Finding Your Potential In Excellence

A couple years ago, my ESL class at a university in China was not going very well. My students were apathetic, arriving late, not practicing their English like they were capable of, and showing no sense of urgency to learn the language. For whatever reason, they were not working toward excellence or living up to their potential. I talked to them about it, both individually and collectively as a group, but we could not figure it out. I met with the class monitors-my leaders-who understood our standards and knew what our class culture was all about and that the speech competition was soon approaching, but any progress we made did not seem to stick. I was frustrated and it bothered me.

The English speech competition went on as scheduled and many of my top students participated. They spoke well, but it certainly was not excellent-not like I had heard in the past and certainly not to the caliber that would win at the national event. I even had one student come up to me right after the competition and confess, "Mr. Ron, I never want to feel that way again," describing her lack of preparation and confidence.

In the days that followed, I started reflecting on potential. I wanted to find out why this happened. As an business and life coach and educator, I wanted to use this experience as a teachable moment. I also wanted to make sure this never happened again. But most of all, I wanted to find out what was missing. What put us in that position in the first place?

I discovered that what was missing were eight values necessary for achieving excellence and uncommon success and realizing the great potential each of these students had within them. These values, which I soon realized were universal and could be applied to any field, industry, or profession are: hunger, effort, process, quality, consistency, leadership, time, and perseverance.

As I began wrestling with the impact of the values, I concluded they act both independently and collectively. Each value in and of itself is powerful and capable of having a significant impact on our quest for excellence. Together, the eight values become an unshakable force, leaving no stone unturned, and putting us in the best position to living up to our greatest potential and succeed.

Since that turning point with my students, I am proud to say we had a number of speech tournaments of excellence together over the next year. That semester of "pretty good" motivated us to lower our tolerance for mediocrity and raise our standards and expectations to always work toward excellence and use all of our potential, even if we sometimes fall short.

Jazz legend, Wynton Marsalis, said, "Maybe the preoccupation with technological progress has overshadowed our concern with human progress." This article, at its essence, is about human progress and defining the eight values that lead to success.

1: HUNGER 
Hunger is about your desire, passion, drive, initiative, and how proactive and self-motivated you are. One characteristic of people who are hungry is they "begin with the end in mind." This means you must be proactive in establishing a game plan and work backwards, visualizing the end result and working toward excellence every day. As author John C. Maxwell said, "The secret of your success is determined by your daily agenda."

One of my Chinese students asked me a question I will never forget: "How do I become a great speaker?" What a loaded question! After thinking about it for a few minutes, this is what I came up with: "Well, first of all, you have to have a great semester every semester. To have a great semester, you have to have a great lesson every week. And to have a great lesson every week, you have to have a great practice session every day."

How driven, proactive, and hungry are you on a daily basis? If you were shadowed tomorrow, what would we observe?

2: EFFORT 
Effort refers to your work ethic, focus, and ability to execute at a high level. Legendary coach John Wooden called hard work industriousness, which meant "true work at your highest capacity, fully engaged, totally focused, and completely absorbed." In addition to the physical effort of practicing the piano for example, mental effort is just as critical to your success. Sports psychologist Gary Mack proclaimed, "Once you reach a certain level of competency, the mental skills become as important as the physical skills, if not more so."

When I advised my students on how to practice their speaking skills, I emphasized practicing with a high level of concentration, awareness, focus, intensity, intent, and purpose. When they focus, they are at their best. Their minds are engaged, in addition to their ears and hands. When they do not focus, they do not come close to reaching their potential. Now, I say the same things to my business and professional clients.

Are you taking your career as far as you can-both physically and mentally-or are you going through the motions, treading water, and spinning your wheels? What, if anything, is holding you back from giving your best effort? If you are an entrepreneur, are you leading by example with a high level of concentration, awareness, focus, intensity, intent, and purpose?

3: PROCESS 
Process is about the journey, not the destination. Our society tends to overvalue results and undervalue process-the very process that leads to the results we are aiming for. According to author Thomas Sterner, "We have a very unhealthy habit of making the product-our intended result-the goal, instead of the process of getting there. We look at the process... as almost a necessary nuisance we have to go through in order to get to our goal." Finding our potential is in the process of being excellent.

Who do we think we are? Excellence must be crock-potted, not microwaved. Microwaving is fast, rushed, and does not taste very good. Crock-potting is slow and steady, and as the meal simmers over time, it is much more satisfying.

Do you know someone who is not successful? Look at his/her process. Do you know someone who produces mediocre work? Examine his/her process. How much do you value the process compared to the result?

4: QUALITY 
Quality is about taking pride in the work you do. It is about your performance level, confidence, and professionalism. Quality is also about taking care of the details, setting standards, and holding others accountable for meeting and exceeding those standards. Willa A. Foster wrote, "Quality is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives."

As a business coach, when I get paid to diagnose the ills of an enterprise, I am considered a professional. When people hire me, they expect quality-period. There are no excuses. Not being prepared is simply not an option.

One of my goals is to get hired again by the same people, because they know what they are getting with their money. Word of mouth spreads very fast as well. Remember-people don't pay for average. Would you pay for an average meal, an average movie, an average book, an average concert, an average cell phone, or an average computer? People pay for quality and excellence.

Does your name stand for quality? Do you stamp a superior quality on everything that goes out of your hands?

5: CONSISTENCY 
Consistency refers to repeatedly doing the things that will put you in a position to succeed. In fact, it is one of the invisible secrets of finding your potential and being a success. Consistency is also about making smart choices and decisions that add up over time. It is about slowly chipping away, making steady progress, and constantly getting better when others who are inconsistent are stagnating. Consistency is about having the self-discipline to embrace repetition, a key to learning, improvement, and achieving excellence. John Wooden said, "There is a choice you have to make in everything you do, so keep in mind that in the end, the choice you make, makes you."

How consistent are you on a daily basis? Do you have the self-discipline to repeatedly do the things that will put you in a position to succeed?

6: LEADERSHIP 
Leadership is about working toward excellence with others. The truth is that excellence is rarely an individual accomplishment, but rather a team accomplishment and joint venture. What few leaders truly understand is that real, authentic leadership is not about you, but the people you are responsible for leading. If you want to improve your leadership skills, simply improve the seven C's of leadership: character, competence, commitment, caring, confidence, communication, and consistency.

What is your philosophy? What are your standards and expectations? Are those in charge leading by example, putting others first, and walking their talk? Leadership begins in first being able to lead yourself. Finding your potential and being excellent takes great personal leadership.

Colin Powell said, "The performance of an organization is the ultimate measure of its leader." So how is your organization doing these days? Are you shining the leadership spotlight on yourself or on your people?

7: TIME 
Time is about managing your time and organization-two of the most important keys to success in work and in life. One of the great equalizers in this world is that everyone has 24 hours in a day. How we use those hours is what separates excellence from mediocrity and what separates potential for average. Best selling author and speaker, John Mason said, "Time, used correctly, is perhaps your most important asset. Treat time carelessly and it will do the same to you and your organization."

Saying "no" is another important skill of valuing your time. For example, sometimes I have to make a decision to recommend making a change in a product or service because the work is redundant or can be done more efficiently with better technology by someone else. When this situation occurs, I usually explain to my client that "No one cares what we don't do. They only care about what we do."

In other words, in my opinion, it is better not to do something at all than it is to do it poorly. More often than not, biting off more than you can chew will lead to mediocrity. Instead, eliminate the stress and allow more time to focus on other things. The result is doing less-better. Less is more. By saying no, you are saying yes to doing less better and greatly improving your chances of excelling in your potential and achieving excellence.

How well do you value time? Are you comfortable with saying "no?"

8: PERSEVERANCE 
Perseverance is the persistence, resiliency, and inner strength you need to move forward during tough times. If you were to study the careers and experiences of those who have achieved uncommon success, you would find a time when they arrived at a crossroads and had to decide whether to give up or to persevere. Successful people also learn to expect adversity as they work toward excellence. They are not surprised when it comes, and they do not let it deter them from their goals.

Perhaps your dream is to complete your degree, attain a college teaching position, or become an entrepreneur. Or maybe you are preparing for a speech, applying to graduate school, or searching for a job. Whatever your situation, whatever your goals, you will have to develop the value of perseverance if you want to succeed. Authors Dennis Coates and Meredith Bell said of perseverance, "Just decide that after most people have dropped out, you'll be one of those still in the game."

Do you give up easily, or do you have the inner strength to keep going when things get tough? Does adversity deter you, or does it motivate you and make you more determined?

CONCLUSION 
Excellence is a quest all of us can and should undertake. In the journey toward excellence, we find potential within ourselves we did not know existed. It is a never-ending journey that provides meaning in our lives. It is a noble pursuit that just happens to be valued and rewarded. But more than anything, excellence is a mindset that applies to any and every endeavor, regardless of who you are or what you do.

So how do you work toward excellence? By identifying, practicing, and developing the eight values in this article. This is your game plan. After identifying the values, start practicing them. After practicing the values, start developing them. After developing the values, start mastering them. And after mastering the values, start teaching them. Does this guarantee you will achieve excellence? No. Excellence is never guaranteed. But if you always work toward it, your will unlock great potential within you, and you will not have any regrets.

 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ron_Jobe

Seven Success Secrets That Marion Bartoli Can Teach You to Achieve More Success in Your Life

Success is sometimes a long and winding journey. Many times you need to overcome the barriers that block you and naysayers who doubt you. Sometimes you need to fight though your own self-doubts to achieve success in your life.

Marion Bartoli, the women?s winner of the Wimbledon Championship, had to take a long and winding journey to overcome many barriers, naysayers and self-doubts to achieve to reach the pinnacle of the professional tennis world and become a champion. Whether you follow or play tennis or not, the following are seven secrets to achieving more success can be applied to your life:

1. Believe in Yourself - Marion, from the age of six years old, believed that she would win the Wimbledon championship. Because of this unwavering belief, she developed the attitude that she would someday win the tournament. She developed powerful goals, developed a detailed action plan to accomplish her goals, and stayed focused on achieving those goals. Once your belief is in place, you will develop the persistence to overcome many obstacles on your success journey.
   
   What goals do you want to achieve? What steps will you take to achieve your goals? When will you start?

2. Visualize Your Success - Marion would visualize herself winning the Wimbledon Championship. She would visualize every detail of the championship: what the crowds would look like, the sounds of the crowd, and the smell of the foods. Marion would visualize what it would look like for her to dominate her opponents. And finally, Marion visualized how it would feel carrying the championship trophy. In her mind, she had already won the championship.
   
   The key to successful visualization is?the level of detail you apply to your visualization. Make visualization work for you by applying as much detail to your visualization as possible. Invest in yourself and take time to visualize your goals every day.

3. Create Powerful Goals - As I mentioned before, Marion developed goals to achieve her ultimate goal of winning Wimbledon. She knew exactly what she wanted to accomplish, when she wanted to accomplish it by, who would be involved in helping her accomplish her goals, what resources she would need to accomplish them, and how she would develop her world-class tennis skills. Developing powerful goals gave Marion the motivation to go after her goals with confidence.
   
   What goals do you want to achieve? Are they believable, specific, measureable, believable, time-based, enjoyable, and rewarding? Most of all, are your goals written on paper?

4. Develop Your Mastermind Group - From the age of six, her father, a physician, developed her skills. They endured many peaks and valleys during their journey of success. After reaching the Wimbledon final before and losing to Venus Williams, they realized that they needed to bring other experts into their mastermind group to help them go to the next success level. They added additional coaches and trainers to further develop Marion?s tennis and physical skills. She also developed a friendship with fellow French pro player, Tennis Hall of Famer, and past Wimbledon winner- Amelie Mauresmo. Amelie shared with Marion how to overcome the fear of winning and what to expect on the way to winning Wimbledon. But most of all, Amelie convinced Marion that she had the skills to win Wimbledon. Marion knew that she had to develop this powerful mastermind group for her to go to the next success level in tennis.
   
   Do you have a group of experts who can help you achieve more success in your life? What backgrounds will they bring to your mastermind group? Are they truthful and willing to tell you what you need to do to achieve your goals? Do they challenge you to do better?

5. Develop the Will to Overcome Barriers - There will be many valleys along your journey to achieving more success in your life. You need to develop an iron will to overcome the barriers to success. Marion Bartoli, after losing her first Wimbledon final, could have accepted the defeat and gone away. Many other losing finalists have done the same; however, Marion used her loss as a?stepping stone? to motivate her to work harder.
   
   What barriers have knocked you off course from achieving your goals? Do you look at your setbacks as learning experiences? Do you see the big picture after a setback? What triggers will you develop to get you back into the "saddle of success?"

6. Don't Pay Attention to the Naysayers - She had many naysayers who doubted her skills and ability to win a major tennis tournament, and none more so than for the granddaddy of all tennis majors, Wimbledon. Tennis announcers would over analyze her awkward playing style and her attachment to her father as her coach. Tennis experts would say she was fat, crazy, weird, and strange. These naysayers would state all the reasons why Marion would not win. Marion focused on the one reason she would win: her will to win. She didn't pay attention to these naysayers and won big.
   
   Are there naysayers in your life? Are they quick to share all the reasons why you won?t be successful? What steps are you going to take to minimize or eliminate these naysayers? How will you use these naysayers to stay focused and "jump start your journey of success?"

7. Develop Your Skills - Like the old expression goes, "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" Practice! Practice! Practice! Marion, with the help of her mastermind group, took her game to the next level. She dropped habits that were holding her back while developing new tennis skills to take her forward. Marion was willing and looked forward to putting herself in new tennis challenges that pushed her to a new skills level.
   
   What are you doing to develop your skills and knowledge? Are you the best in your field? If not, what can you do to develop your skills and knowledge? Are you taking classes to learn the skills and knowledge to be the best? What situations can you put yourself in to challenge yourself to become better? Are you picking the brains of experts in your field at conferences, trade shows, and industry meetings?

Success, whether you are a world-class tennis player, manager, or entrepreneur, is achieved by applying the seven success secrets mentioned above. I challenge you to implement the seven success secrets and you will achieve more success in your career, business, and in your life. You will develop a new level of motivation and achieve your goals for success!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ed_Syke

Six Steps That Must Be Taken to Ensure Your Goals Are Achieved

A Thorough Assessment of the Current Situation (what's happening now and why?)

Describe in detail what's happening now and why is it happening? Describe the issues you're dealing with now, and determine what you want to change. If it's a personal goal, you'll need to write down everything you're dealing with right now, the good and the bad. If it's a business goal you'll need to quantify what's happening, what the people impact will be, the profit impact, the sustainability of any action you take, key leverage points, and any competitive advantage you might gain.

The Objective (what should be happening and what are the outcomes)

Review your notes from above and make every effort to determine what should be happening. Write down everything that comes to mind and make it specific, understandable, measurable, and achievable. This should be like setting the table for dinner. Make everything fit the circumstance you're in, and spell it out clearly. This is the primary step required to determine your initial goal.

The Strategic Formation (spelling out in generalities what steps you'll have to take to achieve your goal)

How are you going to achieve that goal? That's what you're going to describe in writing, step by step. You must write down in general statements, all the strategies you think necessary to achieve your goal. Remember that this is the "how-to" part. Strategies should state every step you're going to take.

The Plan (here's where you write down the specific details to achieve each strategy)

You now have to list every minute detail that you believe must be accomplished, in order to complete each strategy. Pay careful attention to this fact; you might need to complete two to five detailed statements to satisfy each of your strategies. Whatever the amount, just do it to ensure success.

Execution (now your mission is to start working on the detailed plan you've compiled.)

You're going to accomplish your goal by working the plan backwards. In other words, start working on the last part first, meaning the detailed statements you just wrote down. If you have five or six written strategies, you might have fifteen or more detailed statements to complete, to achieve each strategy.

Tracking (As you complete each detail, cross them off one at a time)

As you complete each detail statement, you can then cross it off. Then go to the next one, until you complete every detail associated with one single strategy. Then cross off that strategy as completed. Accomplish every strategy the same way until the goal is achieved.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_M_Egan

Believe In You

With the Christmas season approaching, I thought of all the happy families that will be gathering to share new memories with one another that will last a lifetime. For many, this is a great time of year for laughter and good cheer. For others, it will be a down time, one of discouragement and hopeless nights.

For those who are struggling right now, I wanted to offer a list of some thoughtful, soul-searching questions. Perhaps to restore some faith and confidence in yourself because after all, down deep inside I think you still believe in you!

Don't Isolate.

We are not perfect people. We all have problems that we struggle with. We've created lists of things that we love and hate to do, while we walk about with some silly habits we've picked up along the way. We are complex and have a lot of issues to work through. So find a buddy, a friend to share with because we are who we are and we need people.

Know Who You Are and What Makes You Happy

Can you describe yourself quite easily and quickly or do you need time to contemplate what you're going to say? Because describing yourself is not about your good looks but it's in knowing who it is you are and what it is that you like to do. So, describe what interests you and makes you happy. Do you make time for your hobbies or does it annoy you that you have so very little free time?

What Are You Good At?

Hopefully, you've found time to develop and explore your creative side. A little exercise can benefit the body and your mind to keep the creative juices flowing. Seriously though, finding your niche will foster confidence and give yourself a reason to be proud of ones self.

Why Are You Here?

I wonder if you have found meaning and purpose to your life. You do have value and worth, you know. Listen to your heart and pay attention to those gut feelings. If you believe in yourself and know you are loved, then you will find great satisfaction in loving others. Go meet some new people and share your ideas. Be encouraged and offer inspiration to others.

How To Believe In Yourself

In my younger days when I was carefree and discovering new lands, I thought I could do anything. I had written lots of stories in school and created bucket lists of things I wanted to do before a certain age. Some of my dreams have come true and many of my lists were unrealistic. But little by little, each and every day I've discovered improvement in my piano playing with daily discipline. The same is true with exercise and nutrition routines. Do you feel that you are really living life and experiencing it to the fullest? Are you proud of yourself? If not, then make a change today. Rediscover yourself by adding value to your life in believing in yourself.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Diana_Rogers

Harness the Power of Positive Peer Pressure

It's no secret that the people around us affect our decisions. Teens start smoking for social status. Middle-aged men buy convertibles to impress other middle-aged men or young ladies. Football players hustle to make sure they're not ridiculed for being slow.

Peer pressure usually has a negative connotation, but it can be a good thing. Positive peer pressure is simultaneously one of the most powerful and least utilized tools for personal growth. Surrounding yourself with people who want you to do better is a sure way to success.

When you're working towards a goal, there are two groups of people that can help you.

The first group is others who are on the same path as you. If you're just starting to lift weights, it can be tremendously motivating to work out with others. When you're not feeling motivated to exercise, they can push you to go on.

It's really a symbiotic relationship, and you'll be helping them out as well. The more people involved, the more successful this kind of group will be.

The second group is filled with people who have been there and accomplished your goal. They will have the experience to guide you through the hard times. When you have questions, they know the answers.

Peers at your level can help with motivation, but it's like the blind leading the blind. An expert in the field can motivate you and teach the entire group.

So what's in it for them? Why would someone want to teach you like that? They'll get motivation to stay consistent, and teaching will help improve their own knowledge. Mentors also receive a sense of pride and satisfaction from teaching others in their craft.

Finding Positive Peers 
The real first step is finding people that will encourage you and help you on your journey. Where should you look? Depending on the goal, there are lots of places to check out.

Find a Local Meeting Place 
There may already be a group of people interested in your goal that want to help. For things like working out, this is obvious - find a gym, and join.

If you're not sure, check out meetup.com and do a search for your hobby or goal.

Join an On-line Group 
You can find an on-line community for anything on-line. From knitting to public speaking, there are people on-line discussing your goal. Join one and make a post introducing yourself. These communities are generally very warm and welcoming, and are glad to see new members.

Here's a starter check list of places to look:

Reddit 
Google Groups or Google+ Communities
Search Google for hobby_name Forum Example
Just remember, on-line communities are a great motivation but can also be a huge time-sink. Don't waste your well-deserved time reading something you don't care about!

Post a Craigslist Ad 
Yes, really. People on Craigslist can be weird, but there are also lots of success stories. Just post in the right section indicating you're looking for a friend with interest X.

Work in a Different Industry 
This won't apply to everybody, but some jobs are very transferable between industries. Examples: IT help desk, receptionist, secretary, sales. The list goes on.

All industries have a need for these positions. If you're a marketer looking to get fit, you should consider joining an agency focused on health and fitness.

The culture of the job will be a strong influence, and if you work full-time, you can experience powerful mental changes in a short period.This applies doubly if you're an entrepreneur and own your own business.

Eliminating Negative Peer Pressure 
The average person between 18 and 24 has 510 Facebook friends (Source). That's a lot of people.

Out of those, I would guess that 100 are seen on a regular basis. This includes family, friends, and co-workers.

What kind of influence do your 100 closest people have on you?

That's the question you need to ask yourself. You might already have a positive circle of friends, but you're probably struggling with at least a few that keep pushing you back.

Maybe you've known them since high school, or maybe you have some other bond that keeps you together. Only you can decide if you should keep a relationship going, but if your views and goals have changed dramatically since you first met, it may be time to move on.

Don't be a jerk about it, but consider polite unavailability.

Find Your Focus 
Spending effort to get positive peer pressure in your life won't do you any good if they're pressuring you to do the wrong things. Make sure you have a strong set of goals before you start.

That way, when your new friends and acquaintances push you, they'll be pushing you in the direction you really want to go.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Samuel_Ricks

Not Just Talent, Commitment Is What You Need to Succeed in Life

"Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work." - Stephen King, American novelist

Many people believe that talent is the only thing you need to have, to be successful in life. Many tend to measure a person's ability by the marks/ranks he/she scored in academics. But, do all the top scorers, though talented, can really succeed in life? Will they bring Nobel Prizes to their country? Where will they be after 10 years from now? The answer for all the above questions is most likely to be not outstanding.

This is just because talent alone cannot assure success. Many of these top scorers think that they are talented and can easily get any job that they wish - but the fact is talent can make you eligible for a job, but not successful in life.

It's not talent, you need to have commitment to succeed in life
Though talent gets you further, it is commitment that leads to success. Commitment towards your learning or towards your work, will help you grow in your career, while talent at the most, can help you in acquiring a job.

If you flip through history, you will find people who were successful, had commitment to their goals, than just their talent. Take the example of our Indian Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry (2009), Venkataraman Ramakrishnan, a Ph.D scholar in Physics. An interesting fact about him is that he failed to qualify for the national-level entrance exams like IIT and Christian Medical College entrance exam, and opted for the basic sciences (B.Sc.) in his UG.

Though he was a highly qualified Ph.D holder in Physics, he transitioned to Biology, by doing a two-year graduation program. Later, in the year 1983, he started his research work in Bio-chemistry and spent many years of his career on it.

If we really see, his failure at the IIT entrance shows that he was an above average student and not that brilliant. But he pursued his passion towards Bio-chemistry for decades by staying out of comfort zone, and finally won the Nobel prize for his work on ribosomes in the year 2009. It took almost 16 years for him to become a Nobel laureate. Though he was talented, it was only his commitment that has made him a successful person.

Not only Venkataraman Ramakrishnan, there are many such people who may/may not have talent, but have succeeded in life because of their strong commitment. A recent example is Rahul Dravid, who himself stated that, unlike his talented counterparts, he didn't have the natural flair for batting; it was his practice, perseverance, hard work and commitment that made him the second highest test run scorer.

Hence, it is commitment, not just talent, that will lead you to success and to achieve your goals in life.

"Desire is the key to motivation, but it's determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek." 

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=B._K._Vijay

Does Success Chase You?

I hear a lot of people talk about the need to find balance in their lives. Whether it is between work, family, hobbies, friends, and chores, there seems to always be a pull in some sort of direction. People and things vie for our time every day and it can become quite stressful. In fact, according to physicians, chronic stress is a major reason for ailments and some types of diseases.

Why are we so stressed out? Why do we feel like we have to be super heroes that can take on the universe single-handedly without so much as breaking a sweat? Is there some sort of conspiracy that is out to make us feel super bad if we do not complete A, B, and C within a certain time period?

Are We Running Ragged?

I'm sure we all desire success at some level. I think it's wonderful to have goals and dreams and go after them. Productivity is important and there are certain things that we can do to become more productive. We even have plenty of apps to choose from to help us. But are we running ourselves ragged in the meantime? Do we reach one goal only to pause for a second and then rush off to "secure" the next?

Sigh.

The road to success is paved with people running on all they've got, yet they are very tired. Frustrated. They look ahead at the successful and accomplished and wonder how in the world they did it. Copying their style. Buying their books. Some even sell out on their values and morals to achieve that elusive carrot which dangles before them. They feel empty at the thought of NOT being successful.

The road to success is broad, but know that there are also little trails along the way for those who are tired of the beaten path. For those who have traveled with the masses only to find themselves beaten down, frustrated, disappointed, terribly lonely, and spiritually dying. For those who have tried to "balance everything out" and have fallen short. Some lose their partners. Some put their families to the wayside. Some thought that "success" would be the one thing that makes them happy.

It's a paradox. Success is not some "thing" you acquire. Success is simply a term. A word. Our society has put way too much emphasis on the "secret" to success in five or seven step plans. Do this. Be that. Look this way. Do it that way. I did it this way; so can you.

Success as defined by the majority is not a bad thing. Success is largely looked at as the accomplishment of certain goals or dreams. That is wonderful, but what goes amiss is when people set their goals and deem themselves unsuccessful until they achieve them. That's like going on a long road trip and the only time you feel good is when you reach your destination. What about the hours driving? You could have some fun. Talk with your family. Jam out to the radio. Have meaningful conversations. The journey itself can be magnificent!

Does Success Chase You?

Most people like to chase after success. I like to think success chases after me. Sometimes it catches me and sometimes it's just an inch behind giving me a boost, but it is always attached to me. I'm successful because I am alive. I'm successful because I have breath in my lungs. I'm successful because I am worthy.

The Ebb and Flow of Life

It is a good thing to seek balance in various areas of life, but don't get so caught up in it. Life is meant to have some ebb and flow and variety is a good thing. One week you might be sailing along quite quickly with momentum galore and the next week you might hit some pretty big waves. Both are part of the journey and both are alright. You learn lessons when you hit the waves; lessons you wouldn't have learned had you not hit them.

Get off the beaten path. Do your thing. Sing your kind of song. Walk your walk. Wear the bow tie, the edgy hair, and the bright pink socks. Be you.

Do some yoga or whatever rocks your boat. Take a long walk in nature and sing with the birds. Stop reading self-help books for just a moment and allow silence to soothe your soul. Try something new. Try nothing. Draw a line in the sand and determine that today starts a new start and though you have no idea what the journey will look like, it's fine. There are no losers on the trails, but there are plenty of pioneers.

Be a pioneer. Feel the spirit of life and hope beating within. Carve your path and smile the whole way.

You are success every moment of every day right where you are.

It was Bob Dylan who said,

"A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between he does what he wants to do."

After all, when you do what you want and what you love, not only does success permeate your being, but peace and joy as well.

And that my friends, is what we all want.

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