Finding
Success in the New Millenium
Jimmy
Valvano, the late basketball coach at North Carolina State
University defined success "by whether you have worked
hard enough and smart enough to put yourself in a position
to win, then can take advantage of the opportunities.
The
new millenium! Many people see it as the chance for change
and to ponder what their new goals might be. This is also
a good time to think about, what does success mean to me?
More time to me? More time with my kids? discovering the real
me?
It's
tempting to measure success in terms of symbols that are visible
to others: The biggest office, highest salary, number of clients,
type of car. But if success is based on the quality of the
effort, you become the judge of whether you've succeeded.
Its important to have goals and aspirations that mean something
to you.
To
be fulfilling and "mentally healthy", work must
have meaning and relevance as well as status and compensation.
As
you look ahead, here are some suggestions to help you have
a clearer picture of what success means to you:
-
Be clear what your own definition of success is-- not your
parent's or spouse's. Write it down.
-
What
successes have you had in the past year?
-
What
contributed to each of those successes?
-
What
part of my business do I dislike doing? What could I have
others do or eliminate so I can spend my time on things
I really love?
-
As
you look ahead, what dreams do you have? What regrets have
you had so far about what you haven't accomplished? This
can be personal or professional.
-
As
you look at role models of successful people, what kinds
of qualities do they have? What is it that you admire about
them-- is it their energy, their passions, their inner peace?
-
What
is your picture or ideal vision for your business in the
next year? How can you break it down into monthly goals?
-
Who
is your support system to help you succeed?
- How can you take
advantage of more opportunities?