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by Chuck Gallozzi
“Success is not a doorway, it’s a staircase.”
(Dottie Walters, 1924~2007, American entrepreneur, speaker, author)
What is it that we all want? Isn’t it success and happiness? So,
it’s no surprise that a reader in Iran is interested in success.
Arash (not his real name) is a 35-year-old married carpenter who
wants to become extremely successful. That is, he wants to be free
from financial worries, free to travel anywhere, and free to do
anything he and his family choose to do. To that end, he listens to
Brian Tracy audio programs in his car and studies books on success.
Arash is asking for help because he doesn’t know where and how to
begin. He would like an action plan or roadmap to success that will
end the confusion and clearly point out the steps he needs to
follow. So, let’s begin.
The Staircase to Success
Step 1.
The first step is to understand what is required for success.
And what is that? Hard work! You've got to work harder than most
people if you want to be more successful than them. To emphasize
this point, let me quote William A. Ward (1921~1994), “The recipe of
success is to study while others are sleeping, work while others are
loafing, prepare while others are playing, and dream while others
are wishing.” It is essential to realize that success is not a
doorway that you walk through, but a staircase that requires effort
to climb.
Step 2. After acknowledging that it will take hard work to succeed, you must be willing to make the effort and determined to do whatev er
it takes to succeed. In other words, you must be committed.
Step 3.
You must understand that some difficult tasks are harder to do than
others because of subconscious interference. Here’s an example of
what I mean. Arash already has the self-discipline to exercise, but
when it comes to taking steps for success, he feels powerless to
act. Why is that? It is because when he tries to step closer to
success, his subconscious digs in its heels, screaming, “No! I don’t
want to do that!” Of course, the subconscious doesn’t actually yell
at us, but it creates resistance that is hard to overcome.
Why does the subconscious do that? Well, one of its main jobs is to
protect us. And there may be some false beliefs embedded in your
subconscious. False beliefs such as, it is bad to get rich because
all your friends will get jealous and leave you, or it is bad to get
rich because money is the root of all evil. If you have such a
belief, your subconscious will try to ‘protect’ you by building a
powerful wall of resistance to prevent you from succeeding.
Another job of the subconscious is to follow all your instructions,
for it is there to serve you. However, as far as the subconscious is
concerned, your beliefs are instructions that it is duty-bound to
obey. So, for example, if you believe that you do not deserve to
succeed or that you are unworthy of success, your subconscious will
program you to engage in self-sabotage, short-circuiting your
success.
Now, here is the important point. You do not need to know what your
subconscious beliefs are or why your subconscious is creating so
much resistance. You merely have to expect it, consider it normal,
and remain determined to take the necessary steps, even though you
don’t feel like doing so. Remain resolute. Your success is too
important to ignore just because you don’t feel like doing anything.
So, your guiding principle for success must be, “Feel the pain and
do it anyway.”
Step 4.
Oddly enough, Arash’s biggest problem is that his problem isn’t big
enough. True, his family is in debt, but he has a job and is getting
by. So, there isn’t a strong enough reason to change. Arash, imagine
falling overboard from a ship in a raging storm. Imagine huge waves
collapsing all around you, sending you deep below. What would you
do? No matter how tough the resistance would be, you would fight for
your life, struggling with all your might to reach the surface.
When a fox chases a rabbit, the rabbit usually escapes. That’s
because the fox is running for its dinner, but the rabbit is running
for its life. Arash, become that rabbit; run for your life. Become
that man who fell overboard and struggle with all your might to
overcome all the resistance you have to face. When you develop this
sense of urgency, you will succeed.
Step 5. The first four steps were really preparation we must do before taking actual action steps. And before telling Arash what his first action step to success must be, let me briefly lay the groundwork. The world’s most powerful country, the United States, finds itself almost powerless on many fronts. Why? Because its massive debt is preventing it from realizing its potential. Similarly, Arash, the debt your family has taken on is distracting you and holding you back. When deciding what goals to embrace, always choose what is most important, not what is most glamorous. Your first goal must be to eliminate your debt, so you will be free to focus on other goals. Work closely with your wife to develop a plan to eliminate your debt within a reasonable amount of time.
Step 6.
While you are working on eliminating your debt, study and plan. For
example, work with your wife to decide what goals you want for your
family. To avoid overlooking important goals, also discuss what
you do not want. For example, remembering that you don’t want
to get sick, will remind you that you want to have a long,
healthy life. After deciding what you want, study what you need to
do to reach those goals. Set a timeline, getting an idea of what you
can achieve in 2012, in the next five years, and in the next ten
years. What obstacles can you expect and how will you
overcome them? What are your strengths and how will you use them?
What are your weaknesses and how will you overcome them? How will
you prepare for the unexpected?
Step 7.
Learn how to recognize opportunities. We often fail to see them
because they may come disguised as hard work, problems, or
challenges. Problems provide you with the opportunity to learn and
grow. The bigger the obstacle, the stronger you will become, so
embrace them.
Step 8.
Three frogs were sitting on a log. One decided to jump into the
pond. How many were left? Did you answer two? Think again. You see,
I didn’t say one jumped in; I just said one DECIDED to jump in. It’s
not a technical point that I’m debating, but a sad fact of life. For
there’s a big difference between deciding to do something and
actually doing it. If you wish to succeed, you have to stop
dreaming, planning, or deciding and start taking action. Decisions
without action are preparations for living without living. We need
to act to experience life. We either make things happen or let
things happen to us.
How many New Year resolutions did you decide to make that never came
to pass? How many items on your To-Do list have just been lingering
there, but never brought to life? A decision without action is no
more powerful than indecision or no decision. Decisions are
powerless unless we follow through. And when we follow through with
action, we will be greeted with success. In fact, the etymological
meaning of “succeed” is “that which follows,” for success is what
follows action.
The Success Toolbox
As a carpenter, Arash, you are familiar with the importance of a
toolbox. But did you realize that everyone who wishes to succeed
must also have a toolbox? The tools for success are the
characteristics or habits we must cultivate, develop, and maintain.
Here are some of them:
1.
Self-discipline
(better thought of as self-leadership). Get into the daily habit of
deliberately doing things that you don’t feel like doing. This will
develop your self-discipline ‘muscle.’
2. Energy.
Because it requires hard work to become successful, it is important
to maintain high levels of energy. To do so, lead a healthy life
style, get sufficient sleep, and avoid stress with exercise,
meditation, and recreation.
3. Focus.
Working on your goals is a full-time job. Remain focused on the
target and consider this quote by
Dr. Michael Ryce:
“Most of us have bought into sin as something terrible and awful. It
is something we have been taught to feel guilty and bad about. Sin
was originally meant to be positive feedback. The English
translation of the Aramaic word, khata, is 'sin.' It is an archery
term. When you fired at a target and missed the bull's eye, the
scorekeeper yelled, 'Sin!' It meant, 'You are off the mark,' which,
in practical terms, means improper for your energy system or less
than your highest and best. It does not mean you are evil, damned or
should be groveling in the dirt. The simple implication is to adjust
your aim, it's time to take another shot, time to do something
differently in your life! … Evil is 'bisha' in Aramaic and is
another archery term. Sin is missing the bull's eye, and evil means
'off target,' missing the target altogether.”
4. People skills.
We cannot succeed without the help of others, so it is essential
that we learn how to get along with others. Here is a short course
in human relations.
The six most important words:
The five most important words:
The four most important words:
The three most important words:
The two most important words:
The most important word:
The least important word:
5. Faith in ourselves.
“We don't need more strength or more ability or greater opportunity.
What we need is to use what we have.” (Basil S. Walsh) You already
have the inner resources to do what is necessary to succeed, so
learn to rely on yourself.
6. Motivation.
“The next time you feel unmotivated, ask yourself, ‘Who’s in charge
of how I feel?’ ‘Who’s in charge of my brain?’ The answer of course,
is you. You're in charge of your own motivation. The ability to
achieve a highly motivated state is a matter of grabbing the wheel
and driving your own brain for a change. By studying these mental
states and attitudes, consciously practicing them in your life every
day, literally ‘installing’ them into your brain, you’ll become so
charged up with motivation and fierce resolve that it would take an
army to stop you from getting what you want.” (Tom
Venuto)
7. A positive attitude.
Always focus on what you have, not on what you lack; look for
something to be grateful for, not something to complain about; fill
your mind with positive expectations, not worries and fears. Enjoy
what you do and share your enthusiasm with the world.
8. Building momentum.
Take at least one new step toward your goal each day, no matter how
small. Accumulated small steps will add up to a big step and build
momentum.
9. Courage.
The entrepreneurial spirit is all about taking risks. To develop the
necessary courage, get into the habit of stepping out of your
comfort zone as often as possible.
10. Follow through.
Don’t just plan and take first steps, but follow through to
completion.
11. Thoroughess.
Develop your character as completely as possible. Remember, among
other traits, you will also need decisiveness, determination,
persistence, patience, accountability, organizational skills, and
time management skills.
Steve Jobs' 12 Rules of Success
1.
Do what you love to do.
Enemies of Success
1.
Procrastination. In order to get what you want, you have to learn to
do what you don't feel like doing. Develop self-discipline.
Yes, success is hard work, but so is failure. One leads to rewards,
the other to pain, regret, and suffering. Which would you rather
have? Which do you choose to have? When will you begin?
© Chuck Gallozzi |
Tools
for Success