What does success mean? Encourage young people to explore what success means to them and understand how to use curiosity to support their journey to success.

The term “success” is often used when talking about career development, but what does this really mean?

What we do know is that success means something different to everyone. How do you define success? Is it how much money you make or status and fame? Or is it having work where you can pursue interests and passions, or being involved in work with a purpose or where you are making a difference? In some instances, it is earning enough money to be able to pursue and fund a passion outside of work. Some people “live to work”, while others choose to “work to live”.

So how do young people work out what is their best first step towards success, especially when they do not feel they have a passion or are still unsure about their purpose? Exploring curiosity is a good starting point when passions feel out of reach. Ask the young person to think about what they want to know about different careers, show them where they can find information, and with whom they can talk to that does the type of work they are interested in.

Ask them to think about what questions they feel were answered for them from this exercise and what their worries and concerns are, and consider what further information is needed before making decisions. Another idea is to put the young person in the interviewer’s seat. Get them to view exploring different career pathways as if they are in control of interviewing people for these different pathway options. This can encourage them to determine which career best meets their interests, values, strengths, and skills.

Slow the process down and encourage them to keep an open mindset. Plans need not be finalised until they are in their last year of secondary school. Encourage them to use their time to be curious and explore a wide range of different possibilities. Get them to design their criteria. For

example, what will be of specific importance to them in a job, and rate different options against the ideal and the “deal breakers”.

The whakatauki “He kai kei aku ringa: “There is food at the end of my hands” signifies resilience, empowerment, and hope. It refers to one’s ability to use skills, resources, and strengths to create success. It is also about being responsible for the resources and capabilities one needs to grow and develop.

Young people need to take agency and research different options, connect with people who can answer their questions, and test careers to find careers that will make them feel challenged, satisfied, and, ultimately, successful.

When we look at quotes around success, we see that many agree with Ben Sweetland when he says that “success is a journey, not a destination,” and that failure is part of learning. To quote Winston Churchill: "Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm"

Courage is important as young people plan their futures, so for many, “true success is overcoming the fear of being unsuccessful” (Paul Sweeney).