Every human being wants to be successful. For many, success
is measured in terms of power, fame or financial income,
while other people measure it in less tangible ways.
Whatever your criteria, I’ve never met a lazy person, so I
assume you, too, are interested in success. The question
then becomes, "What skills or traits are required for
extraordinary success?"
For many years, social scientists have tried to measure the
causes of success, and one of the most frustrating things
as a Coach is the degree to which they have merely confused
the issue. Many people have heard that successful people
tend to be taller, prettier, younger or have some other
characteristic over which they have NO control. What these
studies fail to tell you is that all these factors combined
account for less than 10% of the variables that drive long-
term, repeated success!
Race, age, gender, family history, all of that COMBINED
make almost no measurable difference! On the other hand,
what’s exciting is that the things that DO make a
difference are almost entirely under your control! That’s
exciting, and tremendously hopeful!
What are the things that actually MATTER in long-term,
repeated success? Here are some of my key observations from
years of working with unusually successful people:
1. FIRST things first--Personal stability. High achievers
usually live quiet, structured lives. They tend to settle
down, have good relationships and mind their own business.
They get to bed on time, eat well, get a bit of exercise
and pay their bills. Their lives are organized and orderly,
free from distractions and worry so their daily chores do
not interfere with achieving their goals. To achieve great
things, get organized! Get a good night’s sleep and start
with a good breakfast. Every single day. In the quest for
success, boring is good!
2. SECOND--Positive Self-Direction. High achievers know
where they're going and how to get there. For most, this
means clear written goals, although many successful people
describe it as an "inner confidence" or a "sense of
purpose." Whether it’s a list or a vision, successful
people know what they want and permit few distractions.
They are not tempted by short-cuts or get-rich-quick
schemes. They have chosen their direction, goals or themes
in life and like a compass, they always point straight
ahead.
3. THIRD--Personal Urgency. I am not talking about
impatience or jumpiness. Far from it! Successful people have
"all the time in the world." They are patient, persistent,
determined and resilient, but they do not waste time. They
focus on things that make a real difference. They think in
terms of priorities, progress, and action-steps, but they
are not rude about it. They focus on priorities and have a
healthy eagerness to move forward.
4. FOURTH--Constant Learning. Successful people are
curious and learn faster than other people. They read more,
ask more questions, take more classes, try more things.
They make mistakes, but rarely make the same mistake twice.
No one is born knowing how to walk, talk, or write
software. Successful people LEARN to invest, invent and
create. They have mentors, MasterMind groups, and coaches.
They know that practical, immediately-useful knowledge is
the key to solving problems and achieving their dreams.
The most important thing about these "engines" is that each
of them can be learned! No one is born with a stable life,
a sense of self-direction or urgency! These are habits that
each of us can absorb and master, often with very little
effort.
Success is not about luck or lucky genes; it’s about
learning appropriate skills, then using them to create the
life you truly want. I’ve often written that a GREAT life
is actually easier than living a complicated, confusing or
mediocre life, and I’m convinced it's true. Keep it
simple. Keep it focused. Play by the rules and learn to
win the game of life.
And, perhaps we should acknowledge a fifth engine--great
coaching. I know it's an "ad" since I make my living as a
success coach, but the truth is that we all do better with
good coaching, great ideas, and a bit of encouragement. In
fact, almost no one ever achieved greatness all by
themselves! Whether we admit it consciously or not, we
depend on coaches to show us the way!
is measured in terms of power, fame or financial income,
while other people measure it in less tangible ways.
Whatever your criteria, I’ve never met a lazy person, so I
assume you, too, are interested in success. The question
then becomes, "What skills or traits are required for
extraordinary success?"
For many years, social scientists have tried to measure the
causes of success, and one of the most frustrating things
as a Coach is the degree to which they have merely confused
the issue. Many people have heard that successful people
tend to be taller, prettier, younger or have some other
characteristic over which they have NO control. What these
studies fail to tell you is that all these factors combined
account for less than 10% of the variables that drive long-
term, repeated success!
Race, age, gender, family history, all of that COMBINED
make almost no measurable difference! On the other hand,
what’s exciting is that the things that DO make a
difference are almost entirely under your control! That’s
exciting, and tremendously hopeful!
What are the things that actually MATTER in long-term,
repeated success? Here are some of my key observations from
years of working with unusually successful people:
1. FIRST things first--Personal stability. High achievers
usually live quiet, structured lives. They tend to settle
down, have good relationships and mind their own business.
They get to bed on time, eat well, get a bit of exercise
and pay their bills. Their lives are organized and orderly,
free from distractions and worry so their daily chores do
not interfere with achieving their goals. To achieve great
things, get organized! Get a good night’s sleep and start
with a good breakfast. Every single day. In the quest for
success, boring is good!
2. SECOND--Positive Self-Direction. High achievers know
where they're going and how to get there. For most, this
means clear written goals, although many successful people
describe it as an "inner confidence" or a "sense of
purpose." Whether it’s a list or a vision, successful
people know what they want and permit few distractions.
They are not tempted by short-cuts or get-rich-quick
schemes. They have chosen their direction, goals or themes
in life and like a compass, they always point straight
ahead.
3. THIRD--Personal Urgency. I am not talking about
impatience or jumpiness. Far from it! Successful people have
"all the time in the world." They are patient, persistent,
determined and resilient, but they do not waste time. They
focus on things that make a real difference. They think in
terms of priorities, progress, and action-steps, but they
are not rude about it. They focus on priorities and have a
healthy eagerness to move forward.
4. FOURTH--Constant Learning. Successful people are
curious and learn faster than other people. They read more,
ask more questions, take more classes, try more things.
They make mistakes, but rarely make the same mistake twice.
No one is born knowing how to walk, talk, or write
software. Successful people LEARN to invest, invent and
create. They have mentors, MasterMind groups, and coaches.
They know that practical, immediately-useful knowledge is
the key to solving problems and achieving their dreams.
The most important thing about these "engines" is that each
of them can be learned! No one is born with a stable life,
a sense of self-direction or urgency! These are habits that
each of us can absorb and master, often with very little
effort.
Success is not about luck or lucky genes; it’s about
learning appropriate skills, then using them to create the
life you truly want. I’ve often written that a GREAT life
is actually easier than living a complicated, confusing or
mediocre life, and I’m convinced it's true. Keep it
simple. Keep it focused. Play by the rules and learn to
win the game of life.
And, perhaps we should acknowledge a fifth engine--great
coaching. I know it's an "ad" since I make my living as a
success coach, but the truth is that we all do better with
good coaching, great ideas, and a bit of encouragement. In
fact, almost no one ever achieved greatness all by
themselves! Whether we admit it consciously or not, we
depend on coaches to show us the way!
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