SUCCESS SIGNPOSTS
In preparation for 2014, it seems appropriate
to share dynamic success strategies recently published by Forbes, extracted
from Dan Schawbel’s article entitled “14 Things Every Successful Person Has In
Common.” While the article focuses more
so on the business world, there is definite application to every walk of
life. In Mr. Schawbel’s words…
I’m constantly interviewing successful people
here at Forbes. Since 2007, I’ve spoken to over 1,200 CEOs, celebrities,
authors, politicians and even an astronaut. When speaking to these individuals,
I always notice common traits that they all have, which lend to their success.
I’ve boiled all of these into the top 14 things that all of them have in
common. If you can think of any additional ones, leave them in the comments.
1. They know when to
stay and when to leave. Successful people know exactly when they
should change employers, start a company or fold their company. They have good
intuition and aren’t afraid to make hard choices, despite opposing forces.
2. They do more than
what’s asked of them. They view their job descriptions as just the
beginning of what they can do with their job. After they’ve completed their
mandatory tasks, they will always ask to take on more projects that challenge
them. They are even willing to take on the tedious work that no one else wants
to do in order to be a team player.
3. They are willing to
fail in order to eventually succeed. All successful people
know that it doesn’t come easy and they are bound to fail more than they will
succeed at anything. They are willing to learn from each failure, as it will
help them make better decisions that lead to success later. While many people
give up after failing at something, a successful person will persevere.
4. They know that they
make their own fortune. Success is derived from hard work over time
and positioning yourself for success. You won’t randomly get there and
successful people know that. They will do at least one thing every single day to
put themselves in a better position to grow.
5. They set real goals
that they can accomplish. Successful people wake up and they’ve already
planned their day, while unsuccessful people are scrambling to figure out what
they need to do next. Their goals are very focused, big yet obtainable and are
aligned to their strengths. They know what they are capable of and will invest
all of their efforts in it, avoiding their weaknesses.
6. They take
accountability for themselves and their actions. They aren’t relying
on other people in order to get the job done. Instead, they are looking inwards
and are trying to find the solutions, while leveraging their current assets. If
they make a mistake, they own up to it and immediately think of ways that they
can improve next time, not making the same mistake twice.
7. They make change
instead of being affected by it. Successful people aren’t waiting around to be
affected by economic trends. They are the ones who are creating the trends and
making things happen.
8. They are able to
adjust to changes in the marketplace. Successful people are
willing to reinvent themselves to stay relevant in the business world. They
understand that if you stay stagnant and ignore trends, that you will be left
behind. They are constantly coming up with new ideas, searching for the next
big thing and getting new skills.
9. They can
communicate their story effectively. If you walk up to a
successful person and ask them what they do, they will able to tell you everything
in a concise manner. They know who they are, what they do and can make you
believe in them. They have strong posture and are very persuasive and
confident.
10. They ask the right
questions to the people who can deliver the right answers.
Successful people know they need to solve problems by tapping their networks.
They aren’t afraid of emailing or calling the best person who can answer their
questions. They are always prepared with the right questions and are always
willing to help the other person out in return.
11. They are life-long
learners who push themselves out of their comfort zones.
While most people think that when they graduate college, they are finished
being a student, successful people remain students. They are constantly
learning new things and have new experiences. They aren’t afraid to try new
activities and to fail at them.
12. They know who they
are and their place in the world. Successful people are
confident and can lead themselves, as well as others. They have their own
vision and mission and seek to bring it to life on a daily basis. They also
know who they aren’t and don’t waste time on things that they aren’t good at or
they aren’t satisfied with.
13. They are more
excited about the journey than the pay out. Successful people
ignore get rich quick schemes. They are more focused on building sustainable
careers through hard work, risk taking and creativity. They enjoy the journey,
despite the obstacles, because they are doing something that has meaning in
their lives.
14. They create
instead of just consume. While most people are busy reading emails,
watching TV or listening to a podcast, successful people are creating new
tools, presentations and coming up with ideas. They are the ones who are making
things that other people need instead of being on the other end of the
spectrum, consuming them.
I
thought you might like to know. Sisters
and brothers, keep praying, keep rejoicing, keep working diligently and be
continually blessed!
