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Well, answer the question… How good could you be?
Most never ask themselves how good they could be. Too often, we wander through life without written goals, undisciplined and unfocused with how we manage time, following our noses for what feel comfortable in the short term, and content to be somewhere around average.
And that’s the good news. Let other people be average. Not you. You have more inside. Let the masses set the bar at an average level. That creates opportunity for people like you who strive to set yourself apart and be successful. But there’s a catch: you have to embrace successful thoughts and actions.
I grew up tough in a decaying neighborhood, below the poverty line and orphaned at age 13. Drugs, alcohol, violence, and crime had become normal. What a mess. I would discover later that a tough background can be a huge advantage for people who strive to be successful. Hunger often fuels long term accomplishment…but back then, I was rough around the edges at best, and at worst, my world told me success was not for me. I didn’t even know what successful thoughts and actions were, let alone how to embrace them.
Then it all changed. Thanks to some very good choices, a few lightning bolts, and some incredible mentors who saw potential in me, I asked myself a life-changing question: “How good could I be?” Nothing has been the same since.
Disclaimer: I’m not some soupy, syrupy motivational speaker or author; I’m a successful business owner who started from scratch (more like below scratch). I’ve done OK, and I’m here to give back. What I’m about to share are battle-tested, grease-under-your-fingernails strategies that got results for me and will for you, too. And anyone can do them (although most won’t).
In addition to the “trial-and-error 100-hour work week” wisdom I’ve gained from entrepreneurship, for three decades I’ve researched success like a class in school. I’ve read books, watched videos, and attended workshops. I’ve also spent time with some of the most successful people on Planet Earth, including world class performers, sports hall-of-famers, Olympic athletes, Fortune 500 top executives, game-changing entrepreneurs and billionaires. Somehow, three decades later, I’ve finally figured out a few successful thoughts and actions. I guess when the student is ready, the teachers shall appear.
Yep, I was ready.
You are, too, or you wouldn’t be reading this. Below are 12 of my favorite rules for success. Some are my own original thoughts, but most are stolen from others. Success leaves clues, as they say, and I’ve proudly stolen clues from thousands of successful people. Your turn to do the stealing; put these 12 rules to work now and skip the 30+ years it took me to figure them out.
Tom Barton’s “How Good Could You Be” Rules to Live By
Let me put a little meat on each of the above bones…
1) Give yourself permission to think big, to embrace the fact that success isn’t for everyone but you. Steve Jobs nailed it. He said, “Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you and you can change it, you can influence it, you can build your own things…shake off this erroneous notion that life is there and you’re just gonna live in it. Once you learn that, you’ll never be the same again.”
2) PHD…No, not the educational doctorate. More powerful. No, it doesn’t stand for “Parents Had Dough.” More powerful. Brace yourself…Poor Hungry & Driven! When you’re poor, hungry and driven, nothing can stop you. You get up early, stay up late, and work relentlessly. And it doesn’t even feel like work. It’s a champion’s attitude. The big four that dictate athletic success are talent, technique, drive, and mental toughness. Each one matters. But mental toughness and drive don’t get enough credit. Good coaches look for tough, driven athletes. And when adversity comes your way, stay positive.
3) “Focus” is perhaps the single thing that most separates elite performers from good and very good ones. Set a focused vision and goals in ten areas of your life: Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, Social, Professional, Intellectual, Financial, Attitude, Organization, and Leadership. Set a lifetime vision, 3-10-year goals, and 1-year goals in each area. And manage your time to get it all done. We are awash in time. Time is the great equalizer; billionaires and royalty get the same 168 hours in a week that you do; it’s beautiful! Plus, if you work harder and smarter than others when you work, you CAN’T NOT leapfrog people on the way up the ladder. FYI 40 hours is just the price of admission for “average.” Elite performers work more hours. Don’t be average.
4) Be curious. Successful people are truly thirsty for deeper knowledge, new skills, and greater understanding. Average people don’t ask many questions, they just kinda sit there. There just ain’t much energy to tap into there. Think of your hobbies; you have extreme curiosity about them. Be curious about success like you are about your hobbies.
5) Live a value-oriented life. What else is there? We all know people who have climbed the ladder of success only to find it was leaning against the wrong wall. Don’t be one of them. I could write a book on infamous local characters who imploded when they were on the verge of great success. Don’t implode. It’s ugly. Life’s too short.
6) Success is rarely about a BA or an MBA or a PhD… It’s about a PHD and a GSD: Poor, Hungry and Driven and GET SH** DONE. They beat academic credentials every time. Education matters, but it’s more important to be the go-to person when it comes to producing results. “Do What You Say You Will Do” 100% of the time. Not 99, 100. Be organized and be on time. Period. Not a minute late. Ever. If you get things done, stay organized, and are always on time, it’s so simple but wow, does it build credibility with the entire world around you.
7) Have a finely tuned EQ, or “Emotional Quotient.” You don’t see world class people blowing up and letting their emotions get the best of them. They demonstrate grace under pressure. They have big shoulders and thick skin and can handle stress and tough times. Moreover, they avoid drama to begin with through excellent personal choices. Stay calm, cool and collected.
8) Nothing beats street smarts. Nothing. Read between the lines. See through people’s BS. Don’t trust others’ assumptions when it comes to important decision-making; do your own homework. And let a little bit of your inner grit come out. Don’t be overly polished and polite or people won’t trust you, either. Be real with people.
9) People are judging you all the time. Know that, own that, and leverage that opportunity. We all have a reputation, a “personal brand.” Keep your brand positive. Be real, be genuine, be authentic, but put your best self forward when you’re in a position to be judged.
10) The fastest way to accelerate your success is to learn directly from successful people. Find mentors, people you know who will directly teach you how to succeed. Leverage role models too, heroes, world famous people, movie characters, whom you’ve never actually met. Study their success clues they’ve left behind. And dig your well before you’re thirsty; don’t just network when you need something, as it’s too late. Be nice, be respectful to everyone. People talk; creating good karma with everyone will eventually come back around. Maya Angelou said, “…people will forget what you said and did, but will never forget how you made them feel.”
11) Spiderman taught us that with great gifts comes great responsibility. As you grow, give back so others benefit from your time, talent and treasure. Leave your own success clues. Think faith. Think spirituality. Think religion. Think karma. Pay the world back for what it’s done for you.
12) If it ain’t fun, what’s the point? Yet, the streets are littered with sad successful people. Don’t be one of them. Life’s too short. Be a supernova of joy. It’s fun.
Soooooo…How good could you be? A suggestion…start with my third rule. Write a think-big vision for all ten goal areas in your life. And I mean WRITE. Without writing stuff down, it’s nothing but a daydream. Then, get after it. The journey of 1,000 miles starts with a single step. Let me know how it goes! Lunch or drinks on me so I can hear your story. I can’t wait.
Tom Barton, thomas.barton@wfafinet.com, 563-580-7708
