Principles for Success

Almost anywhere you turn you can find an article with different techniques for success and how to achieve them. And while I’m sure that you already have some set-in-stone principles that help you succeed, I wanted to take a minute and discuss 7 simple items that can help you achieve your goals. These principles are quite simple, yet are often overlooked.

This seems like it would be a no-brainer, however, the more meetings and appointments I attend, the more I realize this could be a lost trait. Running late does happen, but taking a few minutes the night before to check the traffic and weather does not take much time or talent. If you are going to be late, a courtesy call is a nice gesture.

This may be the simplest item on the list today. Even if you may be struggling with whatever task or project you are involved with, you can put forth your best effort. If you keep working hard and giving your best effort, a breakthrough is bound to happen.

Most of us have our email and our office phone forwarded to our cell phones. Gone are the days where it could take several days to respond to an email or voicemail. I believe that each one of us can control how responsive we are to our respective customers. Quick response times show that you understand their time is valuable and that you generally care about their questions and concerns.

To clarify, different professions may have more detailed and specific ways to achieve success; however, these can be used as a great foundation to build from.

Reliability is defined as, “the quality of being trustworthy, or of performing consistently well.” If you say you are going to do something, then do it. If you are being counted on to finish a task by a deadline, then finish it. Make sure you set your priorities and organize yourself to make sure you are saying what you mean and meaning what you say.

This one may take a little more time to work on. Not every situation will be peaches and sunshine, however, being able to keep a positive attitude can be imperative to the success that you have. When you have a negative attitude, it can not only sabotage your efforts but can also act as a roadblock on your overall path to success.

Listening and appreciating constructive criticism may not be as easy as the others, but I could not make a list without including it. Instead of getting offended or upset when someone offers feedback, listen and thank them for their time and advice. When we are knee-deep into a project, we can be blind to areas of improvement, and feedback from a different perspective can be extremely valuable.

We’ve all done it, deleted the email that had the articles we were supposed to read and charts to review before the next meeting, only to find ourselves scrambling when our boss asks us for input. Making sure you are prepared is such a simple way to ensure you are on the right track and is easy to overlook when you are busy with clients or other projects. Like the great Ben Franklin said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”

Take a few minutes to evaluate your current practices and see if these principles could or should find a space in your day to day life. How could your projection for success change? How might people view you differently? Might you be more productive? The immediate answer would be based on assumptions, so give these principles a trial run, and see what happens!