Defining Success: Hana Ayoub
Hana Ayoub is a professional development coach for high achievers who want to align their priorities in pursuit of dynamic success. Committed to optimizing the way professionals work and thrive, Hana leads a customized process that uncovers what's next, why, and how to get there.
Prior to launching her practice, Hana worked for 13 years in the corporate sector, six of which were spent at Blackstone, a premier global investment firm, where she created and led one of the company’s key analyst recruitment and training programs.
Hana is a certified coach through New York University’s School of Professional Studies. She has pursued additional coursework, including a semester on the science of coaching psychology at Harvard Extension School, and is a certified Myers-Briggs Type Indicator facilitator.
How do you define success?
I love the Steven Covey quote, "If you carefully consider what you want to be said of you in the funeral experience, you will find your definition of success.” It's certainly a morbid angle, but it helps quickly bring into focus what success means to me:
Cultivating deep relationships, both personally and professionally
Living an examined life
Challenging norms
Owning my time
Leveraging my skills and natural talents to make a living
Having a positive impact on others
Savoring fulfilling experiences
Continuing to learn and grow
How do you measure your own success?
Plain and simple, I trust my gut.
How does success feel?
A journey of ongoing effort and vigilance -- there's lots to learn and experience along the way, some ups and downs. The missteps are progress, not setbacks, if you look at it right.
When was the last time you felt successful? What happened?
Answering these questions! It's a reminder I've worked hard to put myself on a path that feels right, and positioned myself for continued fulfillment and growth. Even better, I get to help others do the same.
How do you celebrate your success?
Small, quiet moments of acknowledgment along the way.
Although, I just watched an interview where Tim Ferriss explained his, admittedly cheesy yet effective, approach to this -- he jots down small wins daily on pieces of paper and tosses them into a huge mason jar. Whenever he needs a boost, he pulls out a couple and re-lives these small successes that he may have forgotten about otherwise. I haven't adopted this, but I like it!
What advice would you offer to someone who wants to be successful?
In true coach form, my advice is a question: Why do you want to be successful? I work with clients to figure out what they want next, why they want it, and how to get there. Answering the 'why' is a key component.
CONNECT WITH HANA:
Website: hanaayoub.com