Nothing Succeeds Like Success

Whether you’re in business, a student, or employed by a business, you need to know what it takes to
be a success. Once you have “arrived” you’ll get kudos from others, get a feeling of pride and
enthusiasm, and you will likely enjoy financial rewards, too.

What does it take to be a success? Thinking of Superman, Truth, Justice, and the American Way
come to mind. Or, ask a Boy Scout and you’ll likely hear a quote from the oath “Be honest,
brave, trustworthy, etc.” If you were asked by a youth, a friend, or a neighbor to give advice on
how to really become a success, what would be your advice?

Top minds have offered suggestions that include what to wear, how to speak, how to overcome
failure and shortcomings, and how to survive in a workplace, public environment, or in a family.

Here are some tips from a father upon dropping his son at college. Here is information we should
all have as a part of our operating manual and life instructions.

1. Be patient with everyone, especially those older than you. When driving, talking, or making
decisions, your elders deserve an extra minute or two. Avoid showing disrespect to your
parents, other people’s parents, and anyone’s grandparents.

2. Know your own shortcomings. Before criticizing anyone’s memory, handwriting,punctuality, or sense of humor, be sure yours are nearly perfect. It’s easy to point our otherpeople’s foibles, but tougher to cure our own. The time you spend improving yourself willreduce the time you’ll spend listening to criticism about you.

3. Never burn the bridges of a relationship or friendship. A disagreement about a few dollars loaned, a birthday forgotten, or a partyinvitation that was lost in the mail should not cause a permanent rift. Forgive now, because you’ll probably forget about it later, anyway. Unhappy families are sometimes more concerned with who was “in the right” than in getting along.

4. Know that you are not a bank. Loaning substantial amounts of money to a friend can result in an unpaid loan, and a lost friend, too.A wise man once suggested that you might loan a friend a small amount that you would be willing to forgive. Otherwise, be prepared to forgive the repayment of a larger amount. Keep your friend, and let them ask someone else for a loan. If you lose your friend because you won’t loan them money, then how good a friend can they be?

5. Be willing to do the things that most important people are not willing to do. Many a business owner in a fine suit has been seen picking up candy wrappers or soda cans in the parking lot of their office or shop. Why? Because no one else did.

6. Be personal and real, even if you don’t have to. Remembering names, birthdays, and taking time to care about people are keys to great men and women. Dale Carnegie said “The sweetest sound in any language is a person’s own name.”

7. Be accepting of other people’s success. Get used to the fact that many people will get promoted, awarded, or complimented. Some of these people may not be as deserving as you are. Support their success, and they’ll be more likely to support yours. Be careful how you handle the people you meet on the way up the ladder, because you’ll meet them again on the way down.

8. Be benevolent. If you have a chance to be nice, do it. If you can be generous, do it. If you have to be tough, give the other person’s
pride a way out. Winners will notice your grace, and everyone will admire your style.



9. Dress for success and to impress. Whatever your customers or co-workers expect, give them that, and a pinch more. Pay attention to your haircut, your shoes and shoeshine, and keep your glasses sparkling clean. Carry a fine quality briefcase, purse, or portfolio and you’ll be glad you did. Your pride and posture will be enhanced by attention to these details. Charles Revson, founder of REVLON cosmetics was known to have dozens of suits in his closet. All navy blue. Why? Because he looked his best in navy.

10. Do as much business by phone or email as you can, and save your meeting time for important issues, or emergencies. Wasting time over coffee, needless meals, or distracted meetings will cut your productivity and your fun factor. Ask if there is a way you can handle an item or decision over the phone or by mail. If you do meet, bring a pen, pad, and your calendar to any meeting so you’re ready to write, schedule, and move on.

11. The more success you have, the more decisions you’ll make. In the process, you’ll make some bad decisions. Accept responsibility for your mistakes, bad decisions, and failures. Boldly admitting your mistakes is the easiest way to be respected. Accept praise, when due. Be appreciative of the recognition. “Thank you” is a good way to acknowledge compliments or praise.

12. When the going gets tough, don’t get going. Stay put. Your resume of work or school experience will be a predictor of future performance. If you jump around at the first obstacle or delay, you will appear to be unstable. Stick it out as long as you can, and give yourself a chance to succeed. Michael Dell made $18,000 selling newspaper subscriptions while a high school senior. If he had failed at that, perhaps there would not be a Dell Computer.

13. Expect to work hard for everything you get. Television and our over-communicated society make it impossible to understand the effort required to earn a living, maintain good credit, and to save or invest for the future. Your impatience with the present has been created by advertising and marketing geniuses. Learn to put in long hours and to get very few easy wins along the way. When you’re given a bonus, a gift, or a promotion you earned, celebrate it! Tiger Woods may be the best golfer in history. However, he’s been playing golf well for over twenty years already. He had talent to start, but discipline, focus and an amazing work ethic are keys for him, and for you.

14. Breathe. Take big breaths when you find yourself stressed, tired, or dealing with a headache. Or take a walk. Whatever is bothering
you will pass. Remember, there are billions of people in the world who don’t even know you exist! Lighten up!

15. Have fun! Success is a journey, not an event! Hopefully your journey won’t be uphill both ways. Keep smiling as you build your career, your family, your hobby, whatever you do!