Success. We all define it differently, but isn’t it about relevance at its core? It’s about the right person finding value in our work at the right time.
For a CFO, it’s delivering accurate financials for critical decisions. For a car salesperson, it’s ensuring the vehicle shines and the customer experience sparkles. Zoom before COVID had limited success, and a company with employees and no office was not a consideration.
Yet, relevance is a fickle friend. What’s essential today may fade tomorrow. A spreadsheet crucial for a bank loan today may collect dust tomorrow. A book can change lives or gather dust based solely on the reader’s current state.
But here’s a twist: Rejection or disapproval doesn’t necessarily mean your work lacks value or relevance; it may simply mean you haven’t found the right audience yet. “Relevance is the new reputation,” as the saying goes. Your project’s success depends on its resonance with the intended recipient when they require it.
Rejection is not the end of relevance. It’s a signpost guiding you to seek a better match for your work. Finding your niche is vital in a world awash with opinions and preferences.
Thus, success in our tasks, creations, and services is tied to relevance. It’s about aligning our output with the shifting sands of need and perception. Before lamenting a misstep or a missed opportunity, ask: Was this for them? Was this for now?
Navigate by the stars of relevance and audience alignment, and you’ll find that real success is not just about meeting expectations but meeting the moment with the correct key for the right lock.
