Success

ast week I introduced the New Science of Success and talked
about the four components of Who, What, Why and How some
people achieve extraordinary results. There truly is a
science, a formula or predictability to success. This week I
want to talk about Who achieves success.

We have long known that many so-called predictors of success
are totally unreliable. Rich kids end up as failures. Bright
kids end up working for other people. Attractive kids grow
up to be lonely. The most popular kids and best athletes do
no better (and often worse) than the "average" kids.
Ambitious kids flame out, and so forth.

So what does predict success? Who gets to achieve external
success (wealth, fame, power, prestige, etc) and the
internal blessing of happiness? What are the predictors of
success in both realms? Who are the winners who have the
things we want on the outside, while also having peace and
fulfillment on the inside? Who gets that???

There are specific skills and behaviors that highly
successful people share and the good news is that they are
not genetic! You do not have to be born "lucky!" You can
learn or acquire these things. Here are a few of the traits
and skills of highly successful people:

1. A paradox. Success is a "do-it-yourself" project and yet
no one gets there on their own. Successful people LEARN to
be successful by watching and emulating successful people.
Winners attend the seminars, take the classes, read the
books (including biographies) and work with coaches and
mentors. I was reminded of that this week when Vic sent his
special about the Jim Rohn recordings. Jim taught me a lot!
Hanging around him, watching him, learning from him was one
of the best investments I've ever made.

2. Simplicity. This is a very sophisticated concept and
has more to do with balance or clarity than with the number
of appointments on your calendar. I've met famous business
leaders who lead astonishingly quiet, orderly lives. Others
are busy, high-energy, on-the-go, making deals every day.
The outward "style" is not the issue. It's their inner quiet.
Successful people know who they are, keep their feet on the
ground, and are rarely stressed.

3. Focused ambition. Successful people are ambitious, but
their ambition is aimed at a very precise outcome. They work
hard, but they are rarely ambitious for "success." Rather,
they are focused on a precisely-defined result. Their ambition
is not to "be successful" or to "become" anything! Whether
their success is teaching a 5-year old to read or building a
global enterprise, their ambition is focused and specific.

4. Insatiable curiosity. Successful people know there is a
way to achieve their goals and they will try any legal,
ethical technique. They ask for suggestions, borrow ideas,
modify techniques, study and ponder until they find the
solutions. Remember Sir Isaac Newton and his insight about
the nature of the universe when an apple fell from a tree?
Successful people are eager, curious observers.

5. Determination without stubbornness. Again we're back to
a paradox. Successful people never stop. They are hard
working, persistent people who never, ever give up. But,
they can change their mind in an instant. They are open to
new information, a new way, a new solution and when they
find it, they can instantly change direction. No one sees
them as unpredictable or chaotic, but when they find a
better solution, they grab it.

Success is built on skills that can be learned. The skills
come more easily to some than others, but anyone can nurture
their curiosity. Anyone can learn from a mentor. We can all
persist and "stay the course" in hard times. We can all
learn the skills and achieve success in life. So, Who gets
to achieve success? Anyone who will study, learn and use the
skills of highly successful people.