HOW DO YOU DEFINE SUCCESS Written by Lanie Deppe

Don’t think, answer with the first thing that comes to mind. Now wait 5 minutes. Evaluate your answer through evaluating your life. Think about everything you’ve been through, good and bad. Think about everyone you’ve met- who’s had a lasting impact on you? What’s important to you? Are you the same person you were even just a couple years ago? Think about all of that and let your mind wonder even more for 5 minutes. Has your answer changed?

I find myself asking this question to almost everyone I meet nowadays. I’m completely fascinated by the fact that you will get some answers you may expect, but also don’t expect, but then also leave you blank staring in deep thought.

This question, I think, is one of the most important questions you should be asking yourself constantly. It’s almost like a self-assessment. Life is always inevitably going to happen in all of its ebbs and flows. It’s going to send you back and forth down paths that completely terrify you but some that also absolutely excite you. But, considering these paths and the outcomes of them, only you can truly decide whether or not you’ve had success with them.

I’ve started on my path to this question only recently. I wish I would’ve started asking myself this question years ago. I wish I would’ve stopped asking myself if other people think this is what I’m supposed to be doing and asked my own self…what do you think? I’ve lived a lot of my life based upon other people’s expectations and followed similar paths because that’s what I’m supposed to do. Follow the examples set forth before you, right?

But you know what, I’m coming to peace with my mistakes, with my narrow mindedness. I want to learn more than ever. I want to help people. I want to see the world. I want to meet as many people as I possibly can. I want happiness. That’s my success.

This world, this life, can be completely overwhelming sometimes. The amount of opinions and content out there can make you unsure as to what you’re supposed to be doing, how you’re supposed to be doing it. In these moments relax. Breathe. Focus on you. How do YOU define success?

Lanie Deppe returned for her second stint at Indiana as an athletic performance coach in 2018. Prior to Indiana, Deppe was the Assistant Director of Women's Basketball Performance at the University of Maryland for two seasons. In that time, the Ter… — Lanie Deppe returned for her second stint at Indiana as an athletic performance coach in 2018.

Prior to Indiana, Deppe was the Assistant Director of Women's Basketball Performance at the University of Maryland for two seasons. In that time, the Terps posted a 58-11 overall record with Big Ten regular season and postseason championships in the 2016-17 year. Before Maryland, Deppe served as the Assistant Director of Sports Performance at Old Dominion for two years, working with the women’s basketball, lacrosse, swimming/diving and rowing teams.
From 2008-14, Deppe oversaw women’s swimming, women’s soccer, rowing and field hockey at Indiana University. She spent time at LaSalle University where she worked with rowing, women’s lacrosse, women’s swimming, volleyball, softball and diving
Deppe is an NSCA and CSCCA member, as well as a NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). She is also a certified USA Weightlifting Sport Performance Coach (USAW).
A native of Bloomington, Deppe was a four-year varsity rower at Indiana University. Over her career, she earned the Most Dedicated Athlete award, Team Scholastic Achievement award and the Team Leadership award, while also earning Alpha Beta distinction all four years.
She earned her bachelor's as a fitness specialist from Indiana in 2007 and also went on to obtain her master's in applied sport science from Indiana.