Definitions: (1) turning out to be as hoped for; (2) achieving a desired objective or a favorable result; (3) having gained wealth, fame, or quality
People Who Exemplify This Quality: A successful person teaches another person how to succeed in the same way they had succeeded. The student, in turn, promises to keep the cycle alive by teaching someone else. The commitment is not fulfilled until the new student has reached the predetermined goals and knows how to do it again. The student repays the debt by becoming the teacher.
Poetry:
He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much;
Who has enjoyed the trust of pure women, the respect of intelligent men, and the love of little children;
Who has filled his niche and accomplished his task;
Who has never lacked appreciation of Earth’s beauty or failed to express it;
Who has left the world better than he found it,
Whether by an improved poppy, a perfect poem, or a rescued soul;
Who has always looked for the best in others and given the best he had;
Whose life was an inspiration;
Whose memory is a benediction.
— Bessie Anderson Stanley (1849-1952) American poet
Quote: Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal. — Earl Nightingale (1921-1989) American motivational speaker
Affirmation: I am succeeding; and am helping others to succeed also.
Reflection: There are a lot of successful people who say anybody can succeed. They have some natural qualities and talents they developed. But even the most naturally gifted person has to reach beyond themselves. There is no success without effort.
Nonetheless, it is important to know your limitations. If you get frozen when the limitations are more powerful than the vision of our desired objectives, change the goal or develop and deploy a way to shortcut the limitations. Move because action thaws.
Considerations:
• Industrialists who treat people as part of the numbers are narrowing their focus down to dollars and cents. If they realized people are of primary importance, the quality of the product will be superior. All needs are met if one focuses on, believes in, and nurtures one’s highest concepts and most cherished values. Successes are rooted in what is best.
• Life does include failures, and thank goodness! For without affliction and difficulty, we would not appreciate accomplishments as deeply. Since failure and uncertainties do exist, we would not be realistic if we ignored or played them down.
• We can be crushed by defeat, thus reducing our self-esteem and hope for recovery. Or, although feeling and experiencing the devastation of the moment, we can be separate from its weight. We can let the real self, the one with qualities of resilience, sympathy, courage, and hope, come forth. Watch and feel the experience in order to learn. Use the new knowledge to deal with the even greater successes and failures of future choices.
Tip: Key Qualities to Success
• Decisiveness
• Balance force with fairness
• Patience, an expectation of results after effort
• Desire, motivation, and a clear idea of what is needed
• Determination and stick-to-itiveness
Advice: Do what you love to do. You then have a better chance to succeed because the activity will generate its own energy. Ask yourself what it is people need then provide it in a way you will enjoy. Some of the qualities you need are adaptability, courage, independence, cooperation, self-esteem, and practicality.
Questions:
• Have I been of service to others?
• Am I happy and proud of myself?
• Am I getting things done with efficiency?
• Was my response in a recent situation exemplary of the qualities I have been striving for?
Exercises:
Facing Problems — Earl Nightingale (1921-1989) A Course in Winning {1989}
1. Write down problems simply: two sentences.
• Do this with all your problems.
• Last sentence is a question, i.e., I need more money. How can I get it? or … I am in conflict with so-and-so. What can I do to get along better?
2. Think about one problem at a time.
3. List all possible solutions – even if “impossible” or inappropriate.
Note: Externalizing is a good way of getting your internal worry and fear out into the open.
Success Formula — Catherine Ponder (1927-) The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity {1962}
1. Persist and persevere – give the best in you, even though you may be mentally living beyond it. Keep your spirits high.
2. When fear or doubt arise, put your best foot forward and do something definite to effect a successful feeling.
Color: red
Symbols: 1) rhododendrons; 2) the numbers three & seven