Professional Corner
Success Strategies of Those People
Who Get What They Want
(You Can Too)
People who get most of what they want in life have more than talent
and persistence. Among other things, they know when to break the rules…and
which rules to break.
You don’t have to be ruthless or arrogant to get your way. But you
do have to be willing to challenge conventional wisdom.
When I was starting out in publishing I carefully studied successful
people. Their strategies worked for me…and they can work for you,
too.
FIND YOUR PASSION
I know many people who started out with a passion – a dream – and
spent their lives pursuing it.
Many others have been just as successful by going out and looking
for something that excited them. To find out what you’re passionate
about…
Soak up information. A number of people come across their calling
almost by accident. But they wouldn’t have had that random opportunity
unless they were out in the world accepting challenges. This same
serendipity can happen to you if you constantly expose yourself to
new ideas, new people, and new sources of inspiration. Reading books
and articles and taking classes are great ways to get ideas, but don’t
stop there. Take risks – introduce yourself to people. Ask them questions.
Try activities that are completely new to you. It’s unlikely that
every one of the leads you follow will amount to much, but, sooner
or later, one of them will point you in a direction that makes the
most sense to you.
Interview yourself. Ask yourself a series of specific questions to
find out what you love most. For instance…
- List three times in your life when you felt exhilarated.
- List your three favorite vacations.
- List three recent accomplishments that made you feel satisfied.
- List three qualities for which you are often complemented.
- List three activities you used to enjoy but think you have outgrown.
Look at your list, and ask yourself what your answers have in common.
Learn by watching and wishing. Whenever you catch yourself resenting
someone else’s success, stop and ask yourself, "What does this
tell me about what’s missing in my life?"
DON’T PLAN TOO MUCH
You need a strategy to get what you want and to reach your goals.
But many people spend too much time cooking up a plan of action. They
fail to recognize perfectly good opportunities…or fail to act on them.
For a plan that really works…
Stick to the essentials. Instead of figuring out everything you might
need to do to reach your goal, identify only those steps you must
take – and set aside the rest. For example…Maybe an advanced degree
would help you enter a new field. But if you have a chance to learn
on the job instead, you might be able to skip graduate school, save
thousands of dollars and reach your goal much sooner.
Start in the middle. It’s true that most achievements are the result
of many small steps. But if you’re stuck on the first step, there’s
nothing wrong with jumping to the middle.
TALK TO THE BEST PEOPLE
The right person is the person that protocol suggests you go through.
But the right person may not be in a position to help you.
The best person is someone who has the knowledge and power to advance
you to your goals.
Don’t go through unnecessary channels. Although you should always
be courteous to everyone with whom you come in contact, put your main
efforts into seeking out the people with real expertise and clout.
Talk to as many people as possible who have already gotten what they
want. Write or fax them a note asking for advice or for the names
of people who can help you achieve your goals.
SHOW YOUR ENTHUSIASM
Most people try hard not to show how much they want something. They’re
afraid of appearing overeager. But you’re more likely to get what
you want if people can see how passionate you are about it.
Enthusiasm shows that you are committed. It creates a personal connection,
so that others become invested in your success. And it’s contagious
– your excitement gives other people energy. An exception to this
rule is that if you are in a situation where exuberance is almost
always frowned upon – such as applying for a bank loan or dealing
with a conservative company – lower the wattage and confine your enthusiasm
to the specific project under discussion.
IDENTIFY THE "TPB" FACTOR
TPB stands for Their Personal Bonus. It refers to what other people
stand to gain if they help you get wheat you want. If the focus is
only on your own desires, your self-centeredness will turn people
off. Before asking for something you want, do research, ask questions
and listen carefully in order to find out what the other person needs
that you can offer.
DON’T LET OTHERS SET YOUR LIMITS
When someone tells you, "It can’t be done," what they usually
mean is "It can’t be done by the rules."
Use that second sentence to unlock your thinking…and to come up with
fresh ways to approach the problem.
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