Over and over again, I receive emails, inquiries from clients and invitations to speak on the question of "the good life." Every human being wants to live a great life! We want peace, joy, loving relationships, meaningful work, and a level of financial success. We want our lives to "mean something."
One of the most influential books of the past 50 years is Viktor Frankl's, "Man's Search for Meaning." Having survived the horrors of Nazi death camps, Frankl observed that the most basic and enduring of human needs was for "meaning," or I might term it, significance. We want our lives to "amount to something."
So the question really boils down to, "What can I do with my life that will be fulfilling and make a difference for me and others?" I don't want to get too philosophical, but
that is a key question!
I think the answer is both simpler, and perhaps more difficult, than we like to admit.
The answer is simple because it's been known for thousands of years. Philosophers, teachers, theologians and poets have been talking about this for a long time. "There is nothing new under the sun." Unfortunately, it's also more difficult than we like to admit because we want an instant solution or a guaranteed formula and that (sad to say) hasn't been found.
Here, however, are three "simple" (not easy, but pretty straight-forward) steps that have been recommended by lots of smart people and, in my 25 years of observation, seem to work. Ready? Here we go:
1. The first step of the success dance is, as Socrates put it, to "know thyself." In Western culture, with our love of technology and speed and change, we don't do much "pondering." We are not patient, introspective people. In the famous words of Walt Whitman, we want to "be up and doing."
Too often, we are doing the wrong things. As Peter Drucker put it, too often we climb the ladder of success, "only to find it was leaning against the wrong wall." The good life seems to be a life lived out of our values, consistent with our talents and reflecting our aspirations. Success is about integrity, commitment and service. Often, money and other nice things arrive, too, but success is seldom found in anything as obvious as a bank account or fancy house.
2. The second step is about getting along with people. It's about teamwork, partners, community, and fellowship. As the poet, John Donne, wrote, "no man is an island," or as the Nobel-winning economist Milton Friedman observed, no one person can produce even a simple pencil. We need the cooperation of others. We need people who love and respect, appreciate, trust and cooperate with us.
Success is about the ability to get along with one another. We need our families, friends and business partners. At the very least, we need the trust (and purchasing power) of our customers!
3. The third step of the success dance is about making a difference. The third step is always action! It's about being flamboyant, taking a risk, reaching out, trying
something, getting our feet wet and our hands dirty. It's about making a contribution and serving as many people as possible.
The third step is to make life better, easier, and richer for others, before we focus on enriching ourselves. I love Zig Ziglar's quote that, "You can have anything you want in life if you find a way to help enough other people get what they want in life." What a wonderful challenge!
Three-Step Dance to Success - To learn more about this author, visit Rodger Blaker's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
 |
Related Articles |
|
Ever Dance the Google Dance?
|
| |
For those who know Google well like us, the Google Dance is not a dance at all. It's when Google changes their ranking algorithm significantly to try to get better search results on a Google search. Google calls it ...
|
Top Ten Reasons to Write Down Your Life Vision Today
|
| |
You've probably heard over and over why defining your vision is a good thing to do. Well, its not just a good thing to do, it's a crucial thing to do, and here's why...
|
Amateurs
|
| |
The criticism is to help you improve, but some times it just feels like criticism. You dance in front of a big mirror. This is so that you can criticize yourself.
|
Cinderella and Passive Behavior
|
| |
Waiting for what you want only works in fairy tales.
|
To Struggle Is A Gift
|
| |
Recently my wife and I started to learn Ballroom and Latin dancing.
|
 |
Related Businesses - Evan Elite Authors |
|
Leanne Hoagland-Smith
Are your sales where you want them to be? Will you be one of the few who achieves sales success or one of the many who have failed to change? So what are you doing to change those results? Let’s be honest, with companies moving globally and at lightening speeds, the traditional business solutions are outdated and dead. My approach moves your business out of its comfort zone and secures your competitive advantage now. If you are seeking to increase sales, build customer loyalty, create a culture of great attitudes or just achieve some sleep filled nights, then we should talk because my clients have experienced exactly those types of results. Learn more about customer loyalty at http://www.processspecialist.com/customer-loyalty.htm Give me a call at 219.759.5601 for a free strategy session. P.S. If you are seeking a motivational speaker, sales trainer or small business expert that will leave your audience smiling and remembering, please feel free to contact me at 219.759.5601. - Visit Leanne Hoagland-Smith's Website |
|
The Evan Elite Authors program is currently in beta phase. For details please contact us.
|
|
|
Rodger Blaker
(Visit Rodger's Website)
Rodger Blaker Coaching LLC
Phone: 214-485-2238
www.rodgerbla
ker.com
Rodg
er@rodgerblaker.com
Rodger is a Professional Certified Coach
who is an expert at creating positive
change in business behavior, working with
solopreneurs and small business owners.
Through a proven coaching process, Rodger
helps very busy, successful leaders to
slow down, reflect, and map out critical
changes they need to make to significantly
grow their business and improve
personally.
Before opening his coaching business,
Rodger spent 25 years working for fortune
500 companies where he gained valuable
leadership experience by working with
senior and executive management as a
senior project manager.
Rodger is a graduate of the CoachU
Certified Graduate Coaching Program and he
is a member of the International Coaching
Federation where he earned his certificate
as a Professional Certified Coach. He is a
member of the ICF North Texas chapter
where he holds the position of Treasurer.
Rodger also holds a certification as a
Project Management Professional or PMP.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|