The Mystique of Success

What is it? How do I get it? What does it mean? Is it the same worldwide? What is the value of success?

Introduction

Success is described as “A favorable or desired outcome” says the dictionary. Accomplishment, achievement, triumph, or victory, says the Thesaurus. Success usually refers to the victorious conclusion of specific task. But we feel there is more. You don’t start out successful, so how do you arrive there? In any number of ways. To have a program or a task end on a high note, you must first start with where you want to end up.

In Alice in Wonderland, Alice asks the Cheshire Cat “would you tell me which way I ought to go from here?” The Cat answers, “That depends on where you want to get to.”

That advice will serve you well, for you must establish One Goal that you want to bring to a successful end; one element that is to be the ultimate accomplishment. Once you can define the end, you can then plan how to get there. There will be many obstacles in your way. How you deal with them could point to ultimate success or failure. Keep in mind, failure is an important part of success!

You must be able to chart your progress as you go toward your One Goal. You must establish measurable characteristics along the way that can tell how far you have come, and whether you are still on track.

People often claim that with more resources they would be more successful. More money, more time, more effort, etc. Trying harder does not always work, trying smarter does. Often it seems that the more successful we get, the more we tend to stop doing the very things that made us successful. For example, a business acquisition that at first seems to be a positive move, may end by very negative because of the cultures from the two companies not being able to mesh, making the entire process unworkable.

Determining if a strategic fit exists between your core competencies and your prospect’s or customer’s needs and values, could provide direction toward identifying that goal.

The value of success can be measured in sustainable growth and bottom line profitability.