By: Sophie Schuetze, Lead Intern

Cambridge Dictionary defines success as “the achieving of desired results, or someone or something that achieves positive results.” But this boring textbook definition can limit you to a fixed mindset. It’s time to rework this definition! Let’s add some LEAD sense to it so you can feel successful every time you give 100%.

Thanks to incredible LEAD women such as Coach Christen and Dr. Megan Cannon, I have learned to find more measures of success other than results. Underwaters, tempo, body line, and reaction time are great factors to reflect on after a race that place little emphasis on the time. It is a freeing feeling to shift focus from the outcome to the process. Paying attention to the details of your stroke and race plan help give a more holistic view to your race, rather than the feeling-of-doom of adding time.

Notice how the dictionary definition uses the word “results.” Swimming is a results-oriented sport, with an objective clock that dictates time, equating to success. When we let the clock decide our success, we are giving up our power over our confidence. Coach Christen taught me that my confidence is my responsibility, and I don’t want to give the fate of my confidence to the clock. Instead, I know that I can measure my success through my effort and my mindset. If I know that I gave my race every ounce of effort, then I have succeeded.

At the 2022 LEAD Summit, Dr. Megan Cannon said, “You didn’t reach your goal time, yet.” Yet is a powerful word because it proves to yourself that you are not giving up, for you are continuing your journey of progress. Just because the clock spits a number at you does not mean that you did not succeed. It is up to you to define success in a way that benefits you - not a clock.

As a recent high school grad, I have been reflecting on my accomplishments throughout high school. Through college and scholarship applications, I have been forced to create itemized lists of my achievements. It’s been rewarding to see all of my hard work pay off, but I am so much more than what I have done. I have learned about myself, grown my character, met new friends, and built lasting relationships. I have cried, laughed, and danced through successes and failures. While we tend to celebrate success and cover up failure, I know that I grew more from failure than perfect success. Equipped with my LEAD skills, I learned to find success in failure and look beyond outcomes to find deeper meaning. 

Author’s note: Hello LEAD family! It’s Sophie Schuetze, Lead Intern. I’m so excited to hop on the blog scene. I challenge you to brainstorm your new definition of success! Grab your favorite stationary or beloved journal and create a definition of success that inspires and motivates you.