Success Is Spelled with 3 Cs
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The secrets to success can we whittled down to three simple yet complex C words: confidence, credit, and comfort. A combination of all three Cs is required for lasting, measurable success.
First, let’s take a step backwards. The importance of self-exploration needs to be addressed before the three Cs can have maximum impact. To truly follow your instincts and intuition, you need to engage in self-exploration. What are you naturally good at? What comes easy to you? When do you really feel like you’re adding value to a discussion or a cause? Where do you work best, and where are you going to thrive? If you have been working in the same job for an extended period and want more success there, then you must take a long, hard look at your own subconscious obstacles. Are you your own barrier to success? Are your strengths aligned with your goals?
Collaborate with those you want to emulate and spend time with like-minded people. Accept guidance from others only when it makes sense to you. This path to making courageous decisions will serve you well. Remember that nothing has meaning until you give it meaning. Filter out the naysayers’ opinions. Misery loves company, and such opinions probably come from those who never had the courage or confidence to make success happen in their own lives.
Confidence
Confidence sometimes means you need to “fake it until you make it.” If you don’t, you will never achieve the goals that are naturally yours for the taking. By “faking” it, I mean using bravado as a tool until you develop more confidence.
How do you develop confidence?
- Always Be Overprepared. Never walk into a situation cold when you have time to prepare because that would demonstrate laziness and arrogance. You are your brand, a walking billboard for you. Take this responsibility seriously. It takes only a minute to make a first impression—good or bad. When you see smooth, poised presenters who seem to have a knack for public speaking, that is practice made perfect. Never underestimate the confidence that preparation can provide.
- Be Your Own Devil’s Advocate. Before you give a presentation, ask yourself every hard question that could be raised and find answers if you don’t already have them. Don’t live in a vacuum. Ask someone you respect to troubleshoot with you and see what questions he or she comes up with. A surefire way to show confidence is to raise the tough questions yourself before others have a chance. It is so much easier to operate from the offense versus the defense, so answer the hard questions before they are asked.
- Admit What You Don’t Know. Nothing looks worse than you fumbling for an answer that you obviously don’t have. This can ruin all the progress you might have made up until that point. I could not be more serious about this. You could give a solid one-hour presentation and negate the entire effort with unprepared answers. If you know part of an answer, say that and share what you know; otherwise, say, “I don’t have the complete answer at this time, so let me get back to you.” Then get back to the person as soon as possible. Also invite your teammates to share different information they may have.
- Get Organized. A critical step to success is figuring out what works for you regarding organization. A cluttered office reflects a cluttered mind. It is critical that your files, your office, your work, and your life have a semblance of order. If you think you are comfortable with chaos, you need to know that “rightsizing” your life has positives that far outweigh the negatives. Rightsizing is about releasing the emotional attachment we have to our possessions and letting things go that no longer serve us. We are not defined by our possessions. Create your own workable system that reflects your style of organization.
Taking Credit
Show the world what you can do and hold on to the credit. Make yourself known by finding ways to impress high-level people. Seek them out at company meetings and chat with them in the elevator. Use every opportunity to give great answers to simple questions. For example, “How are you?” could be answered with “I am really committed to our team and love working on the X project. I’m seeing great results.” Relying only on your immediate boss to get ahead is a strategy for low-level employees. Self-promotion is not boastful. It is smart!
Comfort with Success
You’ve gained some ground, so get comfortable with it. There are no coincidences in this world—everything happens for a reason. You are supposed to be in a position of power, so enjoy it. Wear it with ease and comfort like your favorite pajamas. And most importantly, think about your next promotion. That will always keep you in the game.
Comfort is creating your own definition of balance that you can stand behind, defend, and never make excuses for. It is finding security in standing alone. It is fearlessness in choosing the road less traveled. Standing alone not only builds character but also is a testimony to being comfortable in your own skin. When you have the willingness to be wrong alone and the confidence to be right without gloating, you’ve reached the point of ultimate comfort.
Finally, you must always have a “whatever it takes” attitude to make dreams come true, and only with that attitude will you achieve success that others may see but never attain.
It’s not who we think we are that slows us down, it’s who we think we’re not.
--Michael Nolan
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Editor's Note: Inappropriate comments that are offensive to the author or not in context to the author's post will be removed. For editorial feedback, please contact our Community Manager through his user profile. Click here.
October 5, 2008 10:47 am
Finally, you must always have a “whatever it takes” attitude to make dreams come true Buy Tadalafil Online, and only with that attitude will you Buy Accutane Online and achieve success that others may see but never attain. Good words!
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UVA (Darden) MBA Admissions Deadlines for 2010-2011
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The University of Virginia's Darden School of Business recently published its application deadlines for the coming admissions season. Here they are, followed by our comments in italics:
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