{"id":2188,"date":"2013-02-22T09:43:13","date_gmt":"2013-02-22T13:43:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hnetalk.com\/?p=2188"},"modified":"2013-02-22T09:43:13","modified_gmt":"2013-02-22T13:43:13","slug":"success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/hnetalk.com\/home\/2013\/02\/22\/success\/","title":{"rendered":"Success"},"content":{"rendered":"

Well, it\u2019s that time of year again. That time when you find out whether your boss thinks you\u2019re as great as you think you are. Oh, the joys of annual performance review!\u00a0 Don\u2019t we all just love<\/em> growth and development?\u00a0<\/p>\n

As you drag your dejected butts back to your cluttered cubicles, do you ask yourself where success comes from?\u00a0 If you visit Amazon.com, you\u2019ll see that there are 11,184 books available in the \u201cself-help\u201d area on \u201csuccess.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 Every author presents a different theory. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People<\/span>, How to Win Friends and Influence People<\/span>, Emotional Intelligence<\/span>, The 48 Laws of Power<\/span>, The Happiness Advantage:\u00a0 The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work<\/span>, The Secret<\/span>, etc., etc., etc.<\/p>\n

Do they work?\u00a0 I\u2019m not sure. Maybe if I actually read any of them I could let you know.<\/p>\n

But I do know that there\u2019s got to be more to success than just \u201c7 habits\u201d and I know for sure I don\u2019t have the attention span to read all \u201c48 laws!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0And, if you were an employee here at HNE you\u2019d 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 \u201cmagic\u201d inside of you.<\/p>\n

Let me ask you this: Have you ever had the opportunity to actually witness significant success?\u00a0 To see someone at your job or in your family really outperform everyone else?\u00a0 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!\u00a0<\/p>\n

Spice:\u00a0 <\/strong>Do you see in yourself something that is really different from others or that you can point to and say, \u201cIt\u2019s this right here that makes all the difference?\u201d<\/p>\n

Successful Person: \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>No, not really. It\u2019s a combination of things that I\u2019ve learned in life. <\/strong>For example, in my family growing up, work and being productive meant everything. We\u2019d never get to do the same things that the other kids did on snow days. They\u2019d all be snuggled on the sofa watching cartoons and drinking hot chocolate and we\u2019d be out shoveling all the neighbors\u2019 driveways \u2013 and not allowed to take a penny for it. And those driveways had better be the best driveways ever, too or we\u2019d hear about it. And if you got cold or hungry, you\u2019d 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.<\/p>\n

My father\u2019s philosophy was you give your all or else why are you doing it?\u00a0 Over time I\u2019ve adjusted that. Sure, I believe that you should always give your best, but figure out what are the most important things to focus on \u2013 figure out what matters to you. Really the perfect driveway or yard may not be worth it if it\u2019s at the expense of other things. We all need to determine for ourselves what is important. However, don\u2019t go to the opposite side and think what is barely good enough is all you need to do to squeak by. \u00a0<\/p>\n

The \u201cKeep It Simple\u201d Key Point:<\/strong>\u00a0 Figure out what matters to you and give it your all.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Spice: \u00a0<\/strong>It\u2019s clear your parents had a strong work ethic and expected the same of you. Were you expected to go on to college?<\/p>\n

SP:<\/strong> \u00a0Either way \u2013 it was college or work. They weren\u2019t rich, though. I knew as a freshman in high school that if I wanted to go to college I\u2019d better have a plan.<\/p>\n

Spice:<\/strong> \u00a0How did you manage that?<\/p>\n

SP: \u00a0<\/strong>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\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

The \u201cKeep It Simple\u201d Key Point:<\/strong>\u00a0 Pursue your dreams with determination! <\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Spice:<\/strong>\u00a0 So you made it to college!\u00a0 By the time you got there, you must have been exhausted!<\/p>\n

SP: \u00a0<\/strong>I don\u2019t 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 \u2013 one key important class \u2013 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\u2019t 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\u2019t 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 \u201croom & board\u201d taped to my dorm door. I never had a moment to just relax.<\/p>\n

Spice:\u00a0 <\/strong>Did you ever want to give up? \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

SP: \u00a0<\/strong>No. You know, your life is your choice. It\u2019s all up to you. \u00a0Sure, I didn\u2019t have an easy road and yes, I could have given up, but I didn\u2019t choose that. I didn\u2019t want the alternative.<\/p>\n

The \u201cKeep It Simple\u201d Key Point:<\/strong>\u00a0 Never give up, even if it\u2019s difficult!<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Spice: \u00a0<\/strong>You choose to push forward.<\/p>\n

SP: <\/strong>I do whatever <\/span><\/em>I\u2019ve got to do to get the job done. I always pitch in wherever it\u2019s needed. I don\u2019t sit back and say, \u201cThat\u2019s not my job.\u201d\u00a0 I wouldn\u2019t be that type of employee and as a boss, I wouldn\u2019t 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, \u201cDoes this represent the best of you?\u201d\u00a0 That\u2019s key. No matter what it is, you can\u2019t do it half way, just because it was a \u201cto do\u201d on your list.<\/p>\n

The \u201cKeep It Simple\u201d Key Points:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

1 – Pitch in, get involved, show up and be helpful!<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

2 – Only submit work that\u2019s at the top of your game.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Spice:<\/strong>\u00a0 That sounds like your father talking! So you strive for excellence, that\u2019s clear. You\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n

SP:\u00a0 <\/strong>I really enjoy<\/em> work. And, yes, organization is part of it. I\u2019m a bit over-organized. I make lists. On Fridays, I won\u2019t leave work until I\u2019ve printed off my schedule for next week and prepared for it. See those folders over there?\u00a0 (Pointing to a shelf behind the desk that has file folders lined up in a row.)\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m 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 \u2013 I don\u2019t hold on to things, if possible. I like to reply to requests or respond to emails as soon as I get them.<\/p>\n

The \u201cKeep It Simple\u201d Key Point:<\/strong>\u00a0 Get organized! <\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Spice:\u00a0 <\/strong>Ok, well, I\u2019m far too lazy to come in early. What else you got?\u00a0<\/p>\n

SP:\u00a0 <\/strong>Guilt. Guilt is a great driver. I am able, I am capable, I have two arms, two legs, a mind – so I can\u2019t allow myself not to do something.<\/p>\n

Spice:\u00a0 <\/strong>So you\u2019re Catholic, then?\u00a0 (Me with slight chuckle not reciprocated\u2026)\u00a0 \u00a0So, it\u2019s pretty clear that people want to work with you. How have you done that?\u00a0<\/p>\n

SP: \u00a0<\/strong>I surround myself with good people, hard workers. Listen, you can\u2019t do everything yourself and it\u2019s not possible to know everything yourself. You\u2019ve 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\u2019t. I think, too, that you get respect by showing people that you\u2019re sincere; sincere about your job, the company you work for, doing things well \u2013 and sincere about them.<\/p>\n

The \u201cKeep It Simple\u201d Key Points:<\/strong>\u00a0 Connect with people. Don\u2019t be afraid to admit you don\u2019t <\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 know everything!\u00a0 Ask questions! <\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Spice:<\/strong>\u00a0 Do you ever experience self doubt? \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

SP:\u00a0 <\/strong>Absolutely!\u00a0 I\u2019ve told myself a few times that I\u2019m going to fail. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Spice:\u00a0 <\/strong>Did you ever say that out loud to anyone?<\/p>\n

SP:\u00a0 <\/strong>Sure I did!\u00a0 And when I have, I\u2019ve been told by people I look up to, \u201cYep, you\u2019re going to make mistakes. But don\u2019t sit on them. Call them out. But when you come to me to tell me what happened, come ready to tell me what you\u2019re going to do to fix it, too.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 Never let your boss be surprised. You absolutely must keep them informed.<\/p>\n

The \u201cKeep It Simple\u201d Key Point:<\/strong>\u00a0 You will make mistakes. Admit them, fix them, and move <\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 on.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Spice:\u00a0 <\/strong>Any other <\/strong>advice?<\/p>\n

SP:\u00a0 <\/strong>I\u2019ve been challenged with this question, \u201cWhat would you do if you had no fear?\u201d\u00a0 I take that question to heart. I ask often ask myself, \u201cWhat have you got to lose?\u201d\u00a0 You can\u2019t let fear of failure keep you a prisoner.<\/p>\n

The \u201cKeep It Simple\u201d Key Point:<\/strong>\u00a0 Go ahead and be brave. Take that risk.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Spice:\u00a0 <\/strong>You mentioned you must keep your boss informed. I think, for me, it\u2019s a struggle to find the balance between keeping them informed and bombarding them with information.<\/p>\n

SP:\u00a0 <\/strong>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\u2019t. Don\u2019t worry about being a bother. Let them<\/em> tell you that you are! And don\u2019t assume that they know what\u2019s going on or what you\u2019re 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 \u2013 it\u2019s best to just give the gist \u2013 then provide more detailed information if they ask.<\/p>\n

The \u201cKeep It Simple\u201d Key Point:<\/strong>\u00a0 Don\u2019t assume people know what you\u2019re doing. Inform! <\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Spice:\u00a0 <\/strong>How do you find your balance?<\/p>\n

SP:\u00a0 <\/strong>Work hard, play hard. That\u2019s the way I live. I\u2019ll be honest with you \u2013 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.<\/p>\n

The \u201cKeep It Simple\u201d Key Point:<\/strong>\u00a0 Rely on each other.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Summary<\/strong><\/p>\n

So, where does success come from?\u00a0 You can\u2019t buy it in a book or acquire it at a seminar. Think of the lessons you\u2019ve learned from living your life – whatever that life is that you\u2019ve had. If you want to be successful, and you\u2019ve got the will and the motivation, then you\u2019ve got to show it. You\u2019ll have to put in the time and effort \u2013 and yes, the hours \u2013 to make your success happen. No one is sitting around saying \u201cHey, let\u2019s promote that person who feels sorry for himself.\u201d\u00a0 Or, \u201cLet\u2019s promote that person who keeps to herself all day and does only what\u2019s asked.\u201d\u00a0 Sorry, but that\u2019s not reality. So put on your big boy\/girl pants and go show \u2018em what you\u2019re made of!<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/blog\/behind-the-executive-door\/201211\/leading-lincoln-1<\/a><\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.positivityblog.com\/index.php\/2007\/03\/21\/why-some-people-almost-always-are-successful\/<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Well, it\u2019s that time of year again. That time when you find out whether your boss thinks you\u2019re as great as you think you are. Oh, the joys of annual performance review!\u00a0 Don\u2019t we all just love growth and development?\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[15,18,1],"tags":[35,73,88,123,124,125,139],"class_list":["post-2188","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-goals-and-motivation","category-links","category-uncategorized","tag-achievement","tag-goals","tag-how-can-i-be-successful-at-work","tag-success","tag-success-at-work","tag-success-on-the-job","tag-what-does-success-look-like"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/s6ZZxW-success","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/hnetalk.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2188","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/hnetalk.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/hnetalk.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/hnetalk.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/hnetalk.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2188"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/hnetalk.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2188\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/hnetalk.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2188"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/hnetalk.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2188"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/hnetalk.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2188"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}