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FedEx Global Brand Management Director Monica Skipper shares a cost-effective way to build a bigger brand for your small business.
Learn moreEver wonder what makes people successful? I’d be surprised if you answered no. I have yet to meet a person that doesn't wonder what it takes to be a big-time success.
What is so different for successful people? How did they get where they are? Why are you where you are in your life? It’s easier and more comfortable to believe that success just happens to some people. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Each notably successful person has taken six steps, whether they are financially successful or achieving at a high level in some other way. They didn’t just wake up one day and find that success had been delivered to their doorstep. Quite the opposite: Successful people have worked to get where they are.
An Olympic swimmer like Michael Phelps has practiced his technique religiously in order to win gold medals. That tiny business down the road with customers lining up around the block to patronize it (think the Soup Nazi) has taken the six steps.
Are you ready to try the six things that all successful people do?
1. Set goals
Successful people set goals that have a specific completion date. I will lose 10 pounds within 60 days. Not, I will lose weight sometime this year. Set concrete goals with a time frame for when you want to achieve those goals.
2. Get started
Successful people start immediately. They don’t drag their feet or put it off. They act on a goal right away, because they understand the power of momentum. They may not do the whole thing at once, but they do take a big step to get started. Maybe they fill out the calendar and reserve critical dates and times. Maybe they call others and get delivery commitments from them for those dates. No matter what it is, they take action right away.
3. Think positive
This is the half-empty, half-full syndrome. Successful people are optimists and believe the cup is always half full. They aren’t pie-in-the-sky types, but they see the positive side of an opportunity, and they believe in their ability to achieve their goals.
4. Take action
Those who are successful take action, even on partial information. Too many people wait around until they think they have all the answers. But if you do that, you may wait forever. It is called “analysis paralysis,” and a lot of people experience it. Successful people don’t proceed blindly, but they know that, once they have the critical details, they can make a decision and act accordingly.
5. Be determined
They say that in war, the plans go out the window as soon as the first bullet flies. There are so many variables that it is impossible to determine how things will proceed. The same holds true for most life decisions. You don’t know what will happen once you take the first step, so the only constants are the end vision and your determination to get there, even if the path doesn't unfold exactly as you envisioned.
6. Attract it
Many people use the law of attraction to become successful. This means having a clear vision of what you want. Your thoughts can draw success to you. I am not talking voodoo magic here. But I am suggesting that what we think about most, we notice most. When you buy that new blue car you’ve been coveting, you suddenly notice that everyone has the same car.
Buddha once said, “All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think, we become.”
Success doesn’t just happen to people. You have to do something to make it happen. Following these steps will put you on the path to success. Heck, you will probably be the next success story. You soup nazi, you.
I agree Lindsey. Terrific way to start the year. You also need to have those Goals written down, and I think you should also make your self accountable to someone. Maybe a personal coach? I look forward to moving in a positive direction this year after reading this simple article. Best wishes to everyone for 2012!RegardsAndrew
I totally agree and i think most people get stuck on step 1.
So true, Valter
This is true, true, true! I believe in the power of positive thinking and getting the people on your team to believe in the vision of the business. Success will come when the team is all on the same page and believing in the success of the business!Deborah SweeneyMyCorporation.com
What are the tips you have to keep the positive thinking flowing, Deborah?
There is a reason most people "choose" to be mediocre. Success is hard work.
I second that opinion!
What a great way to start the new year!
Great thoughts! By having a plan and the right attitude, you can find your way to success. Organization is key and it's important to consider various aspects of your business e.g., financial, legal and marketing. Don't be afraid to start small and work your way to the top!Thanks, Lauren at Volusionwww.volusion.com
Robert, do you have any suggested reading or more comments?
Jason,here is some suggested additional reading, for your online business inspiration. Please feel free to share genuine feedback anytime =)http://www.drewrynewsnetwork.com/f13/successful-business-leaders-go-beyond-norm-being-positive-example-triumph-2362.html
Great article, Mike. It really boils down to taking control of your life and being proactive.Cheers,Marc
Division of the goal into a number of smaller steps, that are much easier to acheive and give a sense of success in heading towards the goal. Having even small suceses on the way to the goal brings revival of motivation and opportunity to celebrate which is important to keep up morale of the team.
Actually what is outlined here is only one way, not THE way to success and not neccessisarily the best way. I had the great fortune to meet Bill Gates recently and his formula for business success was radically different. Many higlhy successful people will not argue with this success formula but will tell you that it's not the way they did it.By the way, many of the most credible experts on this issue see this as merely earing the right to sit at the table or management 101. Some of the the most exciting research coming from B schools like Harvard, Sloan, Columbia,and Stamford, debunks this as 30 year old thinking. In today's dismal business environment, breakthrough business results will result from breakthrough thinking. The challenge is that 90% of business people don't have a clue about how to successfully engage in breakthrough thinking.
Thanks so much for sharing that Richard!
In life, I've learned that the most successful people have failed so many times. In life, in order to experience success, you must [experience the rain first]. In life, those who are most successful had to go against the grain of adversity, lose many friends "they come running back when they see you doing good", and virtually walk that journey alone, while remaining entrepreneurially optimistic, and "thinking positive about the future".In life, I've learned that you have to [not care] what people think about you, when starting and running your own business, as you will get "badmouthed by nature". I've learned that "people will be mad at you for no reason", just because you are [striving for excellence in holding your own], in having your own business. I've learned that although [an entrepreneur will potentially look like a ***] in the minds of others, that is the "indirect motivation to think positive and continually move forward" with your "positive business agenda and staying the course". And last but not least, I've learned in humility that you cannot "sit and wait until things or the time is right" to start your own business, but yet, move forward faithfully with "positive business endeavors" in the worst time of your life, and also move forward productively in the worst state of any economy.http://www.DrewryMedia.comhttp://www.DrewryNewsNetwork.com
Failure is a big component. Probably the biggest. And if you want to get a little voodoo magic about it, I guess there is not much difference between failure and success... perhaps just the money part. Since when we fail or succeed in both cases we gain experience. Still, I much rather experience success... but I also know my appreciation for success would be reduced or totally void if I didn't also experience all the failures of my life.
TP,Very true my friend. Failure gives us alot to think about, and also the time to "restrategize our business CEO cards". While failure is designed to totally derail a person, it can be used as a direct precursor to motivate and transition into greatness!http://www.DrewryMedia.comhttp://www.DrewryNewsNetwork.com
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Brijesh Kumar 4 months ago
Inspiring one. Love to read this again!