Coach Pete Tip: Program Yourself For Success

In our constant rush get that promotion, buy a bigger house, drive a better car or take a trip to the islands we sometimes lose our way. What are we really trying to accomplish? If we are trying to program ourselves for success, shouldn't we first define what success means?

Webster defines success as a "favorable outcome, attainment of wealth, favor or eminence". How often have you seen someone in a new BMW or Mercedes zipping down the road and thought, "That person must be pretty successful". But is he really a success? Is the family living in a big house with a nicely landscape yard and a pool successful? Does he or she have a happy marriage? Maybe these folks are up to their ears in debt. Maybe they lie awake at night wondering how to make next months mortgage or car payment. Does being successful (rich) bring happiness? Are the parents with four children driving the used mini-van more successful (happy) than the stressed out single over 30 professional with the new sports car and a killer car payment?

Here's another definition of success from author Christopher Morley, "There is only one success To be able to spend your life in your own way". What is your definition of success? Is it the accumulation of wealth and possessions? Is it having a happy, long healthy life, having a loving marriage/relationship? Is it being able to go to your child's ball game or school recital instead of jetting off to some faraway city? Or is it making a meaningful contribution to your community?

Try this self-coaching exercise: "The Tombstone Test" Take a minute and think about what you would like to have put on your tombstone. I don't mean to be morbid. I just want you to take a moment to reflect. Do you want the stone to say "He worked 60 hours a week" or " He drove a BMW"? There's an old saying, I don't know who said it, but it goes something like this, "No one on their death bed ever wished they had spent more time at the office". If you were to die right now what would your family and friends say about you as they gave a final toast to you? If you are not happy with what their honest response would be, now's the time to change. Now create your own definition of success. If right now you don't measure up to this definition, that's okay. The important thing is to begin looking at where you are going and really think about what success means to you.

One place to start is we a personal vision of who you want to become. Visions are really powerful things and can drive you toward your goals. What is your definition of success? Is it the accumulation of wealth and possessions? Is it having a happy, long healthy life, having a loving marriage/relationship? Is it being able to go to your child's ball game or school recital instead of jetting off to some faraway city? Or is it making a meaningful contribution to your community?
Let's look at three world leaders and how their visions shaped the world. President John Kennedy wanted a man on the moon before the end of the 1960's. Now Kennedy wasn't a rocket scientist or an engineer, however he used his office as the president to inspire and motivate others. Soon congress passed money and legislation. NASA was created and astronauts started training and on July 21, 1969 Neil Armstrong took "One small step for man - one giant leap for mankind."

Reverend Martin Luther King spoke of his vision in his famous "I Have A Dream Speech" August 28, 1963 on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. People both black and white were galvanized in to action. Gradually old barriers were torn down, laws were passed and equal rights and equal opportunity became the law of the land.

On June 12, 1987 President Ronald Reagan stood at the Berlin Wall and said "Mr. Gorbachev tear down this wall." At the time people thought Reagan was needlessly provoking the Soviets and was risking war or at least increasing the distrust between the two nations. However two years later on November 11, 1989 the wall came tumbling down and the Soviet Union with it.

All three men were passionate about their vision. The didn't bother with all the details of how they were going to accomplish their dreams. But what they did have was a deep faith and a strong sense of purpose. It was easy, there were many doubters and many obstacles, but they persevered and in doing so changed the world.

What's your personal vision? Do you even have one? Without a passionate/forcefully personal vision. One based on faith and purpose you are like a ship without a compass.
Without a personal vision how can you know when you become success? How can you even define success?



Coach Pete Tip: Program Yourself For Success - To learn more about this author, visit Pete Turner's Website.

Like this article? Share it with your friends

E-Mail | Print | More

Related Articles
How To Profit Using eBay's Saved Search Feature
	Did you know that eBay will help you locate products you can buy cheap, then flip for a quick profit? No? Then listen up, because I am about to let you in on a little known feature of eBay that can literally stuff w...
Mastering The Secret and Create Success!
	Some people can't accept the fact that the basic steps in mastering the secret are easy to understand. Mastering these steps can help you succeed in business and in life.
The Little Submarine That Could: DeLuca Takes Subway to the Top
	In less than a week, DeLuca had gone from a struggling student earning minimum wage, to a submarine sandwich store owner, all thanks to his friend Pete Buck. “I talked to Pete on Sunday,” recalls DeLuca. “I borrowed...
Lesson #1: Beginning as a Beginner is Okay
	The tremendous success of the Subway chain is a testament to the fact that you do not need to know everything about the business before you open up shop. When DeLuca first got into the sandwich-making business, he w...
What is a Business Coach?
	A business coach is someone who can produce outstanding results in the lives of people. The only challenge is that so many people are calling themselves business coaches. Some of these people are not producing posi...

---

Related Forum Posts
	Over 100 Articles
	Business Coaching Resources
	Q & A on how to use EvanCarmichael.com
	Think like an Association
	Post subject: Too successful for a mate?
	Setting up Revenue Sharing Program
	2007 Goals
	Food Marketing Entrepreneur Assistance