Fifty? I thought about it. How could I approach this prompt? And nothing is more becoming than setting goals….literally.
Fiftyas a number means a lot. To achieve so many years of togetherness, society awards it with Gold! Athletes too after all their hard work, commitment and dedication, they achieve Gold and are satisfied.
So make today your goal to reach out, to touch the gold. No matter how you take it, it’s no easy feat. Success is not for the easy and hardly ever comes to the lazy.
So keep striving for the big Fifty! Achieve that gold! It will all be worth it.
Why do some people succeed, while others don’t? It’s simple. Success means hard work, dedication, and the drive to achieve goals. Athletes, entrepreneurs, and high achievers do not just rise up and achieve success. No…they are products of resilience… that never-give-up attitude. In this season of Olympics pump, many are inspired by the stories of athletes around the world who have joined the ranks of the best of the best globally. Success Vista’s founder Ibibo Justin‘s invitation for guest post tugged at the reminder of the reasons success eludes some people.
Many have explored the paths to success to unveil the answers for those whose appetites long to devour its true meaning. To those standing at a crossroad uncertain of which way to go; and to those who hide beneath the Surface their feelings of fear, apprehension, and apathy, success seems distant.
Shane is not alone in her writings that success leaves clues, trails and signs. Whatever the goal …be it to achieve success in business, personal relationships, sports or more, we should strive through thick and thin. Most well-known successful people including my favorite writer Stephen King, never gave up when the going got tough. They stuck to it through thick and thin. That said, we reflect on success that at its core refers to the achievement of wealth, honors or the like. Failure on the other hand refers to the lack of success, or more specifically the omission of expected or required action.
So here are 20 insights into the behaviors and actions of people who Success seems to elude. These have been pulled from a few individuals including the likes of Kayiba Mpoyi, Stephen Guise, Deborah Shane, and my own book on Success Strategies as gleaned from phenomenological study. Ibibo revealed the top 6 Qualities of Successful People. Here, we look at the reasons people fail to succeed:
Underestimate time management.
Successful people learn how to say No. They know which commitments to take on to achieve great success in areas of their lives.
Have misaligned Goals. They mistake busyness for productivity. They want to be a part of everything and in the process do nothing that aligns with their goals. This undermines success.
Have self-imposed limitations
People who are not successful often say things like “I’m not good with numbers”; “I hate studying”; and “I can’t run a successful business”.
Have little social IQ.
They don’t know how to treat others and say things like “well at least I’m being honest”, or “this is just the way I am, deal with it”. It’s said that you can judge a man’s character by watching how he acts when standing in a very long line and is met with bad service; or by how he reacts when you ruin his expensive items.
Procrastinate.. Never take action
They think, and think, and think… a lot. They Dream big but lack the courage to go out and get things done. My mantra…Get up! Show up! Just Do Something!
6. Can’t face adversity
Overcoming challenges not only bring us closer to our goals but they turn us into someone we never imagined. Don’t be afraid to conquer your fears and embark on new terrains. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself.
They don’t plan They do not have a complete vision of their intentions. They are not specific which goes a long way in the execution of our goals.
They freeze just like the deer that stands fixed before the car hits.
They are always in the wrong place.
Wrong job. Wrong state. Wrong country. Everything they do they complain is wrong. It is important for them to know when to to move on to something else. Mpoyi’s observation is for real….humans do not have the capacity to be successful at all things.
They don’t care
Apathy can infect any area of our lives and when it strikes it produces failure. The scariest part is how contagious it is. It spreads to other areas of our lives. Beneath the surface, apathetic friends can also infect us.
14. They are unwilling or too slow to change
15. They become irrelevant.
16.They have a bad attitude
17. They have skill gaps.
18. They have not developed a unique personal brand.
19. They lack discipline, focus and balance.
20. They lack a deep sense of belief in themselves
People who success eludes are more numerous than we can imagine. More importantly, it’s sad to see people with amazing potential …give up. Really it is. But not so obvious are individuals who internalize things and therefore their true feelings may not always be evident. As Myopi said very well, sometimes it is the guy in the cubicle with the $90K salary, who accepts misery because it comes with a fat paycheck.
Today, make a change. Be inspired. Stop thinking. Take action. Then success…how ever you define it… is highly guaranteed. Make that move right now.
What do athletes participating in the 2016 olympics have to do to get there? Great question! First of all … they all are already winners! Here’s why.
They dreamed. Set Goals, made a plan, prepared themselves and got ready through practice, practice, practice. They worked hard, believed they could do it, and most important they never gave up!
As you look at the Road to Success in pictures here, how do you prepare yourself for major goals in life?
So what does Success really mean to those who try so hard to get it, yet it moves further and further away as they draw near. Trying the short route some play the lotto… anticipating overnight success. Some marry rich. Some scheme, connive, and conspire just to taste the mouthwatering trappings of success.
Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Prince, Beyoncé, Adele, Will, Denzel Washington, Taylor Swift, and the list goes on. Without a doubt few will argue that these individuals experienced success. Come to think of it, Michael Jackson even produced an album 5 years after his death! Now to many…that’s success! But… is it really?
Determined to find out Why Some Individuals Succeed While Others Don’t, I decided to research the topic of success. I conducted a phenomenological study, interviewed outstanding leaders in business, and other industries. I even wrote a book on Success, and published a peer reviewed article in the JAABC Business Journal about it.
So what does Success really mean to those who try so hard to get it, yet it moves further and further away as they draw near. Trying the short route some play the lotto… anticipating overnight success. Some marry rich. Some scheme, connive, and conspire just to taste the mouthwatering trappings of success.
Personally, I sought to educate myself not necessarily with the focus of being successful since I already was …as I defined it. I went to college earned several degrees including two Masters, and a Doctorate, combined with many years in International Business. Now some would admit that I am successful as society envisions it, but bearing the delectable scars of student loans, how many would agree? (Couldn’t resist that ..smile).
“Success is definitively defined as the attainment of wealth, honors and the like”
So I have pulled together definitions from 21 of Society’s Iconic leaders. Take a look. Reflect. Adopt one, or share your own definition. Remember it has always been said that only you can define what success really means to you.
John Wooden
Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming.
Michelle Obama
Success is not about how much money you make but about the difference you make in people’s lives.
Winston Churchill
Success is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm.
Thomas Edison
Success is 1% inspiration, 99% perspiration.
Steven Covey
If you carefully consider what you want to be said of you in the funeral experience you will find yourdefinition of success.
Colin Powell
Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty and persistence.
Nelson Mandela
Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do. Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.
Albert Einstein
Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value
Woody Allen
Eighty percent of success is showing up.
Barack Obama
The real test is not whether you avoid this failure, because you won’t. It’s whether you let it harden or shame you into inaction, or whether you learn from it; whether you choose to persevere.
Maya Angelou
Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.
Martin Luther King Jr.
We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.
Mary Kay Ash
Don’t limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, you can achieve.
Alexander Graham Bell
Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.
Ellen DeGeneres
I work really hard at trying to see the big picture and not getting stuck in ego. I believe we’re all put on this planet for a purpose, and we all have a different purpose. When you connect with that love and that compassion, that’s when everything unfolds.
Michael Dell
You don’t have to be a genius or a visionary or even a college graduate to be successful. You just need a framework and a dream.
Oprah Winfrey
The key to realizing a dream is to focus not on success but significance and then even the small steps and little victories along your path will take on greater meaning.
Abraham Lincoln Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.
Napoleon Hill
Patience, persistence, and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.
Mark Twain
All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence; then success is sure.
Mother Teresa
To love others as God loves you, that is the measure of success.
So there you have it. 21 of Society’s Iconic leaders as they defined success. Look at them again… for a few times if necessary. Pause; reflect; adopt one; or share your own definition.
Remember, only YOU can define what success really means to you.
What’s your definition? Do share. We would love to hear.
In order to Succeed, we must first believe that we can.-Nikos Kazantzaki
A blank slate can be a crucial link to achieve success. We are free to do whatever we want. Like a child, we are free to start anew, afresh. Free to go in any direction . So even when you’re afraid, take the step. Move forward, but first… believe that you can.
We all go through different phases in our lives. Let’s face it, our careers are intertwined in our everyday lifestyle. We strive to be educated whether in a formal educational institution; through our life experiences; or a combination of both. Our dreams, goals, and aspirations range from starting and raising a family, getting our dream home, building our business, and the list goes on. All are intertwined in life’s journeys.
“The U.S. is basically at full employment” …. statement made by CNN Money in their article on employment. Whether or not we agree, jobs have been added….maybe not the ones we like, or at the salary that we want, but that was the finding.
So what are employers paying more for? Here are the top 21 skills gleaned from Money Magazine that revealed the findings of payscale.com money research. These high demand skills give us the best reach for getting a higher salary to advance us to the next phase of our lives. Skills listed in order of highest paid to lowest.
SAS (Statistical Analysis System)
Data Mining/Data Warehousing
Search Engine Marketing
Data Modeling
Contract Negotiation
Software Development
Strategic Project Management
Strategic Planning
Technical Sales
Customer Service Metrics
Financial Analysis
Risk Management / Risk control
SAP Material Management
Business Analysis
IT Security and infrastructure
Lean Manufacturing
Forecasting
Clinical Education
Computer-Aided Design/Manufacturing
Systems Troubleshooting
New Business Development
Take a look at the list again to see where your interests lie. Examine your current skills, capitalize on them, or plan to build any gaps. Stay tuned for our next discussion on the Most Flexible Career Skills if you are looking to jump to a new job, or industry.
…… Life is a learning process and you have to try to learn what’s best for you…. life is not fun when you are banging your head against a brick wall all the time”.
Brick means to block. Figuratively speaking, it means to eternally preserve what is inside. It can be good; it can be bad. It all depends on your perspective.
We all have dreams and aspirations we would love to become reality. But life’s challenges such as financial constraints, sickness, job loss, failure, and other agonizing surprises often hit us like a ton of bricks, and we are thrown off balance. These brainy quotes appeal to our senses. Take what you wish from these quotes … again, it all depends on your perspective.
…… Life is a learning process and you have to try to learn what’s best for you…. life is not fun when you are banging your head against a brick wall all the time”. -John McEnroe.
I just go with the flow. I follow the yellow brick road. I don’t know where it’s going to lead me, but I follow it”. -Grace Jones
TO THOSE WHO ASPIRE… ENTREPRENEURS
A closer look at the goals of aspiring entrepreneurs who may experience stumbling blocks along the way. Jeff Haden (INC) shared Ryan Robinson’s interviews with successful entrepreneurs. These individuals revealed their thoughts and ideas on the devise of reinventing the wheel on the road to self-employment.
Guy Kawasaki, Chief Evangelist, Canva
Focus on the prototype”. No matter your background, skill set, or passion in life, starting and growing a successful business can be done with the right combination of hard work, determination, and seizing the opportunities that come your way. Having and not allowing your excuses to hold you back are major steps down the road to success.
Sophia Amoruso, Nasty Gal…Online Vintage Clothing Line
Refuse to accept failure.
Chase Jarvis, CEO of CreativeLive
Scratch your own itch.” Go after solving a problem that you have. When things get hard if you’re not going after something near and dear to your heart, you won’t have the fortitude, and passion to stay with it.
John Acuff, New York Times bestselling author
Success takes hustle”. Hustle is an act of focus, not frenzy. Hustle is about subtraction and addition. It’s not about doing more, it’s about focusing on the things you need to do, in order to move your business forward.
Luis Howes Author of the School of Greatness. Professional athlete turned entrepreneur. Suffered injury and was forced overnight to discover a new way to live with purpose.
Follow your heart”.
Nir Eyal, author of Hooked.
Certainty is more dangerous than ignorance”. It’s up to us to see the world as it should be. When you’re sure of the way things are, that’s when you get passed up and you don’t see the opportunities real entrepreneurs envision.
Ones potential is so huge, and so vast,
Yet, why is it, that so many fail, and usually come last?,
So few truly succeed, that when they do, others are jealous and totally aghast,
Let’s all believe in success, and I promise that failure will be part of the past.
The things you think, and the things you believe,
If they are true, then those are the things that you will achieve,
But if your thoughts are false, or they are used to deceive,
You’ll be stabbed in the back, and that is a promise that you had better believe.
Get rid of depression, worry and fear,
Because success is so often so very, very near,
Tell your subconscious , “success is mine”, and tell it to hear,
Remind it often, then success will be yours, that is a promise, my dear.
Just ask the “DIVINE”, for whatever you desire,
For happiness or abundance, or anything else to which you aspire,
It’s now time to succeed, so go ahead, set your goals, and light that fire,
Do it with passion, and I promise you this, you’ll soar higher and higher.
We often fear failures. The struggles in life are real. We have to be strong to survive. The stories of famous leaders provides food for thought. Thomas Edison developed thousands of prototypes of the light bulb before he found the one that worked. Albert Einstein was unemployed for two years after he graduated college. Like Edison and Einstein, modern day luminaries like Mark Cuban and J.K. Rowling were able to use their setbacks to push them forward. Here are several examples of extremely successful leaders who learned from their failures including a few from Aaron Taupe discussion on success and failure.
Steve Jobs had a natural ability to lead. He started his business in his parents’ garage. The company developed and grew. It attracted a board of directors that in the end fired him. Devastated but not to be deterred from his dream, Jobs started another company which focused mainly on software. Today the world enjoys his innovations ranging from Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, iMac and more.
Oprah Winfrey learned that failure is only an illusion after her cable network started off poorly. She said the worst time in her professional life came when the Oprah Winfrey Network’s (OWN) ratings plummeted a year after launch. Later, in a Harvard commencement speech, Winfrey said that she told herself repeatedly that failure is an illusion. She said “there is no such thing as failure. Failure is just life trying to move us in another direction. When you’re down in the hole, when that moment comes, it’s really okay to feel bad for a little while. Give yourself time to mourn what you think you may have lost—but then here’s the key; learn from every mistake because every experience, encounter, and particularly your mistakes are there to teach you and force you into being more of who you are. Winfrey was able to get OWN moving in the right direction, and the network gained a profit in 2013.
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban prior to starting his first company, worked as a bartender, a short-order cook, and a carpenter. Cuban later told CNN that on multiple occasions, he would come home with a date only to find the electricity had been turned off by the utility company. Cuban decided to have a positive outlook about his failures and made sure to learn something from his mistakes. He told Smart Business “I’ve learned that it doesn’t matter how many times you failed, you only have to be right once”. I was an idiot lots of times, and I learned from them all”.
Jay Z learned that his success needed to come from within after his second album flat-lined. Jay Z’s first album “Reasonable Doubt” is considered by many to be one of the best rap albums of all time. His second album “In My Lifetime”, wound up not being as successful commercially as his first, and he was not happy. He said “I tried to make these records that were bigger and would be more popular, which was a failure. Going for that success really messed up that project and set a bad tone. It was a huge learning lesson for me that if I was going to be successful, I had to be successful with myself. I couldn’t be successful doing what other people were doing. I had to do what I believed in and what felt real to me and true to me”.
Failure gave J.K. Rowling the freedom to pursue her art. In 1993, the Harry Potter author was an unemployed single mother who saw herself as a failure. She later said in a commencement speech at Harvard, that the experience actually helped her by getting rid of her fear of failure—which allowed her to focus on writing the stories that would ultimately become the Harry Potter novels. “Failure meant a stripping away of the inessential. I stopped pretending to myself that I was anything other than what I was, and began to direct all my energy into finishing the only work that mattered to me. Had I really succeeded at anything else, I might never have found the determination to succeed in the one arena I believed I truly belonged. I was set free, because my greatest fear had been realized, and I was still alive, and I still had a daughter whom I adored, and I had an old typewriter, and a big idea”.
So we gather from these examples of success that if you want to be successful, you must follow your heart, your passion. If you strongly believe something in your ability; Go for it! Reach for the stars! More than likely you will achieve with dedication and hard work. To lead yourself, you must believe in your ability.
Reknowned comedian Kevin Hart in an interview about the movie Central Intelligence with Dwayne Johnson, shared that he got into the business of entertainment to be successful and to get to the highest level he can. Naturally, it is clear that he is achieving his goal but he is quick to say that he will not stop because stopping would make him complacent. His desire is to do more. His dream is to reach the status of becoming a mogul. And the only way to get there is by work.
renowned comedian Kevin Hart in an interview about the movie Central Intelligence with Dwayne Johnson, shared that he got into the business of entertainment to be successful and to get to the highest level he can. Naturally, it is clear that he is achieving his goal but he is quick to say that he will not stop because stopping would make him complacent. His desire is to do more. His dream is to reach the status of becoming a mogul. And the only way to get there is by work. Interesting…
In a nutshell I think that just about sums up Why some people succeed while others don’t. It’s that simple. Many have researched the paths to success to unveil the answers to those of us whose appetites long to devour the true meaning. To those of us standing at a crossroad uncertain of which way to go. To those of us who through whispers approach our feelings with fear and apprehension. Shane is not alone in her writings that success leaves clues, trails and signs. Whatever the goal ..be it to achieve success in business, personal relationships, taking that dream vacation, or simply getting through difficult times; we should strive through thick and thin. Most well-known successful people including my favorite Stephen King, never gave up when the going got tough. They stuck to it through thick and thin. That said, we reflect on the definition of success that refers to the achievement of wealth, honors or the like. Failure on the other hand refers to the lack of success, or more specifically the omission of expected or required action.
So here are a few insights into the behaviors and actions of people who are not successful. These have been pulled from a few individuals including the likes of Kayiba Mpoyi, Stephen Guise, Deborah Shane, and my own book on Success Strategies as gleaned from phenomenological study. People who fail to succeed:
Underestimate time management.
Successful people learn how to say No. They know which commitments to take on to achieve great success in areas of their lives.
Have misaligned Goals. They mistake busyness for productivity. They want to be a part of everything and in the process do nothing that aligns with their goals. This undermines success.
Have self-imposed limitations
People who are not successful often say things like “I’m not good with numbers”; “I hate studying”; and “I can’t run a successful business”.
Have little social IQ.
They don’t know how to treat others and say things like “well at least I’m being honest”, or “this is just the way I am, deal with it”. It’s said that you can judge a man’s character by watching how he acts when standing in a very long line and is met with bad service; or by how he reacts when you ruin his expensive items.
Procrastinate.. Never take action
They ponder a lot. Dream big but lack the courage to go forth. My mantra…Get up! Show up! Just Do Something!
6. Can’t face adversity
Overcoming challenges not only bring us closer to our goals but they turn us into someone we never imagined. Don’t be afraid to conquer your fears and embark on new terrains. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself.
They don’t plan They do not have a complete vision of their intentions. They are not specific which goes a long way in the execution of our goals.
They freeze just like the deer that stands fixed before the car hits.
They are always in the wrong place.
Wrong job. Wrong state. Wrong country. Everything they do they complain is wrong. It is important for them to know when to to move on to something else. Mpoyi’s observation is for real….humans do not have the capacity to be successful at all things.
They don’t care
Apathy can infect any area of our lives and when it strikes it produces failure. The scariest part is how contagious it is. It spreads to other areas of our lives. Like a whisper, apathetic friends can also infect us.
14. They are unwilling or too slow to change
15. They become irrelevant.
16.They have a bad attitude
17. They have skill gaps.
18. They have not developed a unique personal brand
19. They lack discipline, focus and balance.
20. They lack a deep sense of belief in themselves
In summary, people who fail to succeed are more numerous than we can imagine. More importantly, it’s sad to see people with amazing potential ..give up. Suicide is obvious and quite sad. But not so obvious are individuals who internalize things and therefore their natural occurrence may not always be evident. Sometimes it is the guy in the cubicle with the $90K salary, who accepts misery because it comes with a fat paycheck (Mpoyi).
Imagine having virtual doctor’s visits, second-opinion services, in-house breast cancer screenings; 3 organic meals prepared a day; unlimited snack plus coffee and tea; free personal fitness classes, health clinics, on-site oil change (say what??!!); haircuts, spa-truck, bike-repair-truck, nap pods, free on-site laundry rooms, and much more! Way cool right?!! It sure is! And yes, we are talking about the top company to work for …Google! Wouldn’t you just love your company to offer even a few of these awesome benefits? Here are 8 more from Fortune’s 2016 list that captured my attention.
Baptist Health South Florida
Just imagine leaving your company, and having the ability to return within 5 years if you have a change of heart! Not only that but boomerangs are able to take advantage of a policy that allows employees to retain their seniority status and preserve their benefits! This includes retirement vesting, and paid time off-accrual. Way cool right?
Stryker
Stryker (medical device company), encourages employees to observe surgeries, attend trade shows, ride along with sales reps during customer meetings, and listen to patient stories. One employee shared “I see the face of someone who is alive because of our product, and that’s amazing”.
Southern Ohio Medical Center
Spouses, dependent and adult children of employees qualify for up to $10,500 in tuition reimbursement. Employees spend over 40,000 hours volunteering in the local community. Great example of giving back.
Workday
Celebrates Bring-your-Parents-to-Work day. Also, new employees receive a new laptop, a branded license plate cover; workday baseball game jersey, and a pair of red socks that they wear on the last day of each quarter as part of their company tradition.
Publix Supermarkets
The largest employee owned company offers healthcare for part-timers, and tuition reimbursement. They automatically dump shares into stock accounts at the end of each year. Talk about ownership!
Adobe
Values giving workers time away. Employees get a paid 6 week sabbatical every 4 years! Coupled with that, Adobe celebrates weeklong shutdowns twice a year.
The Cheesecake Factory
Has a long history of promoting from within! 100% of general managers, executive kitchen managers, and area field leaders were hired internally. Not to mention that they all started in hourly paid entry level jobs.
JM Family Enterprises
Colin Brown, Chairman and CEO says a healthy culture is about taking care of one another sharing in successes, and building trusting relationships. Achieving business results and preserving the organization’s culture are not mutually exclusive objectives. At JM Family, they focus on integrating the two in everything they do. Great example of when the company does well, employees also benefit.
So give your team a boost by implementing an additional strategy or two this year. It will boost your bottom line, your organization’s culture, and have the best workers in the market knocking on your doors to come in when you’re ready to hire!
