The Secret to Success
May 6, 2015
The secret to success in life is wanting what you have rather than having everything you want, or so the saying goes. For the ambitious among us, that answer seems insufficient. We want more! Not necessarily more things, mind you; we want to achieve. We want to accomplish feats of bravery, courage, genius, strength, glory, … [insert your word of choice here].
We want to feel fulfilled. There is whitespace in our lives, and we need to color it in. Some have called this “fire in the belly.” Do you possess a nearly insatiable passion and inner drive to achieve? Following are some guidelines for focusing your ambition so you can reach your own personal nirvana:
OPTIMISM – I know a guy. He loves life and brightens everyone’s mood around him. He’s smart and skilled, too. He isn’t where he wants to be in life yet, but he’s definitely on track. If I could bottle his optimism and exuberance, I could make billions. If you could be like that guy, you could, too.
THICK SKIN – Sensitivity is valued in high school romances, but I haven’t seen where it made anyone successful in business. If people are criticizing you for something you did or didn’t do, thank them and move on. Feedback is more difficult to obtain when you are a leader because, frankly, people can be intimidated by you, your title, and your power. So, rejoice—rather than bristle—when it is offered.
LET GO – You won’t win any awards for holding the longest grudge. Don’t be petty, especially with the people who report to you. Be the bigger person, always. Don’t let your ego get in the way of good decision making or building relationships. Remember the Serenity Prayer. Let go of the things you cannot control so you can focus on the things you can control.
FLEXIBILITY – Has anyone told you that you’re too rigid? Can’t think outside the box? Your dogmatism is getting in the way of your success. Stop quoting soundbites and wrap your arms around the real issues. Look for creative solutions. Quit using once-successful tactics that aren’t working anymore.
LEARN TO ENJOY SAYING NO – Too busy to read this article? Always doing for others and never for yourself? When you gain the confidence to say “no” to the less critical and “yes” to the important things, then you are on the path to success. Not everyone will appreciate your attitude, but your job is not to please them. You must prioritize. Remember, everything you do has an opportunity cost: When you say “yes” to something, you are saying “no” to a lot of other things.
DON’T WAIT TO BE TOLD WHAT TO DO – Great leaders know that the masses won’t understand a paradigm shift until after they see it. If you have a great idea, vet it internally and get on with it. Better to ask for forgiveness later than to miss an opportunity because you were waiting for permission. Also, don’t wait for success to be delivered to you on a silver platter. Life doesn’t work that way. You gotta go out and get it.
PERSISTENCE – I have worked with dozens of entrepreneurs in varying stages of success. Every one of them made mistakes and faced obstacles along the way. Setbacks don’t stop successful people. Successful people overcome. To quote Jason Nesmith (played by Tim Allen) in the movie Galaxy Quest, “Never give up. Never surrender.”
I am going to make a prediction: “You are working with people who aren’t pulling their weight.” Newsflash, so is every successful person you know. Successful people get things done and aren’t bothered by this fact of life.
If you’re the leader of this bunch of misfits, then it is incumbent upon you to make things work (i.e., get things done). If you're not the leader (yet), then remember that your daily practices will pay off in the long run. If you are truly adding value to your organization, then it will eventually be acknowledged with additional opportunities. Meanwhile, get things done and help others do the same.
As the saying goes, “The cream always rises to the top.” Now, go out and prove it!