Confident mature business women mentoring younger women showing how to be a good mentee

Culture &amp; Workplace

Culture &amp; Workplace Archives

Culture &amp; Workplace | SUCCESS | What Achievers Read

<p>Having someone spend the time to be your mentor is a privilege, so it’s normal to wonder how to be a good mentee. A <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/what-is-a-mentor/">great mentor</a> will be someone you can confide in and learn from, to help guide you in your life, your career and everything that falls in between. Even though that relationship can be critical to your growth and success, you also have to respect its boundaries to make it work.</p>



<p>Therefore, there are certain things you can do, as a mentee, to make sure your relationship with your mentor stays strong and beneficial, even during the busiest quarters.</p>



<p>So whether you’re looking for a mentor or already have one, here are a few things to remember to be a good mentee.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-clearly-communicate-that-you-re-looking-for-a-mentor">1. Clearly communicate that you’re looking for a mentor</h2>



<p>Sometimes people consider asking to get coffee or for 15 minutes of time as the start of a mentorship, but it helps if you’re transparent and they know that you’re actually asking for a mentor. (You might be surprised—they might invest more in the conversation.)</p>



<p>So reach out with an explicit purpose. If an email only mentions grabbing coffee, it may seem less pressing. And if you do get on their calendar, don’t expect them to commit to future meetings where you’re looking to “pick their brain.” Present expectations as to what you are looking for. Maybe it’s a monthly meeting over coffee or 20-minute phone calls every other week. This will allow them to either commit or decline your offer and even open the conversation up to a third response—they may be inclined to introduce you to someone on their team or in their network who they feel is a better fit.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-know-what-you-want">2. Know what you want</h2>



<p>Before you approach a potential mentor, ask yourself:</p>



<ul>
<li>What am I trying to learn? What are my short- and long-term goals?</li>



<li>Why am I courting this particular leader? (Note: Because he or she is rich and/or famous is not a valid reason.) How can he or she help me <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-set-goals/">achieve those goals</a>?</li>



<li>At the end of the year, what will I consider a win or a gain from this relationship?</li>
</ul>







<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-understand-the-mentor-mentee-relationship">3. Understand the mentor-mentee relationship</h2>



<p>Mentoring should be friendly, but it’s not a friendship. The time is used intentionally, with well-defined objectives for each session that support a long-term, overarching goal.</p>



<p>Yet, you should also treat a mentorship like any other relationship in your life. It’s important to acknowledge when specific advice or feedback is particularly helpful. Share your success stories from the feedback they gave you. Chances are, your mentor will really appreciate it and may go on to share that same advice with others.</p>



<p>Think of it like working with a personal trainer: If a certain workout is making an impact, telling your trainer will only benefit you both. Don’t be too shy to brag a little! After all, you couldn’t have done it without their help.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-respect-your-mentor-s-time">4. Respect your mentor’s time</h2>



<p>When one of my heroes, the legendary basketball coach <a href="https://www.thewoodeneffect.com/about-coach/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">John Wooden</a>, agreed to meet with me, I treated the opportunity as a one-shot deal. I arrived at his Los Angeles apartment armed with five pages of questions, single-spaced, on a legal pad. He looked at me a little stunned, but then granted me hours of his time. At the end of our meeting, he looked at me and said, “John, I enjoyed this. When you think of more questions, you can come back and see me again.” Score!</p>



<p>One of my former mentees is <a href="https://crcglobal.org/about-crc/founding-pastors/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Courtney McBath</a>, a remarkably talented young man who established Calvary Revival Church in Virginia, now one of the nation’s biggest congregations. McBath would start each of our sessions like this:</p>



<ul>
<li>This is what you said…</li>



<li>This is what I learned…</li>



<li>This is what I did…</li>



<li>Did I do it right?</li>



<li>Can I ask another question?</li>



<li>My answer was always: “Ask away.”</li>
</ul>



<p>Also remember, face-to-face meetings are great; however, we’re all busy and you don’t want to lose steam waiting to find a slot on someone’s calendar. A mentor is there to give advice when you need it most, and sometimes that advice can be shared on a quick call or a single question email.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-know-when-you-re-ready">5. Know when you’re ready</h2>



<p>My first mentors—after my dad—were books and audiotapes. I was just starting out. I wasn’t qualified to be tutored by anyone yet. What did I know?</p>



<p>Start with independent study. Keep notes. Write down your questions. The best of those inquiries might become your version of the “<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/make-each-day-your-masterpiece/">John Wooden list</a>.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-6-show-your-growth-as-a-mentee">6. Show your growth as a mentee</h2>



<p>Once you do land a mentor, share your successes, large and small. Mentors don’t ask to be paid. Their reward is your success.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-7-how-to-be-a-great-mentee-spread-the-love">7. How to be a <em>great </em>mentee: Spread the love</h2>



<p>Nothing makes a mentor happier than to hear that you’ve adopted a mentee, that you’re sharing what you learned through your mentorship experience with others in your networks and circles.</p>



<p>Your mentor initially agreed to this relationship as an act of paying it forward. Someone along the way helped them, and now it’s their turn to help you. By sharing their time and looking for ways to help you succeed, an unspoken piece of advice from them to you is to do this for others.</p>



<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>Part of this article originally appeared in the </em><a href="https://store.success.com/by-media/success-magazine-march-2018-shark-tank.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>March 2018 issue of </em>SUCCESS <em>magazine</em></a><em> and was updated in April 2024.</em> <em>Mona Patel contributed to this article.</em> <em>Photo By fizkes/Shutterstock.com</em></p>

Many of us have had great mentors guide us to success, but how do you become one yourself? Learn how to be a good mentee with these tips.

Many of us have had great mentors guide us to success, but how do you become one yourself? Learn how to be a good mentee with these tips. | SUCCESS

How To Be A Good Mentee: Everything You Need To Know

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How To Be A Good Mentee | SUCCESS

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John C. Maxwell, an internationally respected leadership expert, speaker, and author who has sold more than 18 million books, has been named an inaugural SUCCESS Ambassador. Dr. Maxwell is the founder of EQUIP, a non-profit organization that has trained more than 5 million leaders in 126 countries worldwide. A New York Times, Wall Street Journal and BusinessWeek; best-selling author, Maxwell has written three books that have sold more than a million copies.

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John C. Maxwell

boss implementing the 10-80-10 rule with employees

Business &amp; Branding

Business &amp; Branding Archives

Stay ahead in business: strategies and insights for success

<p>So you have <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/3-steps-to-execute-a-successful-idea/">a new project in mind</a>—a major undertaking, a shift in direction, the kind of thing that will put your company on the map or reaffirm its dominance in the market.</p>



<p>And you are feeling a little… overwhelmed.</p>



<p>Leadership is not for <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/be-the-flame-6-principles-for-leading-through-difficult-times/">the faint of heart</a>. Even after all these years, a new venture gives me a rush of excitement <em>and</em> a flutter of nerves. There’s a lot at stake, after all: money, time and reputation, among others.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-10-80-10-rule">The 10-80-10 rule</h2>



<p>That’s why today we’re going to rethink the project cycle, simplify it and focus our energy on the time periods when strong leadership is most critical: the beginning and the end.</p>



<p>I call it my 10-80-10 rule. You give 100% of your attention to the start and end of the endeavor, and let your team drive it—with an occasional tug on the reins—during the long middle. I’ve adapted this from the “Pareto Principle,” the idea that “around 80% of effects are brought about by 20% of causes,” <a href="https://mint.intuit.com/blog/how-to/the-pareto-principle-80-20/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according to Intuit</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-10-80-10-leadership-principles">10-80-10 leadership principles</h2>



<p>So let’s start at the beginning, where leadership will either set your team on the road to success or leave it stranded with no GPS and only a vague notion of where to go. To find that success, they need four things from you: vision, direction, creativity and empowerment.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-vision">Vision</h3>



<p>What do you see? Why is this undertaking important? What could it accomplish? How could it benefit the organization or its greater goals? Where does each team member fit into the equation?</p>



<p>I emphasize the last one because many emerging leaders <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/90761205/leaders-heres-what-youre-getting-wrong-when-you-try-to-communicate-vision" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">miscommunicate their vision</a> as they <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/vision-the-essential-leadership-ingredient/">lay out their ideas</a>. If team members don’t know their roles, how can they feel invested? If they don’t see themselves in the big picture, why should they buy into it? Trust me, your project will go further if your team is fully engaged.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-direction">Direction</h3>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2023/01/10/how-to-effectively-communicate-company-goals-with-your-employees/?sh=300de63029f7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">When you cast the vision</a>, you need to follow it with concrete directions. Your team members can be inspired by an idea, but they become secure through guidance. This is also where many leaders come up short. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/vision-is-everything-for-a-leader/">They have the vision</a> but they don’t know or don’t articulate what it takes to get there.</p>



<p>“The value of an idea lies in the using of it,” Thomas Edison once said. Don’t let your ideas linger indefinitely with no means of making them real.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-creativity">Creativity</h3>



<p>When I say to offer direction, I’m not talking about step-by-step instructions. Chances are, after all, that you’ve wandered into uncharted territory. Your team needs to know their destination, who is driving them at each stage, what deadlines they’re expected to meet, what resources they have and what limitations (if any) you’ve set.</p>



<p>How they arrive at the endpoint is a different conversation. <a href="https://asana.com/resources/product-development-process" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A project’s first stage</a> is its most creative one. Now is the <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/12-creativity-hacks/">time for unconventional thinking</a>, for exploring every possible means of achieving your vision. Once you get into the heart of the project—the 80%—creativity might impede progress. But at the inception, let imaginations run wild. The best ideas don’t just appear; they evolve. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/10-things-effective-leaders-do-to-encourage-innovation/">Give them wings</a>.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-empowerment">Empowerment</h3>



<p>Leaders who <a href="https://www.gartner.com/en/articles/micromanaging-your-remote-workers-own-it-then-fix-it" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">insist on micromanaging</a> will quickly find their overreach is <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/heidilynnekurter/2021/06/29/is-micromanaging-a-form-of-bullying-here-are-3-things-you-should-know/?sh=497344f04467" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">harming their employees</a>.</p>



<p>Give your team the tools they need: materials, training, research, time and money. General George S. Patton famously declared, “At the present time our chief difficulty is not the Germans, but gasoline. If they would give me enough gas, I could go all the way to Berlin!” Fuel your staff, then get out of the way.</p>



<p>I have to admit, this is tough. I’ve learned the hard way that trying to oversee all aspects of a new project is simply too daunting, complicated and frustrating. During a project’s middle phase, I transition from project manager to chief cheerleader. This stage is messy, filled with flops, setbacks and unanticipated detours. I’m there to breathe life into my team’s spirits and encourage them to persevere.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-final-phase-of-the-10-80-10-rule">The final phase of the 10-80-10 rule</h2>



<p>That brings us to the project’s end phase—the time for you, the leader, to jump back in, full throttle.</p>



<p>Add your voice.</p>



<p><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/what-makes-a-leader/">There’s a reason</a> you are the leader. You’ve lived the hard knocks, tallied the successes, learned from the rise and fall of others. Give the project your unique stamp. Your experiences have given you the wisdom and insight to further elevate the creation.</p>



<p>Acknowledge the contributions.</p>



<p>Find opportunities to openly praise and celebrate the work of your colleagues. <a href="https://www.greatplacetowork.com/resources/blog/creating-a-culture-of-recognition" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Your acknowledgment will</a> validate their work, improve their work quality and inspire them to think more innovatively in the future.</p>



<p>Seek additional opportunities.</p>



<p>You’ve birthed a creation for a predetermined purpose, but what else can you do with it? I amassed a library of audio recordings during the years I worked on creating my Maximum Impact Club lessons. One day an associate suggested we bundle and sell my top 100 lectures. I confess, I scoffed at her idea. Who would want to hear me for that long? But she convinced me otherwise, and she was right. That collection generated about $1 million. You’ve opened one door by simply breathing life into your creation. How many other knobs will you turn? Remember: No business opportunity is ever truly lost. But if you fail to see it, your competitor will surely find it.</p>



<p>Etch the 10-80-10 equation into your mind and let it guide—and simplify—your next endeavor. By channeling your energy into a project’s beginning and end, you’ll focus your skills where they count and pull them back when it’s your team’s time to shine.</p>



<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>This article originally appeared in the December 2017 <a href="https://store.success.com/by-media/success-magazine-december-2017-jennifer-hyman.html">issue of SUCCESS magazine</a> and has been updated. Photo by Jacob Lund/Shutterstock</em></p>

Some leaders prefer to be hands-on, while others are more hands-off. Here's why you should opt for the 10-80-10 rule to leadership.

Some leaders prefer to be hands-on, while others are more hands-off. Here's why you should opt for the 10-80-10 rule to leadership. | SUCCESS

To Reach Your Next Big Goal, Follow the 10-80-10 Rule

10-80-10 Rule: How to Reach Your Big Business Goal | SUCCESS

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happy colleagues with an abundance mindset

Personal Development

Personal Development Archives

Personal Development | SUCCESS | What Achievers Read

<p>Imagine you and I are walking down the street. You breathe in. You breathe out. I breathe in. I breathe out. We both need oxygen to survive. Would you worry that there would not be enough oxygen for both of us? Of course not—air is abundant.</p>



<p>Now imagine we are scuba diving and my scuba tank starts to malfunction. I signal that I need to share the oxygen in your tank. Suddenly the air becomes a precious commodity. Its scarcity makes us worry: What if there isn’t enough for both of us?</p>



<h2>Scarcity mentality versus abundance mentality</h2>



<p>Our attitudes toward scarcity and abundance in other aspects of our lives can greatly influence our success. Stephen Covey explains these concepts beautifully in his classic <a href="https://amzn.to/3jfMtqG" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People</em></a>. He writes:</p>



<p>“Most people are deeply scripted in what I call the Scarcity Mentality. They see life as having only so much, as though there were only one pie out there. And if someone were to get a big piece of the pie, it would mean less for everybody else.</p>



<p>“The Scarcity Mentality is the zero-sum paradigm of life. People with a Scarcity Mentality have a very difficult time sharing recognition and credit, power or profit—even with those who help in the production. They also have a very hard time being genuinely happy for the successes of other people—even, and sometimes especially, members of their own family or close friends and associates.”</p>



<p>Contrast that with the Abundance Mentality, which “flows out of a deep inner sense of personal worth and security. It is the paradigm that there is plenty out there and enough to spare for everybody. It results in sharing of prestige, of recognition, of profits, of decision making. It opens possibilities, options, alternatives and creativity.”</p>



<p>Covey tells us that when you live in a world of scarcity, you compete for available resources, even when there is an abundance of them.</p>



<h2>Developing an abundance mentality at work</h2>



<p>When I speak to audiences across the country, I often hear about the challenges people face in the workplace. More often than not, these difficulties stem from a scarcity mindset.</p>



<p>Leaders who allow a scarcity mindset to work its way into their culture pay a high price. When resources (money, opportunity, recognition) are perceived to be limited, then paranoia, fear and politics thrive. In this environment, people become nervous and afraid to make a mistake. As a result, teamwork and innovation suffer.</p>



<p>Effective leaders, on the other hand, develop and model an abundance mentality. By doing so, they create an environment where they can <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-use-your-influence-as-a-leader/">positively influence their team</a> and their employees can thrive. Here’s how to spread this positive mentality through your team:</p>



<h3 id="h-1-offer-words-of-appreciation">1. Offer words of appreciation.&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Let people know how much you value their contributions. People want to know that their work matters. Your influence and happiness will increase in direct proportion to the appreciation that you show your team. I have found this to be one of the fastest and simplest ways to build a more abundant life.</p>



<h3 id="h-2-choose-to-see-opportunity">2. Choose to see opportunity.&nbsp;</h3>



<p>The next time your team is faced with an obstacle, flip it around and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/4-ways-to-turn-obstacles-into-opportunities/">consider it an opportunity</a>. Face the challenge with optimism and make sure your team sees you modeling that attitude. You’ll be surprised at how quickly problems dissolve and how soon optimism becomes your default mechanism.</p>



<h3 id="h-3-remind-yourself-that-there-is-more-than-enough-fundamental-to-an-abundance-mentality">3. Remind yourself that there is more than enough—fundamental to an abundance mentality. </h3>



<p>As Covey said, there is enough pie to go around, so break that nasty habit of comparing yourself to others. Repeat after me: “There is plenty for everyone.” Say the sentence often enough, and it’ll become second nature.</p>



<h3 id="h-4-carefully-select-the-company-you-keep">4. Carefully select the company you keep.&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Mindsets are contagious. To keep your abundance mentality, limit your time with the “glass is half empty” people.</p>



<h3 id="h-5-spend-time-in-reflection">5. Spend time in reflection.&nbsp;</h3>



<p>Learn to acknowledge and appreciate all the positives in your life and work. <a href="https://www.tonyrobbins.com/mind-meaning/adopt-abundance-mindset/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gratitude is a powerful aspect</a> of an abundant mindset. A grateful heart is at the center of an abundant life. In his book, <a href="https://amzn.to/40cG5kP" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Life, the Truth, and Being Free</em></a>, author and speaker Steve Maraboli says, “Those with a grateful mindset tend to see the message in the mess. And even though life may knock them down, the grateful find reasons, if even small ones, to get up.”</p>



<h3 id="h-6-give-more-of-what-you-want-to-model-an-abundance-mentality">6. Give more of what you want to model an abundance mentality. </h3>



<p>Although it may sound counterintuitive, one of the best ways <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/11-ways-to-attract-abundance-in-your-life/">to increase your abundance</a> is to give. Don’t feel like you have enough time? Slip away from your obligations, even if just for an hour, to help someone in need. Don’t feel like you have enough money? Give to someone less fortunate. In other words, be a river, not a reservoir. Giving is sure to put you in a more abundant and appreciative frame of mind.</p>



<p>In <a href="https://amzn.to/3jbhtZ7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership</em></a>, I wrote about “The Law of the Picture,” which states that “people do what people see.” Reflect on <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/lead-by-example-4-elements-of-true-inspiration/">the influence you have</a> on your team. Which mindset do you model? Do you see a positive, abundance mentality reflected in your team leaders? Or are they pessimistic, stingy and competing among themselves for your attention? Remember, you set the tone for your organization.</p>



<p>I challenge you to foster an abundance-minded culture this month. Encourage people to see options and opportunities when they face obstacles or challenges. Express appreciation regularly, and recognize others who do the same. Communicate and share your hopes for yourself and your team.</p>



<p>Remember, we are all leaders. Leadership is influence—nothing more, nothing less. We influence the people around us wherever we are, whether it’s at home, at work, on the highway or in the checkout line. As you build an authentic and sincere abundance mentality, you will find that your positive outlook can spill over and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-science-of-changing-other-people/">influence the people around you</a>. </p>



<p>Let your mindset be your biggest asset!</p>



<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>This article was published in March 2015 and has been updated. Photo by Jacob Lund/Shutterstock</em></p>

As a leader, developing and modeling an abundance mentality will positively influence your team. Here's everything you need to know.

As a leader, developing and modeling an abundance mentality will positively influence your team. Here's everything you need to know. | SUCCESS

6 Tips to Develop and Model an Abundance Mindset

Abundance Mentality: 6 Tips to Grow and Model This Mindset | SUCCESS

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woman working to prevent business from failing

<p><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/10-daily-habits-holding-you-back-from-success/">What’s holding you back</a> in your business or career? What could make your business fail? It may be something you are doing now without even realizing it.</p>



<p>The seed of this lesson comes from the former president of Coca-Cola, Donald Keough. He wrote a book about ways people lose in business entitled <em><a href="https://amzn.to/3QbCQFq" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Ten Commandments for Business Failure</a></em>. A few of the points that I will share with you today come from that article.</p>



<h2>Why do businesses fail?</h2>



<p>So let’s get started. Here are some rules and attitudes to follow if you want to fail in business.</p>



<h3 id="h-1-quit-taking-risks">1. “Quit taking risks.”</h3>



<p>“A ship in the harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are for.” Isn’t that a great saying? Anybody who has been in business realizes that <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/take-that-big-risk-with-frank-oconnell/">risk is a big part of it</a>. The moment you decide not to take a risk is when your competitors will pass you by.</p>



<p>It isn’t the incompetent who destroy an organization. The incompetent never get in a position to destroy it. It is those who have achieved something and want to rest upon their achievements who are forever clogging things up.</p>



<h3 id="h-2-rely-totally-on-experts-and-research-to-make-decisions-for-you">2. Rely totally on experts and research to make decisions for you.</h3>



<p>Charles F. Kettering said, “Research is an organized method of trying to find out what you are going to do after you cannot do what you are doing now.” Of course, there are some wonderful consultants out there who add value to our businesses—the key word above is totally. When one allows what the experts say to <em>totally</em> govern decisions, that’s when trouble arises and businesses begin to fail.</p>



<h3 id="h-3-always-ask-yourself-what-would-the-founder-have-done">3. Always ask yourself, “What would the founder have done?”</h3>



<p>The simple fact is that no one knows what <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/everything-you-need-to-know-to-become-a-great-leader/">a great leader</a> would do in a new set of circumstances—except that they would not lose. There simply is no eternal <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-true-success-formula-for-achieving-your-goals/">formula for success</a> handed down through generations.</p>



<h3 id="h-4-concentrate-on-your-competitor-instead-of-your-customer-to-fail-in-business">4. Concentrate on your competitor instead of your customer to fail in business.</h3>



<p>I’ve read everything that has been written by the late John Wooden, the legendary basketball coach of the UCLA Bruins. Not only was he an incredible coach, but he was also an incredible teacher to his players and others who knew him.</p>



<p>In an interview, he was asked how he prepared his team for the next game. It was widely known in basketball coaching circles that Wooden wasn’t one to send his staff out to scout teams that were coming up on their schedule. He said, “The way to build a team isn’t to worry about your competitor; the way to build a team is to play to your strengths. If we play our game right, they will be playing our<em> </em>game. We won’t play their<em> </em>game.”</p>



<p>Wooden realized it’s much better to spend time making your team better than trying to anticipate what the other team was going to do.</p>



<p>Remember that the customer is king. The following customer service truths were compiled from various studies:</p>



<ul><li>Poor service is the No. 2 reason <a href="https://www.qualtrics.com/news/poor-customer-service-threatens-4-7-trillion-in-annual-revenue-globally-as-companies-struggle-to-retain-staff/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">companies lose business</a>.</li><li><a href="https://research.wpcarey.asu.edu/services-leadership/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/2020-RageStudyUPDATEDFINALFORRELEASE.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The average dissatisfied customer</a> tells seven others of their dissatisfaction.</li><li>Conversely, the average satisfied customer tells only 3.7 people.</li><li><a href="https://hyken.com/wp-content/uploads/ACA-2021-V2.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Customers pay more</a> for <a href="https://experience.invoca.com/2022-invoca-buyer-experience-report/p/2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">better service</a>.</li></ul>



<h3 id="h-5-administrative-concerns-take-precedence-over-all-others">5. Administrative concerns take precedence over all others.</h3>



<p>When the organization becomes bogged down with administrative issues and bureaucracy, growth can screech to a halt. Zimmerman’s Law says, “Regardless of whether a mission expands or contracts, administrative overhead continues to grow at a steady rate.” Isn’t that the truth!</p>



<h3 id="h-6-be-inflexible-if-you-want-your-business-to-fail">6. “Be inflexible” if you want your business to fail.</h3>



<p>A wise person once said, “Inflexibility is one of the worst human failings. You can learn to check impetuosity, overcome fear with confidence and laziness with discipline. But for rigidity of mind there is no antidote. It carries the seeds of its own destruction.”</p>



<p><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/5-reasons-why-flexibility-is-key/">Generating this flexible thinking</a> requires an emphasis on high-quality and strategic thinking, a commitment to principles and a focus on learning. It also helps to have a cultural bias toward improvisation and innovation within your framework of principles, as well as a coherent strategy.</p>



<h3 id="h-7-look-to-someone-else-to-do-your-thinking-for-you">7. Look to someone else to do your thinking for you.</h3>



<p>Author Gordon MacDonald calls this “mental flabbiness.” He writes, “In our pressurized society, people who are out of shape mentally usually fall victim to ideas and systems that are destructive to the human spirit and to human relationships. They are victimized because they have not taught themselves how to think; nor have they set themselves to the lifelong pursuit of the growth of the mind. Not having the facility of a strong mind, they grow dependent upon the thoughts and opinions of others. Rather than deal with ideas and issues, they reduce themselves to lives full of rules, regulations and programs.”</p>



<h3 id="h-8-fail-in-business-by-using-the-motto-that-s-good-enough">8. Fail in business by using the motto, “That’s good enough.”</h3>



<p>Nothing is changed by a mediocre performance.</p>



<p>Complacency is a blight that saps energy, dulls attitudes and causes a drain on the brain. The first symptom is satisfaction with things as they are. The second is rejection of things as they might be. “Good enough” becomes today’s watchword and tomorrow’s standard. Complacency makes people fear the unknown, mistrust the untried and abhor the new. Like water, the person who is complacent follows the easiest course—downhill. They draw fake strength from looking back.</p>



<p><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-bring-strategic-excellence-into-your-life/">Excellence</a> is not a policy decision. It is a mindset, an attitude, a way of thinking and behaving. We create a mindset of excellence in our businesses, our sports teams, our churches and our homes not merely by demanding or preaching excellence, but by modeling it. Once we have created a climate where quality is not just something we do but a feature of who we are as an organization, then the people in our organization will be inspired to go far beyond policy, far beyond duties and job descriptions, in order to maintain the organization’s reputation for excellence.</p>



<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>This article was published in September 2011 and has been updated. Photo by</em> <em>Dragon Images/Shutterstock</em></p>

Wondering why do businesses fail? Here are eight mistakes in rules and attitudes you should avoid making because they'll cause you to lose.

Wondering why do businesses fail? Here are eight mistakes in rules and attitudes you should avoid making because they'll cause you to lose. | SUCCESS

8 Ways to Lose in Business

Why Do Businesses Fail? 8 Mistakes You Might Be Making | SUCCESS

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4 Important Truths of Lasting Professional Relationships

Relationships

Relationships Archives

Relationships | SUCCESS | What Achievers Read

<p>Some days it feels like we’re in constant communication, flooded by a nonstop stream of status updates and tweets and three-word questions: “What’s ur eta?”</p>



<p>You’d think we would be closer than ever. But more messages do not equal<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/3-things-successful-people-know-about-healthy-relationships"> </a>deeper relationships. Don’t get me wrong, my staff pushed me on the social media bandwagon a long time ago, and I’m glad for it. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/tiktok-is-here-to-stay-is-your-brand-ready/">It’s another tool</a> to share ideas, receive feedback and (hopefully) offer a daily dose of inspiration.</p>



<p>But chattering over cyberspace is not the same as <a href="https://www.betterup.com/blog/face-to-face-communication#:~:text=Face%2Dto%2Dface%20interaction%20strengthens,it%20is%20for%20your%20team." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">connecting in person</a>. Using fingers is not the same as using voices. Emojis do not convey true emotion.</p>



<p>Strong communication and leadership are all about connecting. If you can connect with others at every level—one-on-one, in groups and with an audience—your relationships are stronger, your sense of community improves, your ability to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/8-tips-to-improve-team-collaboration/">work in a team</a> increases, your influence strengthens and your productivity skyrockets. Want to build strong partnerships? Learn to make your words count.</p>



<p>There’s a formula, it seems, for<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/whats-the-secret-of-the-best-places-to-work-compassion-and-connection"> </a><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/beyond-first-impressions-6-ways-to-deepen-your-connections/">making meaningful connections</a>, and I think I’ve cracked it. Here are the key elements:</p>



<h2 id="h-1-it-s-not-about-you"><strong>1. It’s not about you.</strong></h2>



<p>The next time you hold a conversation or give a talk, make a mental tally of “I” statements. If you’re spouting off “I” statements every few lines, you have a “me” problem.</p>



<p>The ego can quickly swell in the leadership business. I’m lucky I have my wife, Margaret, and a team of trusted advisers to keep me in check. But in these days of selfies and status updates, anyone can fall into the “me” trap.</p>



<p>Focus instead on the person in front of you. Connecting begins when your companion feels valued. First time meeting? Do your homework to discover something about them before the handshake. Find common ground, shared values and interests. Remember what you’ve learned, and ask follow-up questions about your new acquaintance’s family, hobbies and career goals at your next encounter.</p>



<p><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-speak-well-and-listen-better/">Listen to them</a>.<strong> </strong>Really listen. During the first couple of pastoral counseling sessions I led, I could hardly wait for folks to finish recounting their troubles so I could offer my solutions. How many of you have mentally rehearsed your response before your companion could even complete their statement?&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="h-2-words-say-only-so-much"><strong>2. Words say only so much.</strong></h2>



<p>Have you ever met with, or attended a talk by, someone considered an expert in a field expecting to be dazzled but found yourself doodling on a notepad instead? The encounter could be packed with information, but if the speaker talks in a monotone, fails to make eye contact or hides behind a podium, you’re not likely to feel much inspiration.</p>



<p>Connecting takes energy, pouring your heart and soul into your encounters. Many years ago, a friend and I were applying for a part-time job. We were on equal footing, I thought, but he was hired and I wasn’t. The manager later explained that when he asked the two of us to follow him to his office, he noticed my friend march through the store with energy, purpose and confidence. I hadn’t<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/10-ways-to-become-a-more-charismatic-person"> </a>conveyed that same enthusiasm. Tough way to learn a lesson, but what an important lesson to learn.</p>



<p>During your next one-on-one conversation, lecture or group meeting, ask yourself:</p>



<ul><li>Am I standing straight?</li><li>Are my arms by my sides, relaxed and open?</li><li>Am I smiling?</li><li>Am I adding inflection and interest to my voice?</li><li>Am I making eye contact with everyone in the room?</li><li>Am I moving comfortably and confidently through the space?</li></ul>



<p>Your nonverbal message is <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/rohn-8-ways-to-master-the-art-of-communication/">just as important</a> as your verbal message.</p>



<h2 id="h-3-you-can-t-be-an-authority-without-authenticity"><strong>3. You can’t be an authority without authenticity.</strong></h2>



<p>Just as children can detect hypocrisy in their parents, your audience, colleagues and partners will see right through hollow words. I like to think of connecting as having three prongs: what we know, what we feel and what we do.</p>



<p>Think about it: If I try to communicate something I <em>know</em> but do not <em>do</em>, my communication is theoretical. If I lecture on something I <em>feel</em> but do not <em>know</em>, my communication is unfounded. If I talk about something I <em>do</em> but do not <em>feel</em>, my communication is mechanical.</p>



<p>Any message you convey must have a piece of you. You need to be more than a messenger. You must be the message you want to deliver.</p>



<h2 id="h-4-connecting-takes-patience"><strong>4. Connecting takes patience.</strong></h2>



<p>Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Sherry Turkle studies how technology has changed interpersonal relationships. During<a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/sherry_turkle_alone_together" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> a 2012 TED Talk</a>, she recounted this exchange:</p>



<p>“A 50-year-old businessman lamented to me that he feels he doesn’t have colleagues anymore at work. When he goes to work, he doesn’t stop by to talk to anybody, he doesn’t call. And he says he doesn’t want to interrupt his colleagues because, he says, ‘They’re too busy on their email.’ But then he stops himself, and he says, ‘You know, I’m not telling you the truth. I’m the one who doesn’t want to be interrupted. I think I should want to, but actually I’d rather just do things on my BlackBerry.’”</p>



<p>We need to break down the walls that technology has erected, and that’s going to take time and patience. Real connection means looking up into faces when our tendency is to stare down at screens. It means <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/maintaining-friendships-is-hard-heres-why-its-crucial-for-your-well-being/">setting aside time</a> for small talk instead of shooting off text talk. It means delaying your own agenda in order to understand and respond to the needs of others. I’m ready to silence my gadgets. Are you?</p>



<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>This article originally appeared in the<a href="https://store.successcom.wpenginepowered.com/by-media/magazines/success-magazine-august-2017-simon-sinek.html"> </a><a href="https://store.success.com/by-media/magazines/success-magazine-august-2017-simon-sinek.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">August 2017 issue</a> of </em>SUCCESS<em> magazine and has been updated. Photo by SolStock/IStock</em></p>

Real connection means looking up into faces when our tendency is to stare down at screens.

Real connection means looking up into faces when our tendency is to stare down at screens. | SUCCESS

4 Important Truths of Lasting Professional Relationships | SUCCESS

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John C. Maxwell: Instead of Complaining, Remember These 10 Things

<p>A faint but discernible dividing line<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/the-5-non-negotiable-disciplines-of-a-high-achiever"> </a>separates achievers from dreamers, but what is it that makes the difference?</p>



<p><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/why-attitude-matters/">Attitude</a>. Achievers have a <a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/i-can-do-anything-mindset-5220083" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">can-do attitude</a> that sets them apart from mere dreamers. Achievers are sold out to success—no matter the obstacles—and are willing to put forth the effort and pay the price to reach their goals.</p>



<p>Here are 10 tips to reveal your own can-do attitude:</p>



<h2 id="h-1-disown-your-helplessness"><strong>1. Disown your helplessness.</strong></h2>



<p>Can-do people aggressively pursue solutions, and, in the process, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-art-of-problem-solving-4-creative-strategies-to-tackle-your-biggest-obstacles/">uncover creative solutions</a> others never even try to find. Rather than wallowing in helplessness, can-do leaders search diligently to<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/4-ways-to-turn-obstacles-into-opportunities"> overcome the obstacles</a> in front of them.</p>



<h2 id="h-2-take-the-bull-by-the-horns"><strong>2. Take the bull by the horns.</strong></h2>



<p>Can-do people are<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/5-tips-to-overcome-your-probably-irrational-fears"> </a>fearless. They go straight to the source of the issue to find their solution. Their effort commands attention as they wrestle a problem to the ground with expediency. They don’t wait; they initiate.</p>



<h2 id="h-3-enter-the-no-whining-zone"><strong>3. Enter the no whining zone.</strong></h2>



<p>Can-do people <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/5-steps-to-stop-complaining/">abstain from complaining</a>. They recognize its futility and guard their minds and mouths against indulging in this time-wasting activity.</p>



<h2 id="h-4-put-on-another-person-s-pair-of-shoes"><strong>4. Put on another person’s pair of shoes.</strong></h2>



<p>Can-do people<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/why-the-empathetic-leader-is-the-best-leader"> </a><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/wander-woman/201911/5-steps-developing-real-empathy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">empathize with others</a>, attempting to see any predicament from the other person’s perspective in order to make the best decisions.</p>



<h2 id="h-5-nurture-your-passion"><strong>5. Nurture your passion.</strong></h2>



<p>Can-do people are immune to burnout. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/do-you-have-to-be-passionate-about-your-job/">They love what they do</a> because they’ve learned how to fuel the fire that keeps them moving. The prize is not given to the person who’s the smartest, nor to the person with advantages in resources and position, but to<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/john-c-maxwell-how-to-carve-out-your-lifes-passion"> </a>the person with passion.</p>



<h2 id="h-6-walk-the-second-mile"><strong>6. Walk the second mile.</strong></h2>



<p>Can-do people exceed expectations. While others settle for an acceptable solution, they aren’t satisfied until they have achieved the unimagined. They set expectations for themselves higher than what is dictated by the people or situations around them.</p>



<h2 id="h-7-quit-stewing-and-start-doing"><strong>7. Quit stewing and start doing.</strong></h2>



<p>Can-do people take action. While others are crippled by worry, fear and anxiety, they have the fortitude to press forward. The perfect moment when all is safe and assured may never arrive, so why wait for it?</p>



<h2 id="h-8-go-with-the-flow"><strong>8. Go with the flow.</strong></h2>



<p>Can-do people can<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/do-you-have-adaptability"> </a><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/3-ways-to-get-better-at-dealing-with-change/">adjust to change</a>. They don’t get caught griping about an unexpected curve in the road, they accept transition with an optimistic outlook.</p>



<h2 id="h-9-follow-through-to-the-end"><strong>9. Follow through to the end.</strong></h2>



<p>Can-do people not only initiate, they finish. They are<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/success-takes-time-and-hard-work-follow-these-5-steps-to-stick-with-it-to-the-end"> </a>self-starters with the capacity to close the deal.</p>



<h2 id="h-10-expect-a-return-as-a-result-of-your-commitment"><strong>10. Expect a return as a result of your commitment.</strong></h2>



<p>If you make an all-out commitment with a can-do attitude, expect a return.<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/rohn-what-does-it-take-to-live-your-dreams"> </a>Passionate commitment is contagious, and resources follow resolve. Committed leaders will reap rewards and find open doors as others are drawn to the excitement and energy emanating from them.</p>



<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>This article was published in November 2014 and has been updated. Photo by Kerkez/IStock</em></p>

How you can be a can-do person with the right attitude

How you can be a can-do person with the right attitude | SUCCESS

John C. Maxwell: Instead of Complaining, Remember These 10 Things | SUCCESS

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4 Steps to Handling Criticism Like a Boss

<p>I grew up in a wonderful, loving, positive family. I don’t ever recall my parents criticizing anyone—it just wasn’t allowed. So you can imagine the transition I had to make when I got out on my own and began to receive the stinging criticisms of those I was leading. In fact, one of the most difficult emotional hurdles I faced was in handling criticism. And finally, a wise friend told me, “John, if you’re getting kicked in the rear it means you’re out front.”&nbsp;</p>



<p>What he was saying was if you’re going to be a leader, you’re going to be criticized—so get used to it. The price of leadership is criticism. No one pays much attention to the last-place finishers. But when you’re in front, everything gets noticed, so it’s important to <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2022/02/16/how-to-accept-criticism-and-grow/?sh=2388082fd564" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">learn to handle criticism constructively</a>. The following four-step process, which I included in my book <em><a href="https://amzn.to/3JOG8eD" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Leadership Gold</a></em>, has helped when people criticize me as a leader. I would like to pass it on to you.</p>



<h2 id="h-1-know-yourself">1. Know yourself</h2>



<p>This is a reality issue. Early in my career, I wanted to make everybody happy. It took me a couple of years to realize that if I was going to lead, there would inevitably be tough decisions that were going to make some people upset. I asked myself: <em>Do I want to make people happy or do I really want to lead?</em> I understood clearly that I had to begin to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/6-steps-to-discover-your-true-self/">know who I was</a>.</p>



<p>Over the years, people have tried to help me know myself. They often begin with the phrase, “I’m going to tell you something for your own good.” I’ve discovered that when they tell me something for my own good, they never seem to have anything good to tell me! Yet, it’s these conversations that have helped me learn much about myself, including discovering many of my weaknesses. I have realized that what I need to hear most is often what I want to hear the least. Some of the best people who ever entered my life to teach me something were my critics, not my friends.</p>



<h2>2. Change yourself</h2>



<p>This is a responsibility issue. In the process of handling criticism effectively, you not only need to know yourself, you have to change yourself. Herbert Agar said, “The truth that makes men free is, for the most part, the truth which men prefer not to hear.” The John Maxwell translation of this is simple: You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you mad.</p>



<p>Here are the questions I ask myself to determine whether criticism is constructive or destructive:</p>



<ul><li><strong>Who criticized me?</strong> Adverse criticism from a wise person is more desirable than the enthusiastic approval of a fool.</li><li><strong>How was it given?</strong> Were the words judgmental or did they give me the benefit of the doubt? In other words, what was the spirit in which the criticism was given?</li><li><strong>Why was it given?</strong> Was it given to inflict personal hurt or for my benefit?</li></ul>



<p>Jonas Salk, who discovered the polio vaccine, had many critics in spite of his grand accomplishments. He once made this interesting observation: “People will tell you that you are wrong. Then they will tell you that you are right, but what you’re doing is really not important. Finally, they will admit that you are right and what you are doing is very important. But after all, they knew it all the time.”</p>



<p>Regardless of whether the criticism was legitimate or not, I have discovered that my attitude toward words I do not want to hear determines whether I grow from them or groan beneath them. Therefore, I have determined to not be defensive when criticized, but to look for the grain of truth, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-change-your-habits/">make the necessary changes</a> and take the high road.</p>



<h2>3. Accept yourself</h2>



<p>This is a maturity issue. I saved the following quote from “Dear Abby” a few years ago because I love her definition of maturity. She says, “Maturity is: The ability to stick with the job until it’s finished. The ability to do the job without being supervised. The ability to carry money without spending it. And the ability to bear an injustice without wanting to get even.”</p>



<p>Maturity also enables you to accept yourself, which is the first step in becoming a better person. Carl Rogers said, “The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.”</p>



<p>Leo Buscaglia counseled, “The easiest thing to be in the world is you. The most difficult thing to be is what other people want you to be.” If you worry about what people think of you, it’s because you have more confidence in their opinion than you <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/8-daily-tips-for-building-self-confidence/">have in your own</a>. As Judith Bardwick said, “Real confidence comes from knowing and accepting yourself—<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-a-swot-analysis-can-help-you-gain-self-awareness/">your strengths and limitations</a>—in contrast to depending on affirmation from others.”</p>



<h2>4. Forget yourself</h2>



<p>This is a security issue. While we are growing up, a lot of us spend a good deal of time worrying about <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/4-tips-to-help-you-stop-comparing-yourself-to-others/">what the world thinks</a> of us. By the time we reach 60, we realize the world wasn’t paying much attention. Secure people forget themselves so they can focus on others. This allows us to be secure enough to take criticism and even serve the critic.</p>



<p>Secure people know who they are. They know they make mistakes and have weaknesses, but they don’t have to lower themselves to the level of what is being said about them. Secure people don’t have to defend themselves—instead, they find it easy to <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/emotional-nourishment/202104/how-laughing-yourself-can-be-good-your-well-being" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">laugh at themselves</a>.</p>



<p>One of my favorite quotes is, “Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves. They shall never cease to be entertained.” For years, I have laughed at myself for the foolish things I have done over the course of my life. I even learned to laugh about a heart attack I had 10 years ago.</p>



<p>During my recovery, I decided I would spend a day reflecting on what would have happened if I had died. What would my funeral service be like? How many people would show up? As everyone knows, the size of the crowd the day they bury you will be dependent on the weather. Next, what do they do after they put you in the ground? Yes, 30 minutes after you are buried, the biggest question on the minds of your family and friends is how to get to the community center the fastest to make sure they get some potato salad.</p>



<p>When it comes to criticism, it’s important to first understand that half of the stuff people say about you is true. So just take inventory, suck it up and change. And the other half they say about you is not—they are just revealing issues in their own lives. If you know yourself, you will know what you are good at and what you are not. Start changing the things that are necessary and forget yourself so that you can focus on others. The criticism will never stop, but if you are able to get to this fourth stage, criticism won’t have a negative effect on your life. That’s a big lesson I had to learn that has helped me as a leader, and I hope it helps you, too.&nbsp;</p>



<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>This article was published in August 2009 and has been updated. Photo by Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock</em></p>

I asked myself: Do I want to make people happy or do I really want to lead? I understood clearly that I had to begin to know who I was.

I asked myself: Do I want to make people happy or do I really want to lead? I understood clearly that I had to begin to know who I was. | SUCCESS

4 Steps to Handling Criticism Like a Boss | SUCCESS

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John Maxwell's Guide to Making Good Decisions Better

<p>Noted philosopher William James said that once a decision is made, you should stop worrying and start working.<strong> </strong>It’s not always what we know that makes a decision good—and maybe even great—but what we do to implement and execute it.</p>



<p>Let me explain. On June 14, 1969, my wife Margaret and I got married. That was a good decision. But, 53 years later, I’m here to tell you that that good decision has become a great one because of what we have done with our life since.</p>



<p>Too many people overrate decision-making and underrate decision-managing. If you manage&nbsp; your decision incorrectly, you will receive only average results. But manage it correctly, and you will see great results.</p>



<p>We need both good decision making and managing for our decisions to get off the ground and become great, and doing so starts with prioritizing. But with all the decisions we make daily, how do we prioritize the decision-making process?</p>



<h2 id="h-what-s-the-main-event-of-your-day">What’s the main event of your day?</h2>



<p>I want to share with you a very simple <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-separate-the-urgent-from-the-important/">approach to prioritizing</a> that I have used for years. Every morning, I take five minutes, look at my calendar, and ask myself: <em>Of all the people I’m going to see, and all the things I’m going to do today, what is the main event?</em></p>



<p>How do you know what your main event is? Here are a few questions I ask myself to help me come up with my main event. I call them the three R’s of prioritizing:</p>



<ol><li>What is required of me?&nbsp;</li><li>What gives me the greatest return?&nbsp;</li><li>What is rewarding to me?</li></ol>



<p>Each morning, spend five minutes going through these questions, and once you have come up with your main event, I want you to spend more time, energy and focus on that main event than any other task in your day. You don’t have to be good at everything you do throughout the day, but you want to be prepared so you can accomplish your main event of the day.</p>



<h2 id="h-decision-making-traps">Decision-making traps</h2>



<p>Too often, leaders <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-pandemic-sabotaged-our-decision-making-abilities-heres-how-to-start-regaining-that-self-confidence/">fall into traps</a> that cause them to make faulty decisions without realizing that their methodology is flawed or their thinking lacks the necessary precision. Here are some specific pitfalls that can sabotage your efforts to express yourself wisely and decisively:</p>



<ol><li><strong>Procrastinating. </strong>If you tend to dread the finality of taking a stand or calling the shots, you may be tempted to <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/still-procrastinating/202104/tips-overcoming-indecision" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">put off the decision</a>.&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Surrendering.</strong> Exceptionally hard decisions can deplete so much of your energy that you finally cave in. Rather than surrender, break a big decision into its smaller components and address those segments bit by bit.&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Hiding behind information.</strong> Many managers’ exacting standards crave unending stacks of data before rendering a decision. The more facts and figures they accumulate, the more they want before they feel ready to decide.&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Saying yes to everything.</strong> You’re not making true decisions if you’re always giving the go-ahead. Charles E. Nielsen nailed it when he said, “When, against one’s will, one is high-pressured into making a hurried decision, the best answer is always no because no is more easily changed to yes than yes is changed to no.”</li></ol>



<p>I’m reminded of a great story that was told to me a few years back about former President Ronald Reagan that illustrates what can happen to us if we procrastinate making decisions. When he was a small child, he had an aunt who took him to a shoemaker to make a pair of shoes. When they arrived, the shoemaker asked the young Reagan whether he wanted the toes of his shoes squared or rounded. Not sure of the style he wanted, he told the shoemaker he would come back in a few days and let him know.</p>



<p>A few days later, he returned, only to tell the shoemaker he still needed a few more days to make his decision. As soon as he walked in the door the third time, the shoemaker handed him his shoes with one square-toed shoe and one round-toed shoe. Reagan said years later it was a lesson that stayed with him the rest of his life. When he wore those shoes, he said, “It was a visual reminder that if I don’t make the decision, someone else will.”</p>



<h2>Managing good decisions&nbsp;</h2>



<p>We have talked about <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/be-better-at-decision-making/">making good decisions</a>—now, let’s discuss how we can make these decisions better. You do this by <em>managing</em> good decisions. From my book <a href="https://amzn.to/3PO8cjF" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Today Matters</em></a>:</p>



<p>“The first ingredient of success—making good decisions—has no real value without the second, which is <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/3-keys-to-developing-daily-disciplines/">practicing good discipline</a>. Let’s face it: Everyone wants to be thin, but nobody wants to diet. Everyone wants to live long; not many want to exercise. Everybody wants money, yet few want to work hard. Successful people conquer their feelings and form the habit of doing things unsuccessful people do not like to do. The bookends of success are starting and finishing. Decisions help us start. Discipline helps us finish. Most people want to avoid pain, and discipline is often painful. But we need to recognize that there are really two kinds of pain when it comes to our daily conduct. There’s the pain of self-discipline and the pain of regret. Many people avoid the pain of self-discipline because it’s the easy thing to do. What they may not realize is that the pain of self-discipline is momentary but the payoff is long-lasting.”</p>



<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>This article was published in April 2010 and has been updated. Photo by Jade Destiny/Unsplash</em></p>

With all the decisions we make daily, how do we prioritize the decision-making process?

With all the decisions we make daily, how do we prioritize the decision-making process? | SUCCESS

John Maxwell&#8217;s Guide to Making Good Decisions Better

John Maxwell's Guide to Making Good Decisions Better | SUCCESS

https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/John-Maxwells-Guide-to-Making-Good-Decisions-Better.jpg

<p>How do you <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/everything-you-need-to-know-to-become-a-great-leader/">judge good leadership</a>? In business, return on investment (ROI) is often used to measure success. When you evaluate an employee, you measure their individual achievements. When you consider a division’s success, you look at profitability. But what is a <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2019/10/21/the-real-roi-on-leadership-is-impact/?sh=4e96a04f6d83" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">good ROI for a leader</a>?</p>



<p>Since ROI equals results, it’s logical to judge effective leadership based on team outcomes: Did we achieve our goals? Did the squadron take the hill? Did the offense move the ball? These are important measurements, and I agree pushing for results is a primary goal of leadership, but it should never be the primary method.</p>



<p>Here’s what I mean by that: Many leaders focus so much on results that they become drivers. They view and treat their team members as cogs in the machine of progress. They might achieve some success with that kind of leadership, but it’s short-lived.<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/videos/youtube/ted-talks-success-is-a-continuous-journey"> </a>Long-term success <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/4-ways-to-be-a-more-collaborative-leader/">requires ongoing cooperation</a> between a leader and their team.</p>



<p>Leading an organization is as much about soul as it is about systems. Effective leadership finds its source in understanding.</p>



<p>Herb Kelleher, co-founder of Southwest Airlines, described how to earn that type of ongoing cooperation: “Leading an organization is as much about soul as it is about systems.<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/12-things-all-effective-leaders-do"> </a>Effective leadership finds its source in understanding. Unless a leader has an awareness of humanity, a sensitivity toward the hopes and aspirations of those he leads, and the capacity to analyze the emotional forces that motivate conduct, he will be unable to produce and be successful regardless of how often other incentives are given.”</p>



<p>Think about the words Kelleher used to define effective leadership: <em>understanding, awareness, sensitivity, soul</em>. I believe Kelleher is saying that the first step on the journey toward results is<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/whats-the-secret-of-the-best-places-to-work-compassion-and-connection"> </a>compassion. This leads to cooperation, which strengthens the relationship. And when followers feel they have<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/john-addison-why-you-should-make-friends-with-everyone-on-your-team"> </a>a strong <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2022/04/20/14-ways-to-build-manager-employee-relationships-based-on-mutual-trust/?sh=1af9ed727a6f" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">relationship with their leader</a>, they willingly offer their best work, which naturally produces results.</p>



<p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>Compassion &gt; Cooperation &gt; Relationship &gt; Results</strong></p>



<p>If compassion is the first step, how do you develop it? If you’re a driver, what I’m about to advise might be<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/blog/4-tips-for-leaving-your-comfort-zone"> </a>outside of your comfort zone. But it’s worth the investment of time and energy because of the enormous long-term return. Before people will cooperate with their leader, they are looking for these questions to be answered: <em>Do you care for me? Can you help me? Can I trust you?</em></p>



<h2 id="h-1-do-you-care-for-me">1. Do you care for me?</h2>



<p>Remember the cogs in the machine? OK, forget it. It’s the wrong mental image. An organization is composed of individual human beings with needs, hopes and desires. To answer this question correctly,<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/become-a-servant-leader-in-4-steps"> </a>a leader must value people more than projects. Choose to see people as humans rather than resources. This involves getting to know your team members, learning as much as you can about them and seeking to understand what motivates them.</p>



<p>Express the value they bring. Ask how their kids are. Be interested in their answers. Tell them why you believe in them. When you make it your goal to value people for who they are—not for what they can do for you—that will show in your actions.</p>



<h2 id="h-2-can-you-help-me">2. Can you help me?</h2>



<p>This might seem counterintuitive. After all, you need your followers to help you in order to achieve the mission of the team. The late motivational expert Zig Ziglar said, “You can have everything in life you want, if you will just<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/if-you-want-to-win-help-others-win-first"> </a>help other people get what they want.” Quite simply, people won’t cooperate for long in a one-way relationship. Help them to help yourself.</p>



<p>After valuing your team members, your next task is to figure out how you can add value to them. What does each person need or want that you have the capacity to provide? How can you make a positive difference in their life today? When you<a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/article/15-inspiring-quotes-about-giving"> </a>unselfishly give to someone, you receive their loyalty and support in return.</p>



<h2 id="h-3-can-i-trust-you">3. Can I trust you?</h2>



<p>Compassion is recognized by followers when the leader is consistent in showing it. This question is answered through the actions you take on a regular basis. It takes time to build trust—time spent keeping your promises, <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/insight-therapy/201912/follow-the-action-behavior-speaks-more-truth-words" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">matching your actions to your words</a>, and consistently valuing and adding value to your team.</p>



<p>Growing and maintaining trust takes intentionality and commitment. And although building trust takes time, it can be torn down in an instant. To continue answering <em>yes</em> to this question, consistency is key.</p>



<p>Results are important for a leader. It’s natural to look at the far-away destination and believe the journey toward it is a straight line. But the ROI for that choice is limited and temporary. The best path to results begins with compassion, leading to cooperation and fostering <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/13-key-traits-of-strong-professional-relationships/">strong working relationships</a>, after which you arrive at the best results.</p>



<p>If you choose to answer <em>yes</em> to the above three questions for your followers, it will be worth the time and effort. Your journey toward results will be set in motion, and if you’re consistent, you’ll achieve them with a team that jells well and is truly motivated to pursue success together.</p>



<p><em>This article originally appeared in the April 2017 </em><a href="https://store.success.com/success-magazine-april-2017-jocko-willink.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>issue of </em>SUCCESS<em> magazine</em></a><em> and has been updated. Photo by</em> <em>Shutterstock</em></p>

Being a compassionate leader is worth the investment of time and energy because of the enormous long-term return.

Ask yourself 3 questions to build a loyal and supportive team. | SUCCESS

Why a Compassionate Leader Gets Results

Why a Compassionate Leader Gets Results | SUCCESS

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Future of Work

Future of Work Archives

Future of Work | SUCCESS | What Achievers Read

<p>Although I am known for my books on leadership, I have studied the subject of success for 30-plus years. I have asked many questions of successful people trying to discover, first, what made them successful, and second, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/success-on-your-own-terms/">what they think success is</a>. My hope is that in sharing my findings with you, they will help you along your journey toward reaching your full potential.</p>



<h2 id="h-knowing-your-purpose-in-life">Knowing your purpose in life</h2>



<p>Over the years as I have watched and listened to successful people, I have discovered a common thread: They know why they’re here. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/what-is-my-purpose-in-life/">Knowing their purpose in life</a> gives them stability. And when others around them start abandoning their causes and jumping ship when life gets tough, these people use this assurance to steady the boat, to ride out the storm because they have a true North Star. It becomes an anchor in their life—a confidence based upon knowledge of purpose. Someone once said there are two great days in life—the day you are born and the day you discover why. I’m here to tell you that highly successful people have discovered why.</p>



<h2 id="h-passion-the-great-energizer">Passion, the great energizer</h2>



<p>I think there are two paths we can take to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/marcia-hunter-on-following-your-dreams/">discover our purpose</a>. The first is passion. What are you passionate about? What do you really care about? What would you live for? What would you die for?</p>



<p>Passion is not 100% foolproof, but it will get you into the location, the area, the neighborhood of what your purpose really is. Passion is a wonderful thing; it’s what I call the great energizer. It’s no secret that passionate people have a lot of energy. That’s why when you see successful people, they are loving what they’re doing and they’re doing what they love. They never run out of energy and they can’t wait to get going. If you find a person who has passion, you find a person who has energy. Conversely, if you find <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/do-you-have-to-be-passionate-about-your-job/">a person who lacks passion</a>, normally they will lack energy.</p>



<p>People who are highly successful love the journey as much as the destination. And even though they haven’t arrived at their goal, that doesn’t mean they’re discouraged; they’re still encouraged because they still have fuel in their tank, because they have this incredible amount of passion.</p>



<p>It’s also possible to be very passionate about something you’re not good at, and that’s not a good thing. If you don’t believe me, just watch the singing tryouts at American Idol. Bless their hearts, these kids are extremely passionate about their singing, but when the sound comes out of their mouths it’s a train wreck. Everybody—the judges, the audience—is sitting there cringing, listening to this person who has great passion about what he or she is doing. Everybody knows it’s horrible. Everybody except the person singing.</p>



<p>Now when I see passionate people singing with all of the off-key gusto that they can muster, I always ask myself, where are their friends? Shouldn’t somebody step up and say, “Excuse me, my friend, you don’t have what it takes.”</p>



<p>So passion can only get you so far. It may get you into the location, but it’s only about 80% accurate. But the next path you take to discover your purpose is 100% accurate—I guarantee it.</p>



<h2 id="h-entering-the-strength-zone">Entering the strength zone&nbsp;</h2>



<p>The second path is what I call your Strength Zone path. That’s not my phrase; it’s from Marcus Buckingham’s book <em><a href="https://amzn.to/3b8f1hF" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Now, Discover Your Strengths</a></em>. In other words, what you’ve got to do is find the path that enables you to answer the question: <a href="https://hbr.org/2022/03/ask-an-expert-how-do-i-deal-with-being-average" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">What do I do well</a>? What are my strengths? What am I gifted in? What is the talent, the uniqueness that sets me apart from everybody else?</p>



<p>Everyone has a uniqueness about them that, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/why-my-imperfections-are-my-greatest-strengths/">if they could discover it</a>, fine-tune it, work hard and grow in it, would set them apart. The Strength Zone path takes your gifts and talent and begins to lift you above the crowd. No one has ever been successful doing something that they didn’t like or can’t do well. And yet I see millions of people every day doing something they don’t like doing and they wonder why they’re not a success.</p>



<p>People don’t pay for average&nbsp;</p>



<p>Here is the best way I could explain it: People simply will not pay for average. They never have, they never will. In fact, what amazes me about America is we have fallen in love with being average. But what we need to wake up to is that being average has never caught anybody’s attention or made anybody go the extra mile. Being average has never helped anyone rise above the crowd. Average is average. But why are we so in love with average? Think about it for a moment. After you come home from a hard day’s work, you don’t look at your significant other and say, “Honey, we’ve worked hard today so let’s treat ourselves and go out to an average restaurant.”</p>



<p>And when the hostess is about to seat you, you don’t say, “Oh, by the way we want an average table. Yes, the table overlooking the water is very beautiful but we’d really like a table where no one likes to sit. And lastly, could you send over an average waiter?”</p>



<p>And when the average waiter comes, you don’t say, “We don’t want to know what your specialties are. No, we don’t want to know what you’re good at. What’s average here? Do you have anything back in the kitchen nobody has ordered?”</p>



<p>You don’t go to an average restaurant, sit at an average table, have an average waiter, have an average meal, and walk out of that average place and say, “Sweetheart, what an experience. We must do this again next week!”</p>



<p>People don’t pay for average. So what makes one think they can have an average business, an average career or an average life and make a difference? Average doesn’t make a difference. Average is average.</p>



<h2 id="h-stop-working-on-your-weaknesses">Stop working on your weaknesses</h2>



<p>Next, I’m going to tell you something that goes against all of the rules you have ever been taught or have ever believed about weaknesses. I know there may be some emotional resistance, but consider buying into this because it will set you free. From this moment on, <a href="https://www.inc.com/quora/why-you-should-stop-wasting-time-trying-to-improve-your-weaknesses.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stop working on your weaknesses</a>. Why? Well, it’s very simple. It’s because we are weak in our weaknesses. Unlike the friends of bad American Idol contestants, I’m going to tell you to quit doing something you’re not any good at.</p>



<p>Our education system has taught us to work on our weaknesses. If you got an A in math but a C in English, what did they tell you to work on? That’s right, English. They say, “Get that English grade up.”</p>



<p>I’m here to tell you not to work on your English. You say, “Why shouldn’t I work on my English?” It’s very simple. You have a math mind. It’s not that you’re dumb; it’s just that your math mind is better than your English mind. You’re better at numbers than you are at words. It’s not right or wrong; it’s just who you are. It’s your uniqueness. In fact, what you should do is thank God you got a C!</p>



<h2 id="h-tiger-woods-works-on-his-strengths">Tiger Woods works on his strengths</h2>



<p>I was with a group of CEOs and presidents not too long ago and as I was talking to them about this whole process, one of the presidents raised his hand and said, “John, I’m not sure I agree with you when you say not to work on your weaknesses. Take Tiger Woods for example. When he has a bad round of golf, he heads directly to the practice range and may spend two or three hours working on his swing—a perfect example of working on your weaknesses.”</p>



<p>I told this gentleman he just gave a perfect example of the importance of working on your strengths. I think it’s safe to say that Woods is the greatest golfer in the world. So when the greatest golfer in the world is working on his swing because he’s got a little flaw in it, he’s not working on weaknesses. He’s working on strengths. He’s in his Strength Zone working to improve something he’s already good at.</p>



<p>The difference is when I go to the practice range, I’m in my weak zone. For me practice makes permanent. If you’re in your Strength Zone like Woods, practice makes perfect. When I work on my golf swing, I consistently hit a bad shot to the same place every time, which is a big help because then I know where to find it in the woods.</p>



<h2 id="h-what-s-your-growth-plan">What’s your growth plan?</h2>



<p>Success is <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-ice-cream-and-happy-cones-gave-hap-cameron-purpose/">knowing your purpose in life</a>. But there’s more to it than that; I know people who know their purpose in life but are not successful. <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/why-focusing-on-your-personal-growth-now-is-more-important-than-ever/">You need a growth plan</a> to help you reach your maximum potential. It’s not only knowing what you should do; it’s about growing in that area to maximize and highlight the things that you do well. That’s continual growth.</p>



<p>I had a life-changing experience back in 1973. Attending a seminar in Lancaster, Ohio, a man sitting next to me asked me one of the most important questions I’ve ever been asked. He said, “John, what’s your plan for growth?” I was just a kid in my 20s, not knowing that I was even supposed to have a plan for growth. And so I decided to fake it and proceeded to tell him about my elaborate schedule and how hard I was working toward my goals. I was like a plane circling a field trying to come in for a landing, going around and around until I finally ran out of gas and shut up. As soon as I did he looked at me, smiled and said, “You don’t have a plan, do you?” With a smile, I replied, “Eh, no, no I don’t.”</p>



<p>Then he said words that changed my life. He said, “John, growth is not an automatic process. If you’re going to grow, you need to do so intentionally.” That afternoon I went home and sat down with my wife, Margaret, and said, “I don’t know what a growth plan looks like, but I heard a guy tell me today I needed to have one and I’m going to figure it out.” And I took that whole year to figure out how to do a growth plan, and I’m here to tell you, it changed my life.</p>



<p>That was in the early ’70s. For 30-plus years, I have been on a personal growth plan every year.</p>



<p>The speed of the leader determines the speed of the pack. And the only way that you and I will ever continue to be in front is to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/3-techniques-to-never-stop-learning/">continue to learn</a>, grow and make a commitment to it. Highly successful people have a continual thirst for knowledge and are always asking questions.</p>



<h2 id="h-what-you-do-today-determines-your-success">What you do today determines your success</h2>



<p>I don’t think success is a mystery. I think it’s tangible and achievable for everyone, but it’s going to start with this statement: The secret of your success is determined by your daily agenda, by what you and I do—today.</p>



<p>I believe this principle so much I wrote a book called <em>Today Matters</em>, and in the book I write about how we overexaggerate yesterday, we overestimate tomorrow and we underestimate today.</p>



<p>You see, every day you are either repairing or preparing. Every day you’re either trying to fix yesterday—relationships, issues, priorities, lost opportunities—or you are living your life in such a way that you are preparing for tomorrow and setting up success almost as a given.</p>



<p>Highly successful people know their purpose in life, they <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/continually-reach-your-potential/">grow to their maximum potential</a> and they sow seeds that benefit others. They don’t live for themselves. They’re a river, not a reservoir. They understand what significance is—adding value to others.</p>



<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>This article was published in August 2009 and has been updated. Photo by </em><em>@ilonakozhevnikova</em><em>/Twenty20</em></p>

I think there are two paths we can take to discover our purpose. The first is passion. What are you passionate about? What do you really care about? What would you live for? What would you die for?

I think there are two paths we can take to discover our purpose. The first is passion. What are you passionate about? What do you really care about? What would you live for? What would you die for? | SUCCESS

John C. Maxwell on Finding Your Purpose

John C. Maxwell on Finding Your Purpose | SUCCESS

https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/John-Maxwell-on-Finding-Your-Purpose.jpg

<p>One of my all-time favorite movies is <em>Remember the Titans</em>. It follows the legendary 1971 high school team that won the Virginia state football championship and rose to become the No. 2 ranked high school team in the country. But those victories alone were not what inspired a Hollywood film and provoked barbershop conversation decades later.</p>



<p>The players attended a newly integrated high school in Alexandria, Virginia, a town teeming with tension. That season they conquered the racial divide among themselves and taught their fans to do the same.</p>



<p>“At a time when the city was ready to burn itself to the ground, the kids stepped out and changed attitudes among themselves and their community,” Coach Herman Boone said in an interview included in the movie’s DVD.</p>



<p>They had <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/8-tips-to-improve-team-collaboration/">embraced a teamwork attitude</a>; each member learning to put aside his prejudice, mistrust, pride and fear to become part of a greater whole.</p>



<p>The shift from ‘me’ to ‘we’ (or in the Titans’ case, from us and them to just us) doesn’t come naturally for everyone. It sure didn’t for me. That’s why today we’re going to examine some qualities of a good team player, and discuss how to adopt an attitude of collaboration.</p>



<h2 id="h-talk-it-out">Talk it out</h2>



<p>Coach Boone might have taught ball-handling strategies, but <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/rohn-8-ways-to-master-the-art-of-communication/">the more critical skill he imparted</a> to his players was communication. He made the young men ride together, room together and train together. They resisted—except for one white player who crossed the color line and set the tone for everyone else. The steady wins on the field might have cracked the wall, but it was the locker room conversation that demolished it, Boone later said.</p>



<p>Communicating means more than simply talking (and definitely more than just texting). To improve your connection with people...</p>



<ul><li><strong>Be candid</strong>. Harboring hidden agendas, relaying messages through third parties, sugarcoating bad news, beating around the bush and airing grievances on social media are surefire ways to sabotage group relations.</li><li><strong>Be quick</strong>. If something is bothering you, address the problem within 24 hours so that a short-term frustration doesn’t morph into a long-term grudge.</li><li><strong>Be inclusive</strong>. Be discreet when needed, but otherwise share as much work-related information with your team as possible. Open communication <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2022/01/07/four-keys-to-building-trust-and-accountability-between-you-and-your-team/?sh=347b44137b23" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">increases trust</a>, trust increases ownership and ownership increases participation.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-roll-with-it">Roll with it</h2>



<p>Trailblazing record producer Quincy Jones was once accused of being a sellout. He was big in the jazz world, rubbing elbows with the genre’s most renowned musicians. But in the 1980s, he jumped into the pop scene with an emerging superstar, Michael Jackson, to the chagrin of jazz diehards.</p>



<p>Jones shrugged them off. “When I was 12 to 13 years old, we played everything—strip music, rhythm and blues,” he told <em>Context</em> magazine. “We played pop music, [polkas], and Sousa…. We played every club in town—black, white, tennis. So I’ve always had a range to draw from.”</p>



<p>I’m not sure there’s a better attribute to bring to a team than adaptability. What organization doesn’t benefit from someone who is able to roll with financial ups and downs, pinch-hit for colleagues, adjust to changing operations or shift strategies on the fly? These team players exhibit a nimbleness that’s contagious, injecting a can-do spirit across an entire division.</p>



<p>You can become <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/be-more-adaptable-to-stress-less/">more flexible in your thinking</a> if you...</p>



<ul><li><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/3-techniques-to-never-stop-learning/"><strong>Keep learning</strong></a>. For many years, I carried a notecard in my pocket and jotted down new information as I learned it. I got into the habit of looking for new material and skills to acquire.</li><li><strong>Think beyond your role</strong>. How many times have you heard a colleague whine, “That’s not my job”? Don’t be that office bellyacher! Instead learn a little bit about everyone’s duties, especially those higher up on the ladder than you. You never know when an opportunity will arise to save the day in a company crisis.</li><li><strong>Think creatively</strong>. Look for unconventional solutions when you meet a challenge. “There’s an expression that says a person’s age can be determined by the degree of pain he experiences when he comes in contact with a new idea,” Jones once said. “The ones who don’t react with fear are the really creative people. ‘Let’s try it,’ they’ll say. ‘Let’s go there even if we blow it.’”</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-wave-your-pom-poms">Wave your pom-poms</h2>



<p>Figuratively, of course. But consider the enthusiasm of sideline cheerleaders and how much energy they infuse into fields and stands.</p>



<p>I think about companies like Harley-Davidson, which went from owning 80% of its market to nearly going under in the early 1980s. Or General Motors’ sputtering in the 2000s, or Starbucks diluting itself with rapid, unsustainable expansion.</p>



<p>In all three cases, the enthusiasm of the CEO and employees rescued those companies from the brink of disaster and grew them into the juggernauts they are today. You don’t need to be cheerleader-perky to bring energy into your workspace. But you can grow your enthusiasm by...</p>



<ul><li><strong>Showing a sense of urgency</strong>. Give yourself deadlines for completing the steps of a project, especially the mundane tasks you’re putting off.</li><li><strong>Taking on more</strong>. When someone asks you to do something, do it and then go beyond the assignment.</li><li><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-bring-strategic-excellence-into-your-life/"><strong>Striving for excellence</strong></a>. Nothing breeds enthusiasm like the feeling of success that follows a job well done. Let that momentum carry you into the next project.</li></ul>



<p>Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz perhaps said it best: “When you’re surrounded by people who <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/15-tips-for-channeling-your-passion-into-execution/">share a passionate commitment</a> around a common purpose, anything is possible.”</p>



<p class="has-text-align-center">* * *</p>



<p>These qualities are merely a taste of the many attributes good team players bring to their organizations.</p>



<p>I’ll leave you, then, with one final task: Think about the people in your sphere. Consider everyone from the parking attendant to the CEO. Identify those who exhibit the best team qualities. Watch them. How do they put their attitudes into action? <a href="https://hbr.org/2021/09/to-inspire-your-team-share-more-of-yourself" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">How do they inspire others</a> to follow their examples? Teamwork doesn’t come naturally for everybody. But remember those Titans, and know that <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/why-attitude-matters/">attitudes can change</a>.</p>



<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>This article originally appeared in the </em><a href="https://store.success.com/shop-all/success-magazine-fall-2018-jeff-bezos.html"><em>Fall 2018 issue of </em>SUCCESS<em> magazine</em></a><em> and has been updated. Photo by Jacob Lund/Shutterstock</em></p>

A good team player is adaptable, supportive and collaborative.

A good team player is adaptable, supportive and collaborative. | SUCCESS

3 Key Qualities of a Good Team Player

3 Key Qualities of a Good Team Player | SUCCESS

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John C. Maxwell’s Rules for Hiring the Right People

<p>Chew on this for a minute: Of all the people who get hired in the next 18 months, 46 percent will fail.</p>



<p>They’ll receive a poor performance review, get written up or be fired, according to Mark Murphy, the author of <em><a href="https://amzn.to/3waIZJE" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hiring for Attitude</a></em>. Even more surprising, 89 percent of those who fail will stumble as a result of attitudinal factors such as a lack of coachability, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6808549/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emotional intelligence</a>, motivation and temperament.</p>



<p>Now consider this observation by Sony Corp. co-founder Akio Morita: “No matter how good or successful you are, or how clever or crafty, your business and its future are in the hands of the people you hire.” Although investors, partners and customers are vitally important, without your people, nothing is possible. Author and leadership expert <a href="https://store.success.com/by-media/magazines/success-magazine-october-2013-jim-collins.html">Jim Collins</a> once said, “Great vision without great people is irrelevant.”</p>



<p>More than any other factor, those closest to you will determine the level of your success. Hiring decisions, then, are the most <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28099671/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">critical choices a leader makes</a>. So today we’ll explore some ways to find the best people for your business.</p>



<p>Unfortunately, finding great people is not always easy. The goal, too often, is to fill a position rather than find the best person. Moreover, sometimes the person with the right skill set does not have the right mindset to be successful in your organization. It is much easier to assess education and experience than it is to evaluate attitude and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/7-practical-tips-to-achieve-a-positive-mindset/">mindset</a>. However, it can be done. Companies like Southwest Airlines, Facebook, and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts have adopted a rigorous hiring process because they understand that their people can be their biggest asset or greatest liability.</p>



<p>Southwest Airlines’ motto, for instance, is “Hire for attitude, train for skill.” Company leaders argue that this has been a key factor in their success. Gary Kelly, the president and CEO, says, “We take great pride in hiring the right people and spend a lot of energy on doing so. How we do what we do and who we are, our ‘secret sauce,’ is found in our single greatest asset—our people.”</p>



<p>Likewise, at Four Seasons, candidates go through at least four interviews so managers can find the people who are most likely to grow in the organization and deliver <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/what-makes-good-customer-service/">great customer service</a>. Facebook prospects meet not only with their would-be bosses, but also co-workers who help determine whether the candidate is a good cultural fit.</p>



<p>So how do you identify and hire the right people with <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/you-can-overcome-any-challenge-with-a-positive-attitude/">the right attitude</a>?</p>



<p><strong>1. Evaluate your current performers, high and low. </strong>Identify both the positive characteristics that your top people exhibit consistently and the negative characteristics that your most challenging people exhibit consistently. You will likely note some behavioral patterns. Use those observations to develop a clear picture of who you do (and do not) want on your team.</p>



<p>2<strong>. Look for a values match.</strong> <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/on-core-values-self-honesty-and-having-fun-with-jairek-robbins-the-new-president-of-success/">Shared values</a> are non-negotiable. Although it is important to encourage independent thinking and diversity in some areas, it is even more vital to be clear about the values of your organization and hire candidates who share those principles.</p>



<p>3<strong>. Assess their <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-3-components-of-mental-strength/">emotional strength</a>.</strong> No one leads without being criticized or without facing discouragement. A potential leader must have mental toughness. I don’t want a mean leader, but I do want someone tough-minded, who sees things as they are and is willing to pay the price for his or her decisions.</p>



<p>In job interviews, ask candidates how they have previously handled frustration, disappointment and challenging situations with co-workers. Listen for how they have been influenced by others or how the feedback of a previous supervisor has made a difference in their leadership style. The ability to accept and adapt based on such assessment is a critical skill for <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/everything-you-need-to-know-to-become-a-great-leader/">effective leaders</a>.</p>



<p>4. O<strong>bserve their people skills. </strong>Look and listen for evidence of genuine caring and concern for people in your recruits. Past behavior is the greatest indicator of future behavior.</p>



<p>In addition, watch candidates as they interact with people in the lobby, with your assistant, with the server in the restaurant—anywhere they might encounter people they might perceive as “beneath them.” As you observe them, preferably both in and out of the office, ask yourself:</p>



<ul><li>Do they value people?</li><li>Do they understand people?</li><li>Do they get along with others?</li><li>Will people follow their lead?</li></ul>



<p>5<strong>. Discover their motives.</strong> I want leaders who are motivated to serve others, not themselves. So the first question I ask potential leaders is, “Why do you want to lead others?” If their answer is honest, it will reveal their heart.</p>



<p>Self-serving managers and execs ask, “What can others do for me?” Servant leaders ask, “What can I do for others?” Those with the right heart can be relied upon to keep the interests of the team and the company as their top priority because their <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/what-is-my-purpose-in-life/">purpose in leadership</a> is bigger than the position they hold.</p>



<p>I recently heard someone say, “It costs much less to spend time and energy on a hire than it costs to spend time and energy on a fire.” Finding people with the right attitude and personal compatibility—not just a great résumé—requires a rigorous and challenging hiring process on the front end. This may prolong your search, but you’ll likely save time and money in the long run.</p>



<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>This article was published in February 2014 and has been updated. Photo by @galinkazhi/Twenty20</em></p>

No matter how good or successful you are, or how clever or crafty, your business and its future are in the hands of the people you hire.

No matter how good or successful you are, or how clever or crafty, your business and its future are in the hands of the people you hire. | SUCCESS

John C. Maxwell's Rules for Hiring the Right People

John C. Maxwell&#8217;s Rules for Hiring the Right People

John C. Maxwell's Rules for Hiring the Right People | SUCCESS

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Hispanic businesswoman on her phone on the city showing her characteristics of time management

Lifestyle

Lifestyle Archives

Elevate your lifestyle for success and happiness

<p>Time is precious.</p>



<p>Ask the coach whose team is behind in the final seconds of a game. Ask the air traffic controller in charge of scheduling takeoffs and landings at a major airport. Ask the news reporter who has just received a breaking story from the AP wire. Ask the cancer patient who just learned he has only two months left to live: the characteristics of time management you use are crucial.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-characteristics-of-time-management">Characteristics of time management</h2>



<p>Yet, time management is an oxymoron. Time is beyond our control, and the clock keeps ticking regardless of how we lead our lives. Priority management is the answer to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/3-strategies-to-manage-your-time-and-maximize-your-results/">maximizing the time we have</a>. Our days are identical suitcases—all the same size, but some can pack more into them than others. No one has a magical ability to make time. But if our lives have direction, we can make the most of the moments we have been given.</p>



<p>Time stewardship is perhaps a leader’s greatest responsibility. In the words of <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/know-thy-time-management-effective-executive-adam-ashton/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Peter Drucker</a>, “Nothing else, perhaps, distinguishes effective executives as much as their tender loving care of time.”</p>



<p>How do we maximize the precious minutes given to us each day? By learning to emulate the five characteristics of people who use time wisely:</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-they-are-purposeful">1. They are purposeful.</h3>



<p>People who use time wisely spend it on activities that advance their <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/what-is-my-purpose-in-life/">overall purpose in life</a>. By consistently channeling time and energy toward an overarching purpose, people can fully realize their potential.</p>



<p>We cannot <a href="https://medium.com/jacob-morgan/how-to-achieve-peak-performance-in-the-new-world-of-work-11e41bd6c79f" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reach peak performance</a> without a peak purpose. Purpose enlivens all that we do. In fact, I believe the two greatest days in a person’s life are the day they are born and the day they discover why. Uncovering purpose helps to refine passion, focus efforts and sharpen commitments. The cumulative result is to amplify achievements.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-they-are-committed-to-values">2. They are committed to values.</h3>



<p>People who understand the characteristics of time management underscore their values with the time they spend. By acting in accordance with their beliefs, they <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/why-self-awareness-is-important-and-how-to-develop-it/">find fulfillment</a>. Failure to identify values leads to a rudderless existence in which people drift through life, uncertain as to what they hold dear. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8482297/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Clarity of values</a> is like a beacon of light, guiding the way through life’s twists and turns.</p>



<p>When extended to an organization, values inspire a broader sense of purpose. They make work worthwhile. In an organization, if vision is the head and mission is the heart, then values are the soul. Values endow day-to-day operations and transactions with meaning.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-3-they-are-attuned-to-their-strengths">3. They are attuned to their strengths.</h3>



<p>People who use time wisely play to their strengths. By doing so, they are most effective. People don’t pay for average. If your skill level is a two, don’t waste substantial time trying to improve because you’ll likely never grow beyond a four. However, if you’re a seven in an area, hone that skill, because when you become a nine, you’ve reached a rare level of expertise.</p>



<p>As <a href="https://jimsundberg.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jim Sundberg</a> says, “Discover your uniqueness; then discipline yourself to develop it.” You are blessed with a unique set of skills and talents. Find them, refine them and let them carry you toward success.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-they-are-choosers-of-happiness">4. They are choosers of happiness.</h3>



<p>People who use time the right way <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/you-can-choose-happiness/">choose happiness</a> by prioritizing relationships and recreation. While choosing happiness may seem simple and obvious, far too many people are trying to prove themselves and validate their worth. These people chase after power and prestige, and along the way, their friendships wither, their family is ignored and they skip vacation after vacation. In the end, any success they earn is a hollow and lonely achievement.</p>



<p>Family and friendships are two of the greatest facilitators of happiness. Prioritizing time to cultivate relationships is a hallmark of a healthy leader. Likewise, scheduling leisure combats stress and allows us to delight in the hobbies that bring us joy. In the end, happiness is an inside job. We are wise to surround ourselves with family, friends and fun, but ultimately, we determine our internal response to the people and circumstances in our lives.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-5-they-are-equippers">5. They are equippers.</h3>



<p>People who use time properly equip others in order to compound their productivity. They realize the limitations of individual attainment, and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/4-phases-of-building-a-team-that-embraces-personality-and-individual-differences/">they build teams</a> to expand their impact. By developing an inner circle of leaders and investing in them, wise time-users multiply their influence.</p>



<p>Equippers recognize that people carry on legacies, not trophies. They pour themselves into the lives of others and watch the ripple effect of their leadership spread through those they have taught and mentored. Equippers seek significance over the long term, which causes them to have a vested interest in the success of their successors.</p>



<p>As much as we would like to, we can’t find more time—it’s a finite and constantly diminishing resource. But we can learn the characteristics of time management in order to spend time wisely.</p>



<p style="font-size:12px"><em>This article was published in June 2015 and was updated in October 2023. Photo by Krakenimages.com/Shutterstock.com</em></p>

How do we maximize the precious minutes given to us each day? By learning to emulate these 5 characteristics of time management.

How do we maximize the precious minutes given to us each day? By learning to emulate these 5 characteristics of time management. | SUCCESS

5 Qualities of People Who Use Time Wisely

5 Characteristics of Time Management of Highly Efficient People

5 Characteristics of Time Management of Highly Efficient People | SUCCESS

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Lead By Example: 4 Elements of True Inspiration

Leadership

Leadership Archives

Leadership | SUCCESS | What Achievers Read

<p>Do you remember being a child in school, and catching yourself gazing out the window, your mind off in a distant place? Maybe you even got in trouble for <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/5-creative-benefits-of-daydreaming/">daydreaming some grand vision</a> for yourself.</p>
<p>Ironically enough, the kind of thing that might earn a 12-year-old a reprimand from the teacher is a common practice among the greatest leaders I’ve been around and studied. The best leaders are always dreaming. Author Hans Finzel observed, correctly, I believe, that “the higher you go in leadership, the more your work is about the future.”</p>
<p>At the same time, true leaders are practical enough to know that vision without action achieves nothing. They are stewards of their vision. The temptation may be to simply communicate this vision, but the best of the best will <em>communicate</em> it clearly, creatively and continually while going beyond communication. The leader must also live the vision. He or she will effectively <em>model</em> the vision to make the picture truly come alive for the whole team.</p>
<p>Good leaders are conscious of the fact that they are setting the example and others will follow them, for better or worse. Your behavior can inspire others to do great things, perfectly in line with your vision, or to move in circles.</p>
<p>The Law of the Picture, as I call this principle, is perhaps most apparent in times of chaos and uncertainty. In challenging times, consider these insights on how to be the model of energy, passion and motivation for the people who follow you.</p>
<h2>1. Followers are <em>always</em> watching you.</h2>
<p>If you are a parent, you have probably already realized that your children are always watching what you do. They don’t miss a thing! Your children learn more from what they see you do than from anywhere else. As parents, Margaret and I realized this early. No matter what we taught our children, they insisted on behaving like us. How frustrating!</p>
<p>Just as children watch their parents and emulate them, so do employees watching their bosses. If the bosses come in late, then employees feel that they can, too. If the bosses cut corners, employees cut corners. People do what people see.</p>
<p>Followers may doubt what their leaders say, but they usually believe their actions. And they imitate it.</p>
<h2>2. It’s easier to teach than to do.</h2>
<p>One of my earliest challenges as a leader was to raise my level of living to the level of my teaching. I still remember the day I decided I would not teach anything I did not try to live out. That was a tough decision, but as a young leader, I was learning to embrace the Law of the Picture.</p>
<p>Author Norman Vincent Peale stated, “Nothing is more confusing than people who give good advice but set a bad example.” I would say a related thought is also true: Nothing is more convincing than people who give good advice and set a good example.</p>
<h2>3. We should work to change ourselves before changing others.</h2>
<p>To improve the performance of the team, leaders must act as change agents. However, a great danger to good leadership is the temptation to try to change others without first <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/10-tips-to-change-your-life-for-the-better/">making changes to yourself</a>.</p>
<p>As a leader, the first person I need to lead is me. The first person I should try to change is me. My standards of excellence should be higher for myself than those I set for others. To remain a credible leader, I must always work first, hardest, and longest on changing myself.</p>
<p>To lead any other way than by example, we send a fuzzy picture of leadership to others. If we work on improving ourselves and make that our primary mission, it will more likely inspire others to follow.</p>
<h2>4. The most valuable gift a leader can give is being a good example.</h2>
<p>More than anything else, employees want leaders whose beliefs and actions line up. They want good models who lead from the front.</p>
<p>Leadership is more caught than taught. How does one “catch” leadership? It’s contagious: You get it from watching good leaders in action! The majority of leaders emerge because of the impact made upon them by established leaders who modeled leadership and mentored them.</p>
<p>When I think about my leadership journey, I feel that I have been fortunate to have excellent models from whom I have “caught” various aspects of leadership—perseverance from my father, encouragement from Ken Blanchard, vision from Bill Bright, and intensity from Bill Hybel, to name only a few. As Nobel Peace Prize-winner Albert Schweitzer observed, “Example is leadership.”</p>
<p>Now let’s step into our daydreams of great leadership and begin to act.</p>


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/What-one-trait-is-most-important-for-a-person-leading-you_.jpg" alt="What one trait is most important for a person leading you?

26% Leading by example 
19% Strong ethics and morals
17% Knowledge of the business
14% Fairness
13% Overall intelligence and competence 
10% Recognition of employees

*source: Opinion Research Corporation survey of American  workers for Ajilon Finance" class="wp-image-60211"/></figure>



<p style="font-size:12px"><br><em>This article originally appeared in the<em> <a href="https://store.success.com/by-media/success-magazine-mar-apr-2021-daymond-john.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">March/April 2021 issue of SUCCESS magazine</a>.</em></em><br><em>Photo by mimagephotography/Shutterstock</em></p>

True leaders are practical enough to know that vision without action achieves nothing.

True leaders are practical enough to know that vision without action achieves nothing. | SUCCESS

How to Inspire the People You Influence by Modeling Greatness

Lead By Example: 4 Elements of True Inspiration | SUCCESS

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<p>This past year has been full of surprises, but one thing didn’t shock me at all about 2020: In the face of emergencies, leaders emerge. This is a timeless adage that has proven itself over and over again.</p>



<p>Emergencies shake up our priorities and force us to reconsider what is most important. Taking that step back to evaluate the few things that truly matter gives a leader the chance to recalibrate, check his or her assumptions and act with purpose. When you smartly change your priorities, you give yourself the best chance to succeed.</p>



<p>The best thing about resetting your priorities, though? You don’t have to wait for your hand to be forced. If you want to develop the leader within you, don’t wait until you have to change. Become proactive about the process starting today.</p>



<p>To begin, you must first acknowledge the following principles.</p>



<h3>1. Working smarter has a higher return than working harder.</h3>



<p>Novelist Franz Kafka said, “Productivity is being able to do things that you were never able to do before.” How do you make that happen? Doing the exact same things with greater intensity rarely works.</p>



<p>To get better results, you will likely have to rethink how you do something. You have to work smarter. That means finding better ways to work and making the most of the moments you have. Marketing expert Dan Kennedy says, “Disciplined use of the time everybody else wastes can give you the edge.” What leader doesn’t want that?</p>



<h3>2. You can’t have it all.</h3>



<p>When my son Joel was a young child, every time we entered a store I would have to tell him, “You can’t have it all.” Like many people, he had a hard time narrowing his want list. But I believe that 95 percent of achieving anything is knowing what you want. That’s especially important for someone who is leading others. If you want to be successful as a person and as a leader, you must make choices. You must narrow your list. You cannot have it all. No one can.</p>



<h3>3. The good is always the enemy of the best.</h3>



<p>Most people can choose between good and bad or right and wrong. The real challenge for most people arises when they are faced with two good choices. How can they know which to choose?</p>



<p>An excellent illustration of this can be found in a parable of a lighthouse keeper who worked on a rocky stretch of coastline before the days of electricity. Once a month he received a supply of oil to keep the lamp burning.</p>



<p>Not being far from town, he often had visitors. One night an old woman from the village begged for some oil to keep her family warm. He had pity on her and gave her oil. Another time a father asked for some oil for his lamp so that he could search for his missing son. An industrialist in town needed oil to keep machinery going so that his employees could keep working. Each request was good, and each time, the lighthouse keeper gave them oil for their worthy cause. But toward the end of the month, his supply was low, and when it was gone, the light went out. That very night, a ship wrecked on the rocks and lives were lost. The lighthouse keeper had been given oil for one purpose, and it escaped him.</p>



<p>As you become more successful and busier, you must learn to navigate the choice between two good and worthy things. How do you choose? Remember that the good must sometimes be sacrificed for the best.</p>



<h3>4. Proactive beats reactive.</h3>



<p>Every person is either an initiator or a reactor when it comes to planning. In my opinion, you can choose or you can lose. Proactive means choosing. Reactive means losing. The question to ask yourself isn’t will I have things to do? Instead, it’s will I do things that make a difference? To be an effective leader, you need to be proactive.</p>



<h3>5. The important needs to take precedence over the urgent.</h3>



<p>The more responsibility you carry as a leader, the more you have on your plate. The ability to juggle multiple high-priority projects successfully is something every successful leader must learn how to do. As the list of tasks grows, you can agonize or organize—I would rather organize.</p>



<p>Here is a simple but effective way to classify tasks that can help you quickly prioritize them in any given moment. The goal is to determine how important the task is and how urgent it is. Ineffective leaders jump on the urgent tasks without thinking. <strong>Effective leaders weigh both factors for each task and act accordingly. Here’s how:</strong></p>



<ul><li>High Importance/High Urgency: Tackle these tasks first.</li><li>High Importance/Low Urgency: Set deadlines for completion and fit these tasks into your daily routine.</li><li>Low Importance/High Urgency: Find quick, efficient ways to get these tasks done with minimal personal involvement and time. If possible, delegate them.</li><li>Low Importance/Low Urgency: If these tasks can be eliminated, then get rid of them. If they can be delegated, then find someone to do them. If you must do them, then schedule a small block of time every week to chip away at them, but never schedule them during your prime time</li></ul>



<p>It doesn’t take much time or effort to review your priorities and evaluate the importance and urgency of each activity as it relates to them. It’s an effective way to help you focus in on the things that will give you the best chance for success.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p><strong><em>Read next: </em></strong><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-climb-and-conquer-the-5-levels-of-leadership/"><strong>How to Climb and Conquer The 5 Levels of Leadership</strong></a></p></blockquote>



<p class="has-small-font-size"><br><em>This article originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://store.success.com/by-media/success-magazine-jan-feb-2021-mark-cuban.html" target="_blank">January/February 2021 issue of SUCCESS magazine</a>.</em><br><em>Photo by GaudiLab/Shutterstock.com</em></p>

Your priorities determine your results. Set them wisely.

Your priorities determine your results. Set them wisely. | SUCCESS

Leaders: How to Take Control of Your Outcomes in 2021

Leaders: How to Take Control of Your Outcomes in 2021 | SUCCESS

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<p>Have you ever heard the name Eddie Rickenbacker? He may be the most underrated and underreported American hero of all.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Consider the accomplishments: As an auto racer, he set the world speed record at Daytona in 1914. In World War I, he recorded the highest number of aerial victories against the Germans. In World War II, while serving as a special advisor to the secretary of war, he survived a plane crash over the Pacific and spent 22 days floating on a raft.</p>



<p>Can you imagine the courage!? Rising to a challenge was never a big problem for Rickenbacker, whether it was physical, mental or economic. When he was 12, his father died and he quit school to become the family’s primary breadwinner. His eventual prowess as a fighter pilot caused the press to dub him the “American Ace of Aces.” When asked about his steeliness in combat, he admitted that he had been afraid.</p>



<p>“Courage is doing what you’re afraid to do,” he said. “There can be no courage unless you’re scared.”</p>



<p>That attitude served the Ace of Aces well after World War I. In 1933, he became the vice president of Eastern Air Transport (later Eastern Airlines). Back then all airlines existed only because they were subsidized by the government. But Rickenbacker thought they should be self-sufficient. He decided to completely change the way the company did business. Within two years he made Eastern profitable, a first in aviation history. He went on to lead Eastern successfully for 30 years before retiring at age 73. When he died 10 years later, his son William wrote, “If he had a motto, it must have been the phrase I’ve heard a thousand times: ‘I’ll fight like a wildcat!’ ”</p>



<p>Now that’s a leader. When you look at the life of Eddie Rickenbacker, you cannot help seeing great courage. It’s easy to observe in war heroes, but it’s also present in every great leader in business, government or the church. Whenever you see significant progress in an organization, you know that the leader made courageous decisions.&nbsp;</p>



<p>A leadership position doesn’t give a person courage, but courage can lead him or her to a leadership position.</p>



<p>As you consider the tough decisions, challenges, risks and changes facing you and your organization, recognize these four truths about courage.</p>



<h3>1. Courage begins with an inward battle.</h3>



<p>Every test you face as a leader begins within you. The test of courage is no different. As psychotherapist Sheldon Kopp notes, “All the significant battles are waged within self.” Courage isn’t an absence of fear; it’s doing what you are afraid to do. It’s having the power to let go of the familiar and forge ahead into new territory. That was true for Rickenbacker, and it can be true for you.</p>



<h3>2. Courage is making things right, not just smoothing them over.</h3>



<p>Martin Luther King, Jr., declared, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” Great leaders have good people skills, and they can get people to compromise and work together. But they also take a stand when needed.</p>



<p>Courage deals with principle, not perception. If you don’t have the ability to see when to stand up and the conviction to do it, you’ll never be an effective leader. Your dedication to potential must remain stronger than your desire to appease others.</p>



<h3>3. Courage in a leader inspires commitment from followers.</h3>



<p>“Courage is contagious,” Billy Graham said. “When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened.” A show of courage by any person encourages others. But a show of courage by a leader inspires. It makes people want to follow him or her. My friend Jim Mellado explains, “Leadership is the expression of courage that compels people to do the right thing.”</p>



<h3>4. Your life expands in proportion to your courage.</h3>



<p>Fear limits a leader, but courage has the opposite effect. It opens doors, and that’s one of its most wonderful benefits. Perhaps that’s why British theologian John Henry Newman said, “Fear not that your life will come to an end but that it will never have a beginning.” Courage not only gives you a good beginning, but it also provides a better future.</p>



<p>What’s ironic is that those who don’t have the courage to take risks and those who do, experience the same amount of fear in life. The only difference is that those who don’t take chances worry about trivial things.</p>



<p>If you’re going to have to overcome your fear and doubts anyway, you might as well make it count.</p>



<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>This article originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://store.success.com/by-media/success-magazine-nov-dec-2020-payal-kadakia.html" target="_blank">November/December 2020 issue of SUCCESS magazine</a>.</em><br><em>Photo by MonkeyBusinessImages</em>/<em>Shutterstock.com</em></p>

Courage is the mark of a great leader. Here is how you can rise above fear.

Courage is the mark of a great leader. Here is how you can rise above fear. | SUCCESS

4 Truths About Courage in Leadership

4 Truths About Courage in Leadership | SUCCESS

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<p>If you desire to be a great leader, then you need to learn to recognize and promote the best ideas no matter where or from whom they’re coming—man or woman, young or old, black, white, upside down or inside out.</p>



<p>Ideas are the lifeblood of an organization. Harvey Firestone, who founded the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, said, “Capital isn’t so important to business. Experience isn’t so important. You can get both of those. What is important is ideas. If you have ideas, you have the main asset you need, and there isn’t any limit to what you can do with your business and your life.”</p>



<p>The progress and innovations of great organizations don’t come down from on high. Their creative sessions are not dominated by top-down leaders, nor does every meeting become a wrestling match to see who can dominate everyone else in a struggle to take credit. People come together as teams, peers work together, and they make progress because they want the best idea to win.</p>



<p>How does a great leader help create and surface the best ideas from his or her team?<br>I believe there are a few common ways.</p>



<h3>1. Listen to all ideas.</h3>



<p>Finding good ideas begins with an open-minded willingness to listen to all ideas. Mathematician and philosopher Alfred North Whitehead said, “Almost all really new ideas have a certain aspect of foolishness when they are first produced.”</p>



<p>During the brainstorming process, shutting down any ideas might prevent you from discovering the good ones. Group thinking (not to be confused with groupthink) can be such a positive: When we share our thinking among a group, we think faster, more innovatively and our thinking has greater value. Great thinking comes when good thoughts are shaped in a collaborative environment.</p>



<h3>2. Never settle for just one idea.</h3>



<p>Leaders can be so action oriented. They want to go. They want to make something happen. They want to take the hill! The problem comes when they fight their way to the top of the hill, only to find that it was the wrong hill.</p>



<p>One idea is never enough. Many ideas make us stronger. I once heard an analyst say he believed the reason the communist bloc fell at the end of the 20th century is because communism is built on only one idea. If anyone tried to do things a different way, they were knocked down or shipped out. In contrast, democracy is a system based on a multitude of ideas. Because of that freedom, in democratic countries creativity is high, opportunities are unlimited and the potential for growth is astounding.</p>



<h3>3. Look in unusual places for ideas.</h3>



<p>Good leaders are always searching for the next big thing. They cultivate their attentiveness and practice it as a regular discipline. As they read magazines, watch movies, enjoy leisure activities or engage with their colleagues, they are always on the lookout for ideas or practices they can use to improve their work and their leadership.</p>



<h3>4. Don’t let personality overshadow purpose.</h3>



<p>When someone you don’t like or respect suggests something, what is your first reaction? I bet it’s to dismiss it. You’ve heard the phrase, “Consider the source.” That’s not a bad thing to do, but if you’re not careful, you may very likely throw out the good with the bad.</p>



<p>Don’t let the personality of someone you work with cause you to lose sight of the greater purpose, which is to add value to the team and advance the organization. Set aside your pride and listen.</p>



<h3>5. Protect creative people and their ideas.</h3>



<p>Ideas are such fragile things when they first come to light. Advertising executive Charlie Brower says a new idea “can be killed by a sneer or a yawn… stabbed to death by a quip and worried to death by a frown.”</p>



<p>If you desire the best idea to win, then become a champion of creative people and their contributions to your organization. When you discover peers who are creative, promote them, encourage them, and protect them. Pragmatic people often shoot down the ideas of creative people—the very people who need to thrive and keep generating ideas for the benefit of the team.</p>



<h3>6. Don’t take rejection of your own idea personally.</h3>



<p>When your ideas are not received well by others, stop competing and focus your energy on creating. You will open the way for people around you to take their creativity to the next level.</p>



<p>I know that my ideas aren’t always the best ideas. I often think they are, but when everyone in the room has a different opinion, it pays to listen. The company owner doesn’t need to win—the best idea does.</p>



<p class="has-text-align-center">* * *</p>



<p>Never forget that having a collaborative spirit helps the entire organization. When you think it terms of our idea instead of my idea or her idea, you’re probably on track to helping the team win.</p>



<p>That should be your motivation. Let the best idea win, and you will reap the rewards together.</p>



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<p class="has-small-font-size"><em><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://store.success.com/patchworks-imported-products/success-magazine-sept-oct-2020.html" target="_blank">This article originally appeared in the September/October 2020 issue of SUCCESS magazine.</a></em><br><em>Photo by ESB Professional/Shutterstock.com</em></p>

Having a collaborative spirit helps the entire organization.

Having a collaborative spirit helps the entire organization. | SUCCESS

6 Ways Great Leaders Give Rise to Great Ideas

6 Ways Great Leaders Give Rise to Great Ideas | SUCCESS

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<p>A&nbsp;business executive. A softball coach. A classroom teacher. A volunteer coordinator. A parent.</p>



<p>Whether you’re one of these things or&nbsp;<em>all</em>&nbsp;of these things, one thing remains true: You are a leader. But where are you on your leadership journey, and where do you go from here? Over my years of teaching about leadership, that question exists at the heart of so many leaders. Everyone wants to know where they stand and how to get to the next level. And you are probably no different!</p>



<p>That’s why I developed The 5 Levels of Leadership. I wanted to help leaders understand and increase their effectiveness. Read on to identify where you are now, and the steps you must take to work your way up to Level 5—the pinnacle of leadership.</p>



<h2>Level 1</h2>



<h3>Position: People follow because they have to.</h3>



<p>The lowest level of leadership—the entry level, if you will—is Position. It’s the only level that requires no ability or effort to achieve. After all, anyone can be appointed to a position! While nothing is wrong with having a leadership position, everything is wrong with relying only on that position to get people to follow. That’s because it only works if you have leverage (such as job security or a paycheck) over your followers. At Level 1, people only follow if they believe that they have to.</p>



<p>But the news is not all bad about this level. It is a prime place for you to begin investing in your growth and potential as a leader. Use your time at this level learning to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/lead-yourself-first/">lead yourself</a>—through priorities and self-discipline—and you’ll be ready to move to the next level.</p>



<h2>Level 2</h2>



<h3>Permission: People follow because they want to.</h3>



<p>At this level, people choose to follow the leader. To grow at this level, leaders work on getting to know their people and connecting with them. You can’t lead without people, which means you need to learn to like people if you want to lead&nbsp;well.</p>



<p>When you like people and treat them as individuals who have value, you begin to develop positive influence with them. Trust grows, which usually leads to respect. Level 2 is where solid, lasting relationships are built that create the foundation for the next level.</p>



<h2>Level 3</h2>



<h3>Production: People follow because of what you have done for the organization.</h3>



<p>On this level, leaders who produce results build their influence and credibility. The Production level is where leaders can <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/vision-is-everything-for-a-leader/">become change agents</a>. Work gets done, morale improves, profits go up, turnover goes down, and goals are achieved. The more you produce, the more you’re able to tackle tough problems and face thorny issues. Leading and influencing others becomes fun, because when everyone is moving forward together, the team rises to another level of effectiveness.</p>



<p>It’s important to note here that the goal with the 5 Levels is not to move away from one level to grow at a new level. Instead, these five levels of leadership build upon each other. In other words, Level 3 leaders still need to do the things that make Level 2 happen. They just add Level 3 strategies to the mix. And as they become effective at Level 3, they are ready to layer on the goals of the next levels.</p>



<h2>Level 4</h2>



<h3>People Development: People follow because of what you have done for them.</h3>



<p>Your goal at this level is to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/make-these-5-commitments-to-become-a-great-mentor/">identify and develop as many leaders</a> as you can by investing in them and helping them&nbsp;grow.</p>



<p>The reason is simple: When there are more leaders, more of the organization’s mission can be accomplished. The people you choose to develop may show great potential for leadership, or they may be diamonds in the rough, but the main idea is the same: When you invest in them, you can reproduce yourself.</p>



<p>The more you raise up new leaders, the more you will change the lives of all members of the team.&nbsp;</p>



<h2>Level 5</h2>



<h3>Pinnacle: People follow because of who you are and what you represent.</h3>



<p>The highest level of leadership is also the most challenging to attain. It requires longevity as well as intentionality. You simply can’t reach Level 5 unless you are willing to invest your life into the lives of others for the long haul.</p>



<p>The commitment to becoming a Pinnacle leader is sizeable, but so are the payoffs. Level 5 leaders develop Level&nbsp;5 organizations. They create opportunities other leaders don’t. They create a legacy in what they do. Their leadership gains a positive reputation. As a result, Level 5 leaders often transcend their position, their organization, and sometimes their industry.</p>



<p>If you’re like me, you have goals. You want not only to achieve success, but also experience significance. You want to make a difference. The level of leadership you attain is more dependent on your influence than any other factor. You just don’t know how many lives you’ll touch. All you can do is develop your influence so that when opportunities come, you can make the best of them.</p>



<p>Never doubt the power of one person of influence.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p><strong><em>Read next:</em></strong> <strong><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/everything-you-need-to-know-to-become-a-great-leader/">Everything You Need to Know to Become a Great Leader</a></strong></p></blockquote>



<p class="has-small-font-size"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://store.success.com/patchworks-imported-products/success-magazine-july-aug-2020.html" target="_blank"><em>This article originally appeared in the July/August 2020 issue of SUCCESS magazine.</em></a><br><em>Photo by Roman Samborskyi/Shutterstock.com</em></p>

Identify where you are now, and the steps you must take to work your way up to the pinnacle of leadership.

Identify where you are now, and the steps you must take to work your way up to the pinnacle of leadership. | SUCCESS

How to Climb and Conquer The 5 Levels of Leadership

How to Climb and Conquer The 5 Levels of Leadership | SUCCESS

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<p>One of the great dreamers of the 20th century was Walt Disney. Any person who could create the first sound cartoon, first all-color cartoon, and first animated feature-length motion picture is definitely someone with vision. But the vision for his greatest masterpieces came from an unexpected place.</p>



<p>Back when Walt’s two daughters were young, he used to take them to an amusement park in the Los Angeles area on Saturday mornings. His girls loved it, and he did too. An amusement park is a kid’s paradise, with wonderful atmosphere: the smell of popcorn and cotton candy, the gaudy colors of signs advertising rides, and the sound of kids screaming as the roller coaster plummets over a hill.</p>



<p>Walt was especially captivated by the carousel. As he approached it, he saw a blur of bright images racing around to the tune of energetic calliope music. But when he got closer and the carousel stopped, he could see that his eye had been fooled. He observed shabby horses with cracked and chipped paint. And he noticed that only the horses on the outside row moved up and down. The others stood lifeless, bolted to the floor.</p>



<p>The cartoonist’s disappointment inspired him with a grand vision. In his mind’s eye, he could see an amusement park where the illusion didn’t evaporate, where children and adults could enjoy a carnival atmosphere without the seedy side that accompanies some circus or traveling carnivals. His dream became Disneyland and Walt Disney World.</p>



<h3>Fleshing It Out</h3>



<p><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/management-mess/">Vision</a> is everything for a leader. It is utterly indispensable. Why? Because vision leads the leader. It paints the target. It sparks and fuels the fire within, and draws the leader forward. It is also the fire lighter for others who follow that leader. Show me a leader without vision, and I’ll show you someone who isn’t going anywhere. At best, he is traveling in circles.</p>



<p>To get a handle on vision and how it comes to be part of a <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/15-traits-of-excellent-leaders/">good leader</a>’s life, understand these things:</p>



<ol><li><strong>Vision starts within.&nbsp;</strong>Look inside yourself. Draw on your natural gifts and desires. Look to your calling if you know it.</li><li><strong>Vision draws on your history.&nbsp;</strong>Talk to any leader and you’re likely to discover key events in her past that were instrumental in the creation of her vision.</li><li><strong>Vision meets others’ needs.</strong>&nbsp;True vision goes beyond what one individual can accomplish. If it has value, it doesn’t just include others—it adds value to them.</li></ol>



<p>Vision helps you gather resources. A great vision attracts like a magnet.</p>



<p>To find the vision that is indispensable to leadership, you have to become a <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/9-tips-to-become-a-better-listener/">good listener</a>. You must listen to several voices. There’s the inner voice, that hints at what you want to pursue and create from the very depths of who you are and what you believe. There’s your unhappy voice, which speaks up to you when noticing what&nbsp;<em>doesn’t work</em>. Discontent with the status quo is a great catalyst for vision. The successful voice comes to you from the great mentors you can surround yourself with, people who emulate what you want and can help light the way. And finally, tapping into your higher voice requires that you look beyond yourself, even beyond your own lifetime—this may mean some deeper soul searching, meditation or prayer to a higher power.</p>



<p>Luckily, you can improve your vision through a few measured steps. Consider the following:</p>



<ul><li><strong>Measure yourself.</strong>&nbsp;If you have previously thought about the vision for your life and articulated it, measure how well you are carrying it out. Talk to several key people, such as your spouse, a close friend, or your best teammates and ask them to state what they think your vision is. If&nbsp;they&nbsp;can articulate it, then you are probably living it.</li><li><strong>Write it down.&nbsp;</strong>Writing your vision gives you clarity. Once you’ve written it, evaluate whether it’s worthy of your life’s best. And then pursue it with all you’ve got.</li><li><strong>Do a gut check.&nbsp;</strong>If you haven’t done a lot of work on vision, spend the next several weeks or months thinking about it. Consider what really impacts you at a gut level. What makes you cry? What makes you dream? What gives you energy?</li></ul>



<p>Think about all the change you’d like to see in the world around you. What do you see that isn’t, but could be? Once your ideas start to become clearer, write them down and talk to a mentor about them.</p>



<p>When you look deep into your heart for a vision, what do you see? Your vision doesn’t have to be wildly complex or detailed to be of value to you and your people. In fact, as it’s been summarized by author Larry Taylor, Walt Disney’s vision for his parks was as simple as could be: “No chipped paint. All the horses jump.”</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p><strong><em>Related: </em></strong><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/expand-your-leadership-limits-with-the-law-of-the-lid/"><strong>How to Expand Your Leadership Limits</strong></a></p></blockquote>



<p class="has-small-font-size"><em>This article originally appeared in the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="March/April 2020 issue of SUCCESS magazine (opens in a new tab)" href="https://store.success.com/patchworks-imported-products/success-magazine-march-april-2020.html" target="_blank">March/April 2020 issue of SUCCESS magazine</a>.</em><br><em>Photo by Eduardo Dutra/Pexels.com</em></p>

Learn what vision is and why it’s important in leadership, plus how to improve yours through a few measured steps.

Learn what vision is and why it’s important in leadership, plus how to improve yours through a few measured steps. | SUCCESS

Vision Is Everything for a Leader

Vision Is Everything for a Leader | SUCCESS

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<p>Back in 2015, I went to my 50th high school reunion in Circleville, Ohio. I had not seen most of my classmates since I graduated, so I was excited to renew relationships with people after so many years.</p>



<p>My wife, Margaret, and I arrived late to the party. As we walked into the main room, I looked around and stopped. Was I in the wrong place?</p>



<p>“Margaret, there are a lot of old people here!” She laughed and told me I might need to check a mirror.</p>



<p>I enjoyed catching up with everyone that night, but by the end of the evening, I was feeling slightly depressed. For three hours I had listened to people talk about themselves, the good old days, and the medicines they were now taking.&nbsp;Is this what we’ve come to?&nbsp;I thought.</p>



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<p>That same weekend, we went out to eat with my high school basketball teammates. We told stories, and the longer we talked, the better players we were. We talked about our shooting prowess, our fast-break offense, our crushing defense—we concluded that we were a really good team.</p>



<p>As it happened, someone at the dinner had found video of one of our games. When we watched it, reality set in. Someone asked if it was in slow motion. It wasn’t!</p>



<p>I watched my 17-year-old self throw up a bad shot. We botched plays. We turned the ball over. Our defense broke down. We realized quickly that the good old days weren’t really that good. And if there’s a silver lining in that experience, it’s this: The fact that yesterday didn’t look very good to us was an indication that we had grown.</p>



<p>There are many good reasons to pursue personal growth. It opens doors. It makes us better. It helps us achieve our career goals. Over time, it creates momentum in our lives. That in turn encourages us to grow even more. We start to place a greater emphasis on growing than on arriving, which makes it easier to overcome and learn from our failures.</p>



<p>But all of those things pale in comparison to the most important reason to pursue growth: It increases hope. It teaches us that tomorrow can be better than today. Here’s how:</p>



<h3>1. A growth mindset is the seed of hope.</h3>



<p>Think about the world of nature. A sapling becomes a mighty oak by growing slowly over time. An infant grows into a child, who eventually becomes an adult. Hope is the same way. It looks forward.</p>



<p>When we have hope, we can imagine a better future. And hope isn’t just wishing for things that might be, it’s the firm belief in things that will be. It’s looking past your present circumstances with the belief that you have a positive future.</p>



<p>Planting the seed of hope is not complicated; it’s as simple as a change in mindset. When we decide to believe that growth is possible and we commit to pursuing it, hope begins to rise within us. The change in focus is only the first step, but it can be the beginning of a long and rewarding journey.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p><strong><em>Related:</em></strong> <strong><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/how-to-cultivate-a-growth-mindset/">How to Cultivate a Growth Mindset</a></strong></p></blockquote>



<h3>2. A growth habit strengthens hope.</h3>



<p>Choosing to grow is important, but that decision is not enough to create change on its own. We need to acknowledge that growth is a gradual process and make that process part of our daily practice. That means we need to establish the&nbsp;habit&nbsp;of growing on a daily basis.</p>



<p>When you practice the discipline of growing a little every day, you are doing your part to strengthen the hope inside of you. With each small step you take, you make progress toward improving yourself and your world.</p>



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<h4 class="has-very-dark-gray-color has-text-color has-text-align-center">Planting the seed of hope is not complicated; it’s as simple as a change in mindset.</h4>



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<p>I once heard it said that “there’s only so much you can do, but you must do that much even if you don’t know how much that is.” That is the same way growth works: When you grow, you put your future into motion. And with every step toward your positive future, hope is reinforced. The process becomes sustainable when you make growth a habit.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p><em><strong>Related:</strong></em> <strong><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-habits/">The Ultimate Guide to Bulletproof Habits</a></strong></p></blockquote>



<h3>3. Growth sustained over time realizes hope.</h3>



<p>When we take small steps every day, over time we begin to see progress. If you string together enough days of consistent growth, you begin to change as a person. You become better, stronger, more skilled, or all of the above.</p>



<p>When you change yourself, you change your circumstances. This begins a positive cycle of your growth strengthening your hope, and your hope strengthening your growth.</p>



<p>When you do this week after week, month after month, year after year, you gradually move from hope imagined to hope realized.&nbsp;</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote"><p><strong><em>Related:</em></strong> <strong><a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/10-tips-for-consistent-personal-growth/">10 Tips for Consistent Personal Growth</a></strong></p></blockquote>



<p class="has-small-font-size"><br><em>This article originally appeared in the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://store.success.com/patchworks-imported-products/success-magazine-jan-feb-2020-grant-cardone.html" target="_blank">January/February 2020 issue of&nbsp;SUCCESS magazine</a>. Featured image by Komleva/Shutterstock.com</em></p>

How growing hope can pave a sure path to a better future for yourself.

How growing hope can pave a sure path to a better future for yourself. | SUCCESS

3 Reasons to Pursue Personal Growth

3 Reasons to Pursue Personal Growth | SUCCESS

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