If you would like to have the Quest-4 team give a presentation or host a group discussion on the topic of success, send an e-mail to pathfinder@quest-4.com and we'll do our best to arrange it as we pass through your city.

Discussion In Sacramento

An Evening Of Discussion

While in Sacramento, the Quest-4 team had the opportunity to meet with some of Sacramento's young movers and shakers to discuss the elements of success and personal fulfillment. The group discussion, moderated by the Quest-4 team, touched on such topics as the meaning of success, finding balance in daily lives, seeking out your path in life, and leadership.

The Group

In attendance that evening were:

Sailaja Cherukuri (30): Senior Consultant for the California State Assembly
Jenny Fearing (27): Economist
Greg Hayes (28): Public Relations executive
Steve Johns (30): Attorney
Nicole Kimmel (25): Entrepreneur
Laura Mahoney (32): Journalist for the Bureau of National Affairs
Seth Merewitz (28): Attorney
Joel Schwartz (32): Research director for the California Smog Check Program

Discussion Excerpts

Here are just a few of the insights from the evening of discussion:

On Finding Your Path

"I think a lot of people our age are on the right path, but not necessarily the right career. As long as you keep learning, you're probably going to be on the right path. As long as you try something. If you find you don't like it, you can move on."

"I think everyone does have their own path and for me at least, a big portion of success is being happy and knowing yourself and then pursuing with vigor whatever it is that continually makes you happy. "

"Maybe success requires that you have to be willing to take a step off your path. Probably most of us growing up were going to go to college and we had some interests we were going to pursue, and then the job you were supposed to take became clear based on what you studied, and then when you realize that it might not be the right path it feels risky to step off the path. But sometimes you have to be willing to do that. "

"I think one of the reasons our generation changes jobs is that our goals aren't as tied to a single career. My goals are beyond my career. My career is part of those goals, but I'm on the exact same path that I've always wanted to be on. I've had multiple jobs, but my path hasn't changed. "

BACK TO TOP

"People shouldn't define themselves solely by their jobs. It has to be a complete picture. My job serves a particular role, but what I do outside of my job can fulfill me as well. Sometimes I sit down and feel so overpowered by my career and job that I'm trying to find EVERYTHING in my job. I'm trying to find money, job satisfaction, and doing good. No job is going to do all of that. So you have to draw a line at some point and say: My job stops now, and my life begins here. "

BACK TO TOP

"I think a big trait that you'll find in successful people is optimism. Rarely will you find a pessimist who is successful. They may make a lot of money, but they are probably not personally successful."

"I always envy the big picture people. The people who can rise above the pettiness that bog down so many people's lives."

"The people who are less concerned about the fruits of their labor and are more concerned about enjoying their labor and pursuing their passions to me are successful. I find myself getting bogged down and concerned when I start thinking, "Do they know I did that or had a piece of that." If you just do what you love and do it the best damn way and as well as you can, I see that as the ultimate success."

"I think the way I've learned is from mistakes. I look back at times when I was so desperate to be "the guy" saying "I hope they're paying attention to what I'm doing." The greatest rewards have always come - and I hate to keep having to relearn this lesson - when I'm not paying attention to me and my efforts. "

"There's room for everybody [to succeed]. It's so easy to rise to the top. If you are doing what you want to be doing and you're passionate about it and you love it, you're going to just soar past people. You're going to be the best at it, because you love it so much. It matters the most to you and you're not concerned about what others think about you. "

BACK TO TOP

"Being part of a community and being able to contribute, and then sticking around and watching it grow and mature and watching yourself mature. "

"Creating opportunities for self-expression and being respected for that self-expression in all facets of life."

"I think it's being able to understand your abilities and nurturing them and being able to bring them to fruition. "

BACK TO TOP

Quest-4's presentation at the University of Wisconsin - Stout.

Quest-4's focus group in Omaha.

Quest-4's focus group in Columbus.

© Copyright Chris Moeller & Brian Ardinger, 1998