of the process. As much as I wish the path to our own version of success was straight and clear, it’s just not.
When I realized I was sacrificing my health and well-being for a job that didn’t suit me, I worked up the courage to quit. After finally recognizing that I wasn’t using my unique gifts and making the impact I knew I could make, I committed to living authentically and finding my own version of success.
You Will Get Lost: 4 Questions to Lead You Back to Your Path of Success
Success? I don’t know what that word means. I’m happy. But success, that goes back to what in somebody’s eyes success means. For me, success is inner peace. That’s a good day for me.-- Denzel Washington (more quotes)
But here’s the thing: I had lived for so long as a muted version of myself, that I almost forgot who I really was, and what my unique gifts were. I had been striving for someone else’s version of success for so long, that I almost forgot what I really wanted in life.
So when I ventured into entrepreneurship, I got lost. Very lost.
As I learned how to run a business, I got caught up trying to emulate others who had come before me. I clung to their ideas and systems, hoping they would bring me success too.
When I wandered down those paths, I lost sight of where I had come from. Inevitably, I always reached a point where I’d look up and feel lost. I’d feel disconnected from myself and stuck, not knowing where to go next.
READ: How to Find Your Version of Success, and Start Living It
After getting lost in this way so many times, I started to realize that these periods of straying from my path were opportunities to come back to myself. I started to use this disconnected feeling as an indicator of when to tune in and listen.
And when I tuned in to myself, I would always find my way back to my authentic path and my own version of success.
If you’re feeling lost on your journey to authentic success, ask yourself these questions to find your way again:
1. In what ways am I trying to be like somebody else?
One of the biggest creativity killers is comparison. Trying to live, work, or run a business like somebody else is the quickest way to detour off your authentic path. Getting honest about the ways you’re attempting to be like someone else is a great way to highlight the areas in which you could focus on yourself instead.
2. What does my version of success feel like?
Define success for yourself. Examine your family’s and community’s definitions of success, and then decide for yourself. Decide how you want to feel when you’re successful, and take steps to feel that way now.
READ: How to Define Success (and Why Your Success Depends On It)
My version of success feels like freedom, connection, and resonance. When areas of my business consistently don’t make me feel these ways, I know I’m likely not on my path to success.
3. What’s my ideal way to work?
When I’m stuck, lost, or tired, I take an honest look at how I’ve been working. “Am I working in ways that I like to work? Or am I working in ways that I think I should work?” Comparison can come into play again here.
READ: How to Boost YOUR Producitvity and Stop Comparing Yourself to Others
I value flexibility, variation, and freedom, so when I find myself working 10 hour days from my home office, without days off, I know that I’m off course.
3. What comes so easily to me, I don’t even consider charging for it?
Think about the things that you love doing. The things that come so naturally to you, almost no effort is required. For me, this is writing. I’ve never considered myself a writer, but I love it. The parts of my business that showcase my writing are my favorite parts; coincidentally, they’re also the parts that, up until a few months ago, I offered for free.
READ: Finding Your Why: How to Discover Your Professional Purpose
Only recently did I realize that writing about my authentic personal experience was so powerful. It requires relatively much less effort than many other things I do, and I enjoy it so much that it didn’t even occur to me to explore it as a possible revenue source for my business.
Find the thing that makes you think, “I couldn’t charge for that, I love doing that,” and explore it as much as possible. In this thing, you’ll find your unique gift that the world needs, and aligning with that will always keep you on your path to success.
Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.