This week I read the amazing story of LuAn Mitchell, one of
Canada's great entrepreneurs. Her story will never be a movie
because no one would believe it! Pregnant at 16, later a
beauty queen who married a man even after they found out he
had a life-threatening disease, single mom, and CEO of
(believe it or not) one of Canada's largest meat packing
companies (!), she has an astonishing story of perseverance
and accomplishment.
How did she do it? And, what can we learn from people like
LuAn who over-come the odds and get results most of us only
dream of?
I think there are at least four basic principles that MUST
be kept in mind.
The basics are just that, the BASICS! Too often we get
caught in the busy-ness of life and we either forget to
monitor the first principles of success, or we get over-
confident and think we can re-invent the basics, but there
are no "new fundamentals." The fundamentals have not
changed. We either take care of business, or we struggle.
(Or we count on "luck" to save the day...never a smart plan.)
So, what are the basics?
1. Use your HEAD.
Success requires a great strategy. Too often I see idealists
trying to build something that just doesn't make good sense.
They don't have a budget, adequate financing, an effective
strategy or common sense. They have a great idea and charge
ahead, hoping that "somehow" customers will find them. Or
that "somehow" things will work out. Success requires a smart,
logical, effective strategy. Use your head!
2. Follow your HEART.
In addition to a good plan, success requires passion! No matter
how good your plan, there will be challenges along the way
and only passion, determination, faith and "insane optimism"
will carry you through. If your heart isn't in it, don't even
try! (I am convinced that often "procrastination" is really a
great plan with no heat, no fire, behind it.) Super-achievers
are passionate people! Follow your heart.
3. Create a TEAM.
Even marathon runners have a team of trainers, coaches, family
and friends to encourage their "solitary" run. Writing a book
has brought home again that writers need a TEAM of editors,
publishers, publicists and printers. You will need mentors
(a coach), employees or other "staff" to help you achieve
your dream. Winners work in teams and understand the strength
in numbers. Create a winning TEAM and trust them to help you.
4. The joy of hard, hard WORK.
Nothing happens until someone, somewhere, rolls up their sleeves
and gets to work. In this "information age" we tend to forget
that only WORK makes stuff happen. Whether it's the daily
discipline of raising children, teaching school, ministering
to your flock, or the more traditional work of driving a truck
or making sales calls or working in the mill, human work is
the basis for all RESULTS, and only results really count.
If possible, do work you love. And always look for ways to
make things easier, more fun and more productive, but in
the end, hard, hard work (actual productivity) is the basis
for achievement.
Of course, there is more to life than achieving "success",
but doing something worthwhile and leaving our mark in
the world is a huge part of "the good life."
Whatever your dream, you can achieve it! You can even climb
Mt Everest - people with prosthetic limbs have done it, and
so can you! Or, you can start a business or retire early or
mentor a child or create music. Whatever your heart
desires, you can achieve it if you have a solid plan, a
great team, and the willingness to work "until" it becomes
a reality.
Canada's great entrepreneurs. Her story will never be a movie
because no one would believe it! Pregnant at 16, later a
beauty queen who married a man even after they found out he
had a life-threatening disease, single mom, and CEO of
(believe it or not) one of Canada's largest meat packing
companies (!), she has an astonishing story of perseverance
and accomplishment.
How did she do it? And, what can we learn from people like
LuAn who over-come the odds and get results most of us only
dream of?
I think there are at least four basic principles that MUST
be kept in mind.
The basics are just that, the BASICS! Too often we get
caught in the busy-ness of life and we either forget to
monitor the first principles of success, or we get over-
confident and think we can re-invent the basics, but there
are no "new fundamentals." The fundamentals have not
changed. We either take care of business, or we struggle.
(Or we count on "luck" to save the day...never a smart plan.)
So, what are the basics?
1. Use your HEAD.
Success requires a great strategy. Too often I see idealists
trying to build something that just doesn't make good sense.
They don't have a budget, adequate financing, an effective
strategy or common sense. They have a great idea and charge
ahead, hoping that "somehow" customers will find them. Or
that "somehow" things will work out. Success requires a smart,
logical, effective strategy. Use your head!
2. Follow your HEART.
In addition to a good plan, success requires passion! No matter
how good your plan, there will be challenges along the way
and only passion, determination, faith and "insane optimism"
will carry you through. If your heart isn't in it, don't even
try! (I am convinced that often "procrastination" is really a
great plan with no heat, no fire, behind it.) Super-achievers
are passionate people! Follow your heart.
3. Create a TEAM.
Even marathon runners have a team of trainers, coaches, family
and friends to encourage their "solitary" run. Writing a book
has brought home again that writers need a TEAM of editors,
publishers, publicists and printers. You will need mentors
(a coach), employees or other "staff" to help you achieve
your dream. Winners work in teams and understand the strength
in numbers. Create a winning TEAM and trust them to help you.
4. The joy of hard, hard WORK.
Nothing happens until someone, somewhere, rolls up their sleeves
and gets to work. In this "information age" we tend to forget
that only WORK makes stuff happen. Whether it's the daily
discipline of raising children, teaching school, ministering
to your flock, or the more traditional work of driving a truck
or making sales calls or working in the mill, human work is
the basis for all RESULTS, and only results really count.
If possible, do work you love. And always look for ways to
make things easier, more fun and more productive, but in
the end, hard, hard work (actual productivity) is the basis
for achievement.
Of course, there is more to life than achieving "success",
but doing something worthwhile and leaving our mark in
the world is a huge part of "the good life."
Whatever your dream, you can achieve it! You can even climb
Mt Everest - people with prosthetic limbs have done it, and
so can you! Or, you can start a business or retire early or
mentor a child or create music. Whatever your heart
desires, you can achieve it if you have a solid plan, a
great team, and the willingness to work "until" it becomes
a reality.
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