Success
Posted on February 22, 2013
Well, it’s that time of year again. That time when you find out whether your boss thinks you’re as great as you think you are. Oh, the joys of annual performance review! Don’t we all just love growth and development?
As you drag your dejected butts back to your cluttered cubicles, do you ask yourself where success comes from? If you visit Amazon.com, you’ll see that there are 11,184 books available in the “self-help” area on “success.” Every author presents a different theory. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, How to Win Friends and Influence People, Emotional Intelligence, The 48 Laws of Power, The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work, The Secret, etc., etc., etc.
Do they work? I’m not sure. Maybe if I actually read any of them I could let you know.
But I do know that there’s got to be more to success than just “7 habits” and I know for sure I don’t have the attention span to read all “48 laws!”
And, if you were an employee here at HNE you’d find yourself learning about The MBTI Type Indicator, our Mentoring program, High Performance Culture, and the annual Gallop Poll Engagement Survey, all designed to help you and your boss hone in on that “magic” inside of you.
Let me ask you this: Have you ever had the opportunity to actually witness significant success? To see someone at your job or in your family really outperform everyone else? I have, and I can tell you, those are the people to learn from. So I took my notebook and pen and paid one of these very people a visit so I could let you good people know what I learned!
Spice: Do you see in yourself something that is really different from others or that you can point to and say, “It’s this right here that makes all the difference?”
Successful Person: No, not really. It’s a combination of things that I’ve learned in life. For example, in my family growing up, work and being productive meant everything. We’d never get to do the same things that the other kids did on snow days. They’d all be snuggled on the sofa watching cartoons and drinking hot chocolate and we’d be out shoveling all the neighbors’ driveways – and not allowed to take a penny for it. And those driveways had better be the best driveways ever, too or we’d hear about it. And if you got cold or hungry, you’d better not come home until they were done. We had a perfect yard, too. Every day we had to come home from school and rake the leaves, even if there were only two.
My father’s philosophy was you give your all or else why are you doing it? Over time I’ve adjusted that. Sure, I believe that you should always give your best, but figure out what are the most important things to focus on – figure out what matters to you. Really the perfect driveway or yard may not be worth it if it’s at the expense of other things. We all need to determine for ourselves what is important. However, don’t go to the opposite side and think what is barely good enough is all you need to do to squeak by.
The “Keep It Simple” Key Point: Figure out what matters to you and give it your all.
Spice: It’s clear your parents had a strong work ethic and expected the same of you. Were you expected to go on to college?
SP: Either way – it was college or work. They weren’t rich, though. I knew as a freshman in high school that if I wanted to go to college I’d better have a plan.
Spice: How did you manage that?
SP: I knew I was going to have to try at get every scholarship I could. So, I studied my *bleep* off. I had to get the best grades possible. I also joined every club and activity I could and held officer positions. Plus, I worked every day and saved my money. It wasn’t just one job, though. It sounds awful and makes my parents seem like tyrants, but every moment was filled. I had a paper route in the morning before school, then after school I worked at a retail store. On the weekends, if the place where my mother worked was short staffed, she called me in to pick up the shift.
The “Keep It Simple” Key Point: Pursue your dreams with determination!
Spice: So you made it to college! By the time you got there, you must have been exhausted!
SP: I don’t think I realized it. When I first got there I was a social satellite. I was going to every party, every event. Partly I was trying to find things to join, but it was also for fun. I let one class – one key important class – slack, though. I tried to bargain my way out of an F with the professor. He called me out on my poor attendance and he said it was clear that I didn’t really want to be there. I was devastated. I never let that happen again! I figured out what I needed to do to get back on track and did it. I became the kid who was studying while everyone else was going to parties. But, still, it wasn’t easy. I had to pay for everything all the way through. I struggled. I remember getting late tuition notices and eviction notices for non-payment of my “room & board” taped to my dorm door. I never had a moment to just relax.
Spice: Did you ever want to give up?
SP: No. You know, your life is your choice. It’s all up to you. Sure, I didn’t have an easy road and yes, I could have given up, but I didn’t choose that. I didn’t want the alternative.
The “Keep It Simple” Key Point: Never give up, even if it’s difficult!
Spice: You choose to push forward.
SP: I do whatever I’ve got to do to get the job done. I always pitch in wherever it’s needed. I don’t sit back and say, “That’s not my job.” I wouldn’t be that type of employee and as a boss, I wouldn’t want that type of person on my team. I ask everyone to roll up their sleeves and dig in. And every time I finish with something, I stop and ask myself, “Does this represent the best of you?” That’s key. No matter what it is, you can’t do it half way, just because it was a “to do” on your list.
The “Keep It Simple” Key Points:
1 – Pitch in, get involved, show up and be helpful!
2 – Only submit work that’s at the top of your game.
Spice: That sounds like your father talking! So you strive for excellence, that’s clear. You’re a very busy person during the work day, attending one meeting after another. How do you manage it all? Seems like organization is a key, too.
SP: I really enjoy work. And, yes, organization is part of it. I’m a bit over-organized. I make lists. On Fridays, I won’t leave work until I’ve printed off my schedule for next week and prepared for it. See those folders over there? (Pointing to a shelf behind the desk that has file folders lined up in a row.) Each one is for a different meeting. Those folders contain the information I need for the things coming up in my week. I can grab the appropriate one and see everything I need before going into the meeting, review it, clear my head and walk in prepared.
I’m a very early person, too, so that helps. I come in early and get work done before everyone else arrives. That way the day is set to go. Also, I try to do things as they come in – I don’t hold on to things, if possible. I like to reply to requests or respond to emails as soon as I get them.
The “Keep It Simple” Key Point: Get organized!
Spice: Ok, well, I’m far too lazy to come in early. What else you got?
SP: Guilt. Guilt is a great driver. I am able, I am capable, I have two arms, two legs, a mind – so I can’t allow myself not to do something.
Spice: So you’re Catholic, then? (Me with slight chuckle not reciprocated…) So, it’s pretty clear that people want to work with you. How have you done that?
SP: I surround myself with good people, hard workers. Listen, you can’t do everything yourself and it’s not possible to know everything yourself. You’ve got to ask questions. Figure out who knows something and know when to involve them. I take the time to get to know the people on my team. I sit down with them and find out what they do. I ask them to tell me what works and what doesn’t. I think, too, that you get respect by showing people that you’re sincere; sincere about your job, the company you work for, doing things well – and sincere about them.
The “Keep It Simple” Key Points: Connect with people. Don’t be afraid to admit you don’t know everything! Ask questions!
Spice: Do you ever experience self doubt?
SP: Absolutely! I’ve told myself a few times that I’m going to fail.
Spice: Did you ever say that out loud to anyone?
SP: Sure I did! And when I have, I’ve been told by people I look up to, “Yep, you’re going to make mistakes. But don’t sit on them. Call them out. But when you come to me to tell me what happened, come ready to tell me what you’re going to do to fix it, too.” Never let your boss be surprised. You absolutely must keep them informed.
The “Keep It Simple” Key Point: You will make mistakes. Admit them, fix them, and move on.
Spice: Any other advice?
SP: I’ve been challenged with this question, “What would you do if you had no fear?” I take that question to heart. I ask often ask myself, “What have you got to lose?” You can’t let fear of failure keep you a prisoner.
The “Keep It Simple” Key Point: Go ahead and be brave. Take that risk.
Spice: You mentioned you must keep your boss informed. I think, for me, it’s a struggle to find the balance between keeping them informed and bombarding them with information.
SP: I think that people should start by sending everything to their boss and then asking their boss to teach them what is important and what isn’t. Don’t worry about being a bother. Let them tell you that you are! And don’t assume that they know what’s going on or what you’re working on. If someone asks your boss what you are working on, make sure s/he can tell them. And when it comes to updates with leaders – it’s best to just give the gist – then provide more detailed information if they ask.
The “Keep It Simple” Key Point: Don’t assume people know what you’re doing. Inform!
Spice: How do you find your balance?
SP: Work hard, play hard. That’s the way I live. I’ll be honest with you – at different times in my life my family has gotten the short deal. That makes me sad, it does. I have to say, though, I have an amazing partnership in my marriage. I can rely on my spouse to support me and the family.
The “Keep It Simple” Key Point: Rely on each other.
Summary
So, where does success come from? You can’t buy it in a book or acquire it at a seminar. Think of the lessons you’ve learned from living your life – whatever that life is that you’ve had. If you want to be successful, and you’ve got the will and the motivation, then you’ve got to show it. You’ll have to put in the time and effort – and yes, the hours – to make your success happen. No one is sitting around saying “Hey, let’s promote that person who feels sorry for himself.” Or, “Let’s promote that person who keeps to herself all day and does only what’s asked.” Sorry, but that’s not reality. So put on your big boy/girl pants and go show ‘em what you’re made of!
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/behind-the-executive-door/201211/leading-lincoln-1
http://www.positivityblog.com/index.php/2007/03/21/why-some-people-almost-always-are-successful/