As those of you who joined in the fun at Clubhouse last week know, I’m again collaborating with three-time Emmy winner Bernie Su and this time we’re casting via duets on TikTok.

(Man, I love working with visionaries who are not afraid to go outside “the way it’s always been done” with storytelling, technology, and casting itself. LOVE.)

Backing up to our first convo about this innovative project, six weeks ago, I’m struck by language that success-focused folks like Bernie use.

(If you’ve been with me for any length of time, you’ve likely noticed I am BIG on the language we use — whether in our self-talk, or out loud to the world — as it has more power than we consider. So, I’m ALWAYS noticing patterns in what the most successful folks SAY and HOW we say it.)

Bernie Su Bonnie Gillespie Emmy

In our early February prep Zoom for this new, innovative, OMG I cannot wait to be able to share about it project for TikTok, Bernie kept using a phrase that I really loved: “When we succeed with this…” and then he would describe WHAT SUCCESS FEELS LIKE.

It was amazing!

He was essentially spelling out what it is that would have our little experiment declared a success and this is part of what makes him visionary. So many of the descriptions we both ended up using — in this meeting and since then — were about feelings and vibes and less about nuts-and-bolts benchmarks and metrics, although those came into the picture too.

So, I’ll ask you, WHAT DOES SUCCESS FEEL LIKE for you?

Wanna share it? Comments are open just below. Let’s help energize it for you!

Important: I don’t want to hear about BENCHMARKS and METRICS first. You can *get* to those in what you share with me, but only if you start by sharing what success FEELS LIKE for you.

For me? Success feels like freedom.

The metrics of that are far less important, honestly. (And they’re byproducts of being in that feel-good place.)

Now you!

Bonnie Gillespie autographed the internet


Enoughness is an inside job… and sometimes you need a guide to find your way there. Let Bonnie Gillespie get you started.

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35 Comments

  1. Marie Watkins March 14, 2021 at 4:31 pm

    I LOVE this question. Success is visceral for me. It feels warm, like sitting in a sunny window. It’s comforting like a good piece of cheesecake when you first smush it on the roof of your mouth. It’s feeling pride that I did what I set out to do. Sometimes it’s a little chest-thumping towards the girls in Middle School who thought I was nothing and would be nothing (Hey y’all….you were wrong!). Success is also the reward for being willing to fail then keep trying until I got a more positive outcome. Success mostly feels joyful.

    Reply
  2. Meg Johnston March 14, 2021 at 4:51 pm

    Success feels like happiness. It feels like being fully aligned with who I am as an artist, a giver and a human being. Nothing to prove, no expectations to live up to.

    Reply
    1. Bonnie Gillespie March 17, 2021 at 12:44 am

      I *love* the lack of expectations with this. So good.

      Reply
  3. Constance Zaytoun March 14, 2021 at 4:56 pm

    oh girrrl! did i need this RIGHT now!
    -success feels like a joy-filled smile of gratitude that erupts when i recognize how gorgeous are my surroundings.
    – success feels like a deep sense of purpose i know at my core.
    – success feels like freedom that i have the privilege to do what i do (all the little & big things) each and every day.
    – success feels like a good night’s sleep–going to bed spent from being productive & waking up well rested & excited to start the day.
    – success feels like breathing deeply & fully (& it smells pretty good, too)!

    Reply
    1. Lindsay Shelton March 14, 2021 at 5:00 pm

      Soooooooo well said!!!

      Reply
      1. Constance Zaytoun March 19, 2021 at 8:27 pm

        thank you, Lindsay!
        i love your flying feeling, too!!

        Reply
    2. Jessica Liz Adams March 14, 2021 at 10:01 pm

      Congratulations on the project! I know it’ll do amazing!
      Success for me feels like absolute bliss & happiness. When I’ve achieved success with something I’ve worked hard at – no matter how big or small – I celebrate it & feel on top of the world! Moments of blasting the music on full volume & dancing around may or may not happen; LOL.
      Success also makes me feel proud and at peace, which then a serves as a motivation for me to keep working hard & to spread my joy and positivity with all those around me. ❤️

      Reply
      1. Constance Zaytoun March 19, 2021 at 8:31 pm

        thank you, JLA!
        keep dancing with that music full blast!!!

        Reply
    3. Bonnie Gillespie March 17, 2021 at 12:43 am

      SO! DELICIOUS! And very Taurus. Thank you, Connie-Con-Con.

      Reply
      1. Constance Zaytoun March 19, 2021 at 8:33 pm

        it’s all so tactile & sensory, isn’t it?!?
        love you & THANK YOU, Bonnie-Bon-Bon!!

        Reply
  4. Lindsay Shelton March 14, 2021 at 5:01 pm

    To me, success feels like flying. Like I’m an eagle soaring through the open air embracing the world around me as it comes!

    Reply
    1. Kimberly March 14, 2021 at 6:52 pm

      I don’t know you at all but I just posted something very similar! It is lovely to know there are like-minded people out there!

      Reply
  5. Ann Van Haney March 14, 2021 at 5:17 pm

    Success is feeling confident and empowered, trusting that I am on the right path and knowing, deep down, that every decision I make contributes to furthering the amazing stuff I am bringing into reality.

    Reply
    1. Bonnie Gillespie March 17, 2021 at 12:42 am

      Ooh, success sounds like the enoughness of next-tier you!!

      Reply
  6. Laura March 14, 2021 at 5:18 pm

    Success feels like integrity. It feels like self partnering and then finding and partnering with others who are also adept at self partnering. Success feels like laugher. It feels like a quiet walk on the beach at sunrise. Breakfast in bed. A film that makes me think. A project that excites me so much I can’t stop smiling. Success feels like integrity infused with JOY!

    Reply
    1. Bonnie Gillespie March 17, 2021 at 12:41 am

      Ooh, I FEEL the growth you’ve been experiencing, woven all through this description. Thank you, Laura.

      Reply
  7. Kimberly March 14, 2021 at 6:51 pm

    Success feels like flying quickly and quietly over a pond surrounded by snow capped mountains and blue blue sky on a summer morning in Switzerland

    Reply
  8. Chloe Russell March 14, 2021 at 7:24 pm

    Connection. It allows me to breath deeper.

    Reply
  9. Cynthia Whitman March 14, 2021 at 7:43 pm

    For me at this stage, it’s the feeling of confidence that all my collaborators share my high standards for what a fully realized production means in every aspect. The feeling that I can trust everyone on the team to give our audience the highest caliber experience our budget will allow.

    Reply
    1. Bonnie Gillespie March 17, 2021 at 12:38 am

      Your description of these feelings are #SoOnBrand! Love it!

      Reply
  10. Jaye Restivo March 14, 2021 at 10:38 pm

    Success feels like the depth of the ocean. Different currents. Different colors of the water. Depending on the depth.
    It feels like ahhhhhhhh. Wonderful!
    It feels like taking a bite of the first summer peach.

    It feels SPIRITUAL.

    xoxoxo

    Reply
  11. Camille Martine March 15, 2021 at 11:06 am

    Success feels like staying inspired creatively every day, no matter the frustrations or obstacles that come up.
    Success feels like trusting the/my process.
    Success feels like divorcing stress/tension as a requirement for productivity.
    Success feels knowing I am enough and all that I am capable of, and leaning into that every day.

    Reply
    1. Bonnie Gillespie March 17, 2021 at 12:37 am

      YES!! Success and enoughness have a lot in common!

      Reply
  12. Brigitte March 15, 2021 at 11:14 am

    Success feels like this swirling ball of energy with abundant joy, hope, grace, gratitude, and optimism. It feels like “my cup runneth over” – flowing to all those around me. It’s contagious, like a good laugh at a wonderful moment, and always seems to feel best when it’s shared with others.

    Reply
    1. Bonnie Gillespie March 17, 2021 at 12:37 am

      Ooh, I love how comprehensive this is. Thank you. I’m inspired!

      Reply
  13. Clint Blakely March 15, 2021 at 12:09 pm

    Love this! For me, success feels like calm euphoria. It’s not bursting out in all directions, it’s not an explosion, but it is euphoric! It’s pure joy, but it feels like a secret I have with myself that I can always return to. It feels like self love!

    Reply
    1. Bonnie Gillespie March 17, 2021 at 12:36 am

      Ooh, what a beautiful description, Clint. Calm euphoria really resonates with me. Thank you for sharing that.

      Reply
  14. Victoria Pousada Kreindler March 15, 2021 at 8:38 pm

    Success for me is an internal and external fulfillment. When I have completed something that brings value to myself and others as well. In other words, how much I uplift and inspire others.

    Reply

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