SUCCESS SKILLS
No Matter Where You Are in the World
In order to move smoothly in this world, there are characteristics that will help you in, not only being perceived as successful, but in creating your own success as well. Experts believe that success comes from 80% attitude and 20% aptitude. I ask my audiences all over the world the question that I now present to you: Would you rather hire someone who had fewer skills (and could be trained) with a great “I can!” attitude, or a person with a multitude of skills (no training necessary) but a negative, rigid or timid attitude? Virtually 100% of my audience answers the same: “I’d hire the one with the positive attitude.”
So what mind-sets are going to be needed the most to create success? Here are my top three choices (with more to come in the series):
• Focus on the positive:
Since I started this article with this point, let me continue. You will see that it also ties into every point listed below, as well. I used to speak often on how to deal with the stresses of daily life. Stress is our reaction to events and people. It is not created by them. Sure, we can have stress triggers - relocating or moving of any sort; divorce or death of a loved one; a new job, marriage, or a new baby. Good things and bad. Any change will create stress and yet, it is what we do with it that makes the difference.
We create our own stress by our own negative thinking: worrying, finding fault in others, wishing things to be different, etc. Instead of looking at what doesn’t work or the perennial glass as being half empty, why not look at what does work, what is good about an event, person, or circumstance? As soon as you begin focusing on the positive, it will change your outlook on life. It will also physiologically break the stress cycle internally (which is a process that releases hormones, depleting the body of necessary nutrients).
You create a win-win situation for yourself by mentally and emotionally feeling better, as well as helping yourself physically. Think about it. What a great way to start off a new year, decade, century and millennium.... with a new attitude!
• Flexibility:
Life continues to move at such a rapid pace, that you’ve got to learn to be flexible if you want to 1) keep pace with the changes, 2) not become overly stressed, and 3) enjoy your life!
If you are not by nature a flexible person, what can you do? Every time you believe that a situation must be done in your way, stop and ask yourself: “So what is the worst thing that could happen if this was done differently? What are some of the benefits to doing this differently? What have I got to lose by trying this another way? What can I learn about myself and others here? What can I “win” by not being rigid?”
If you honestly answer the questions above, I believe that you will see that there are benefits to doing something differently, even when things don’t turn out your way. (BTW, I am not speaking here of being flexible when it comes to your values, morals or ethics - only about circumstances as they arise in the day-to-day world!)
• Risk-taking ability:
There is a saying that many people will not make changes and take risks in their lives until the pain of staying inside their comfort zone (or inside the “box”) becomes greater than the fear of pushing beyond it. Are you a risk taker? Which kind are you? There are physical risk takers - those who will try sky-diving for instance; mental risk takers - those who will try a new venture, take a job overseas, go back to school at age 50, etc.; and emotional risk takers - those who will leave an unhappy, unhealthy marriage, etc.
There is some overlap between all of the above, but there are also differences. What I am discussing in this point is the mental and emotional aspects of risk taking. These are the ones that will serve you well because so many new opportunities are arising now, that if you aren’t willing to take risks, you may be left behind, especially in the job market.
What can you do if you are not a risk taker? Try little risks first: Try exercising in a new way. Buy something for you home that you admire, but it isn’t your usual style. Talk to someone you want to meet, but have been afraid of talking to up to now. In other words, take small risks first. Then when you succeed, you’ll try again. With each new success, you’ll gain more confidence to risk a little more each time.
When you start small, if you fail, you’ll find it’s not the end of the world as you may have feared. You’ll realize that you can pick yourself up and move on. In those times, remember: “Failure is just one step along the road to success.” (It’s true.... just ask any successful person!) Risk taking is necessary for being successful.
These three qualities are of greatest importance in success and there’s more. Read the remaining articles to find out the others.
