How do you define success?
I recently conducted a workshop on teambuilding. The workshop focused on how to build better relationship and influence others, meet them where they are. This allows you to build a mutually beneficial relationship and create a win/win for all parties.
I started out the workshop by asking the audience their definition of success. The answers ranged from satisfying relationships, a bigger house, a faster car, getting my kids through college, accomplishment, etc. I was not surprised by the answers but I was surprised by how little we understand about success.
Success is none of the above. Those are outcome of being successful. I did some research on the word success and I found that when it was first introduced into the English language the word simply meant “taking action.” As I ponder this definition, I realized it is the only definition of success that works for me.
Successful people do not experience the outcomes of success because they have a bigger house, newer car, or the children’s colleges paid for. They are successful because they took action. The actions lead to a bigger house, a newer car, etc.
Taking action is very difficult. It is difficult because people don’t know what they want to take action. They are afraid they will be wrong. When I would coach with my business clients, I always encourage them to take action – any action (within reason) because if they make a mistake we can usually correct the outcome with little difficulty. The problem is in not taking action. There is nothing to correct.
I love failure. Don’t get me wrong, I am not talking about our usually concept of being a failure (usually a self perception and acceptance of beliefs we accepted as children – whatever they are for you.) I am talking about trying something and not getting the desired results.
That means I am closer to my goal. I found out what does not work. I love Thomas Edison’s mind set. Edison never failed; he reframed everything into a success. He simply founds ways that did not work.
Think about it as if you are a rocket. A rocket does not set a course and go. No, it adjusts the course thousands of times a second. It appears to be headed straight to the target but all along its flight path it is self correcting as it moves forward.
Be like the rocket. Self correct. Accept feedback from your employees, clients, the market, your friends and family. Filter the noise and accept what makes sense and let the rest go. Be grateful that others care enough to share with you how they think you can be successful. But never give up ownership of the outcome, the result and your role in creating your success.
Let me ask the question again: How do you define success? What actions are you taking to be successful? How will you know when you are successful? How will you measure your progress? How will you take ownership? What will fuel your passion when you hit those obstacles that seem to pop up at the most inopportune moments? What ideas do you have? How will you stay focused?
Remember, success is taking action. As a good friend of mine always says:
“Go out there and make something happen.”
