Secrets of success?

The secrets to a successful life? Wow. I’m hesitant to put myself anywhere near the top of that list. But since Pete Reilly tagged me, I’ll share a few things that seem to be working pretty well for me right now…

1. Persistence. Over time, water, ice, and wind created the Grand Canyon. I try to be that persistent on matters that matter.
2. Patience. Of course persistence requires patience and the ability to hold a long-term goal in my head for, well, a long term. I also work very hard to remain calm when life, people, and other bumps in the road occur. It’s a lot less stressful when I can say, “Let it flow over you. Be patient. It will all be fine in the end.”
3. Finding something I care about. Once I’ve identified something I care about deeply, I try not to let anything or anyone stop me from doing it. If it requires ignoring people, taking a new job, moving to a new place, so be it. Excellence requires passion.
4. Listening. Genuine listening - truly being in the moment with people and hearing what they have to tell you - is extremely powerful.
5. Good cheer. I’m an optimist. I’m happy. I try to have a smile on my face as much as possible. People like happy people. I like being a happy person. I strongly believe in the power of personal choice. It’s not the situation; it’s how we respond to the situation that dictates our happiness.
6. Joy in little things. Children’s giggles. A crisp sunny winter morning. A positive blog comment. The twinkle in my wife’s eye. I make it a point to find the joy in little things. The accumulation of a multitude of little delights sustains me when more challenging times arise.
7. Spending time around little children. I’m a huge advocate of spending as much time around 2– to 9–year-olds as possible. Their laughter is infectious, their joy de vivre is catching. Preschools and elementary schools are happy places. Soak in the joy.
8. Technology helps. Spreadsheets, a shared online calendar with my wife, mail merge, the ability to type fast, etc. I wouldn’t be nearly as productive without my mastery of some basic technology skills. I am both more effective and efficient because of digital technologies.
9. Keep it simple. Simplicity helps bring clarity. For example, we have only two family rules for our kids: be nice and be safe. So far we haven’t come across anything that doesn’t fall under one of those two.

Thanks for the invite, Pete. I hope this is what you were looking for. Although I typically don’t forward these kind of things along, in this instance I’ll tag a few folks to hear what they might have to say. FYI, this meme started here.

• Eric Hoefler
• John Pederson
• Scott Elias
• Chris Lehmann
• Kimberly Moritz

Comments

[Leslie A OBrien]

1.

A good list of a few things, here's one to add - where would we be without vision? What we dream can be become reality - what we think definitely defines our actions (or lack there of)...

[pete reilly]

2.

Scott;
All elements of a great leader and wonderful human being. We are most successful when we bring all parts of ourselves to our work.
pete

[Aaron M. Potts]

3.

Scott,

There were very few things on your list of success secrets that I DIDN'T identify with, and in many cases, I have actually written blog posts about those exact same concepts.

So, obviously I agree with your perspective, and as powerful as your list of success secrets is, the list is also baseline simple.

Just some basic strategies that don't require a Ph.D. to implement, but anyone with a Ph.D. would be wise TO implement them.

Great stuff, Scott - thanks for participating!

[Scott Elias]

4.

Finally got mine done... And on spring break, no less!! Do I get extra credit?? ;-)

http://snipurl.com/1gjt1

[Maggy Collin]

5.

Your list made me smile. It is important to reflect on what makes one tick.

Thank you for sharing :)

[Eric Hoefler]

6.

Thanks for the invitation ... it was an interesting challenge. I gave it my best shot: http://sicheiiyazhi.com/2007/05/04/successful-life/