Do You Have What It Takes To Succeed?

“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.”

– Booker T. Washington

While we all want to succeed, we know success is a process, and not an outcome.  If we achieve it once, we know we haven’t found a magic formula that will work every time.  Nor have we reached our final destination.

We could fail again tomorrow and have to repeat the process again and again.  Success doesn’t come with a money back guarantee.

If we believed all the hype that’s out there from self-proclaimed experts and gurus who sell their secret sauces we’d all look 20 years younger, look like gods and goddesses and be billionaires.

Sorry to say, there are no shortcuts and no magic bullets. But we can increase our chances to succeed simply by persevering through our own failures and learning from them.

In the real world, our greatest asset is ourselves and the greatest advantage we have on the craggy road to success, lies in our ability to never lose sight of our vision, embrace our failures, learn from them and persevere. And I’m not alone in thinking that way.

I’m sure you’ve heard the stories too about how many successes were born from failures.  Those who achieved, didn’t attribute their success to luck or some step by step guide guaranteed to lead the way.  Yet they all shared a tool that’s available to us all. We all have it yet only some have learned to use it effectively. Luckily we all have the capacity to learn.  Successful people have their minds are set on success.

Regardless of industry, the most successful people  share similar mindsets and razor-keen focus. By understanding their perspective, embracing their mindset, and putting these 8 tips into play, you can increase your chances to succeed.

1.  They understand that their value has nothing to do with money. They don’t define themselves by the money in their pockets, but rather by how to bring value to people. It starts from within with a desire for continuous learning. It follows by finding that unique something that brings value to the community and markets that they serve. Uncovering that value and providing it people who can use it to live better lives is key to establishing your worth. Remember, the more you grow, the more valuable you become, and the more your company grows.
2. They don’t waste their time comparing themselves to other people. The only question they ask themselves is if they’re better today than they were yesterday.
3. They’ve learned when something doesn’t work, do something else. Don’t be afraid to innovate. (Remember Sid Caesar’s line:“The guy who invented the first wheel was an idiot. The guy who invented the other three, he was a genius.” )
4. They focus on what produces the greatest results. Drop the rest, or put them on hold. Pareto’s Rule applies to just about everything you can think of. Put your time into products and areas that produce the greatest results.
5. They don’t sell themselves short. They’ve learned 2 important lessons that those of us just starting up seem to forget, as we go around scrambling for business: time is a precious commodity and to use it wisely. Successful people value their time and don’t waste time on unproductive tasks. They’ve learned when to say no to both ideas and clients – they feel will drain and not augment their value and their resources.
6. They spend more time with other successful people. It provides positive reinforcement and motivation to continue along a successful path.
7. They’ve set high standards for themselves and for others around them. If they fail, they accept it and move on. Excuses waste time and energy and impede forward progress.
8. They understand – as we all do – that the only constant we have is change. Rather than acting like something ( the fates of chance, the universe, the economy) – or someone (a vendor, client, competitor) is out to get them, they understand it’s all in their heads, and that’s the one thing they can control. They get over it and move on. Sometimes stuff just happens.

There’s absolutely no doubt that when you make a commitment to be your best self ever, and put your plan into motion, good things start happening. And, if you have any doubts, just think about this:

• The Beatles were rejected by a record company who not only didn’t like their ‘sound,’ but believed guitar music was on the way out.
• Charles Darwin’s father told him he was nothing but a lazy dreamer.
• Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor who told him he lacked imagination and had no good ideas.
• Charles Darwin’s father told him he was nothing but a lazy dreamer.
• Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor who told him he lacked imagination and had no good ideas.
• Albert Einstein didn’t speak until he was 4 and couldn’t read until he was 7 causing his teachers to believe he was mentally handicapped.
• Dr. Seuss’s first manuscript was rejected 27 times by publishers, before it was finally accepted.
• Stephen King’s ‘Carrie’ was rejected so many times, he threw the manuscript in the trash. Luckily, his wife picked it out.
• Steve Jobs was fired by Apple.
• Henry Ford had 5 massive failures before he founded Ford Motor Company.
• R.H. Macy started and failed at 7 different businesses before his success with the department store.
• Thomas Edison’s teacher said he was “too stupid to learn anything.” He was fired from his first two jobs for being “non-productive.” As an inventor, Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulbWhen questioned about his failures, he said, ‘I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.’

Successful leaders never give up. Neither should we.