1. Get and stay out
of your comfort zone.
I believe that not much happens of any significance when
we’re in our comfort zone. I hear people say, “But I’m concerned about
security.” My response to that is simple: “Security is for cadavers.”
2. Never give up.
Almost nothing works the first time it’s attempted. Just
because what you’re doing does not seem to be working, doesn’t mean it won’t
work. It just means that it might not work the way you’re doing it. If it was
easy, everyone would be doing it, and you wouldn’t have an opportunity.
3. When you’re ready to quit, you’re closer than you think.
There’s an old Chinese saying that I just love, and I
believe it is so true. It goes like this: “The temptation to quit will be
greatest just before you are about to succeed.”
4. With regard to
whatever worries you, not only accept the worst thing that could happen, but
make it a point to quantify what the worst thing could be.
Very seldom will the worst consequence be anywhere near as
bad as a cloud of “undefined consequences.” My father would tell me early on,
when I was struggling and losing my shirt trying to get Parsons Technology
going, “Well, Robert, if it doesn’t work, they can’t eat you.”
5. Focus on what you
want to have happen.
Remember that old saying, “As you think, so shall you be.”
6. Take things a day
at a time.
No matter how difficult your situation is, you can get
through it if you don’t look too far into the future, and focus on the present
moment. You can get through anything one day at a time.
7. Always be moving
forward.
Never stop investing. Never stop improving. Never stop doing
something new. The moment you stop improving your organization, it starts to
die. Make it your goal to be better each and every day, in some small way. Remember
the Japanese concept of Kaizen. Small daily improvements eventually result in
huge advantages.
8. Be quick to
decide.
Remember what General George S. Patton said: “A good plan
violently executed today is far and away better than a perfect plan tomorrow.”
9. Measure everything
of significance.
I swear this is true. Anything that is measured and watched,
improves.
10. Anything that is
not managed will deteriorate.
If you want to uncover problems you don’t know about, take a
few moments and look closely at the areas you haven’t examined for a while. I
guarantee you problems will be there.
11. Pay attention to
your competitors, but pay more attention to what you’re doing.
When you look at your competitors, remember that everything
looks perfect at a distance. Even the planet Earth, if you get far enough into
space, looks like a peaceful place.
12. Never let anybody
push you around.
In our society, with our laws and even playing field, you
have just as much right to what you’re doing as anyone else, provided that what
you’re doing is legal.
13. Never expect life
to be fair.
Life isn’t fair. You make your own breaks. You’ll be doing
good if the only meaning fair has to you, is something that you pay when you
get on a bus (i.e., fare).
14. Solve your own
problems.
You’ll find that by coming up with your own solutions,
you’ll develop a competitive edge. Masura Ibuka, the co-founder of SONY, said
it best: “You never succeed in technology, business, or anything by following
the others.” There’s also an old saying that I remind myself of frequently. It
goes like this: “A wise man keeps his own counsel.”
15. Don’t take
yourself too seriously.
Lighten up. Often, at least half of what we accomplish is
due to luck. None of us are in control as much as we like to think we are.
16. There’s always a
reason to smile.
Find it. After all, you’re really lucky just to be alive.
Life is short. More and more, I agree with my little brother. He always reminds
me: “We’re not here for a long time, we’re here for a good time!”
Source: Addicted to Success
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