THIRTEEN IDEAS FOR FOSTERING SUCCESS

Succeeding at Work and Play

Successful people have three common traits, says Joe Mancusi, a psychologist, consultant, and motivational speaker: intelligence, diligence, and optimism.

But it’s in understanding and counteracting the behaviors that breed failure, he says, that good people separate themselves from others.

Mancusi offers the following 13 ideas for fostering success.

1. Address your weakness. “Find the one thing you are doing to create failure, cure that, and other things will start to fix themselves too,” says Mancusi.

2. Set high goals.

3. Persist.

4. Consider the business opportunity in every social situation. Mancusi’s research of the insurance industry shows that the more successful salespeople always have a business card handy when needed. The less successful do not.

5. Renegotiate relationships.

6. Prioritize. “People who fail spend too much time on trivia,” says Mancusi. “Spend the majority of your time on what provides the best yield. Figure out your main goals and what it will take to get them accomplished.”

7. Ask for help when you need it.

8. Take good first impressions. “Worry more about whether you’re too quick too reject ideas because of someone’s skin color or because you’re hearing something you don’t expect,” says Mancusi, “rather than worrying about making a good first impression.”

9. Don’t let assumptions get in your way.

10. Find a mentor—and don’t be defensive about the advice offered.

11. Build on praise, pride, and enthusiasm.

12. Maintain perspective.

13. Enjoy your success, but continually redefine its value and meaning.

Source: The Lakewood Report, February, 1996