Response Magic 
By Jeff Harden
The most successful people
approach their work differently than most. See how they think -- and why it
works.
In my article 8
Behaviors of Phenomenally Successful People, I listed some of the
actions successful people consistently take that fuel their success.
But where does the impetus
for those actions come from?
Belief is the mother of
action--so here are some of the perspectives of beliefs that most successful
people share.
See how many apply to you.
Successful people believe:
1. Success is only inevitable in hindsight.
Read stories of successful
entrepreneurs and it's easy to think they have some intangible entrepreneurial
something-ideas, talent, drive, skills, creativity, whatever-that you don't
have.
Wrong.
Success is inevitable only
in hindsight.
It's easy to look back on
an entrepreneurial path to greatness and assume that every vision was clear,
every plan was perfect, every step was executed flawlessly, and tremendous
success was a foregone conclusion.
It wasn't.
Success is never assured.
Only in hindsight does it
appear that way.
If you're willing to work
hard and persevere, who you are is more than enough.
Don't measure yourself
against other people.
Pick a goal and measure
yourself against that goal. That's the only comparison that matters.
2. I can choose myself.
Like Seth Godin says, once
you had to wait: to be accepted, to be promoted, to be selected... to somehow
be "discovered."
Not anymore. Access is
nearly unlimited; you can connect with almost anyone through social media. You
can publish your own work, distribute your own music, create your own products,
or attract your own funding.
You can do almost anything
you want -- and you don't need to wait for someone else to discover your
talents.
The only thing holding you
back is you -- and your willingness to try.
3. I am not self-serving. I am a servant.
No one accomplishes
anything worthwhile on his own.
Great bosses focus on
providing the tools and training to help their employees better do their
jobs-and achieve their own goals.
Great consultants put
their clients' needs first.
Great businesses go out of
their way to help and serve their customers.
And as a result, they reap
the rewards.
If you're in it only for
yourself, then someday you will be by yourself. If you're in it for others,
you'll not only achieve success.
You'll also have tons of
friends.
4. I may not be first ... but I can always be last.
Success is often the
result of perseverance.
When others give up,
leave, stop trying, or compromise their principles and values, the last person
left is often the person who wins.
Other people may be
smarter, better connected, more talented, or better funded. But they can't win
if they aren't around at the end.
Sometimes it makes sense
to give up on ideas, projects, and even businesses -- but it never makes sense
to give up on yourself.
You can always be the last
to give up on yourself.
5. I will do one thing every day that no one else is willing to
do.
Just one. Even if it's
simple. Even if it's small. Do one thing every day.
After a week, you'll be
uncommon. After a month, you'll be special.
After a year, you will be
phenomenal.
6. I don't build networks. I make real connections.
Often the process of
building a network takes on a life of its own and becomes a numbers game.
You don't need numbers.
You need real connections: people you can help, people you can trust, people
who care.
So, forget numbers. Reach
out to the people whom you want to be part of your life, even if just your
professional life, for a long time.
And when you do, forget
about receiving and focus on providing; that's the only way to establish a real
connection and relationship.
Make lasting connections
and you create an extended professional family: You'll be there when they need
you... and they'll be there when you need them.
7. Strategy is important, but execution is everything.
Strategy is not a product.
Binders are filled with strategies that were never implemented.
Develop an idea. Create a
strategy. Set up a rudimentary system of operations. Then execute, adapt,
execute some more, and build a solid operation based on what works.
Success isn't built on
strategy. Success is built through execution.
Phenomenally successful
people focus on executing remarkably well.
8. Real leadership is measured in years, not moments.
"Leaders" aren't
just the guys who double the stock price in six months, or the gals who coerce
local officials into approving too-generous tax breaks and incentives, or the
guys who are brave enough to boldly go where no man has gone before.
(If you don't get that
last reference, you're too young. Or I'm too old. Probably both.)
Those are examples of
leadership-but typically the kind of leadership that is situational and short-lived.
Phenomenal leaders can
consistently inspire, motivate, and make you feel better about yourself than
even you think you have a right to feel.
They're the kind of people
you'll follow not because you have to but
because you want to.
You'll follow them anywhere.
And you'll follow them
forever, because they have a knack for making you feel like you aren't actually
following. Wherever you're headed, you always feel like you're going there
together.
Creating that bond takes
time.
9. Hard work comes first. Payoff comes later.
Ever heard someone say,
"If I got promoted, then I would work harder"? Or, "If the
customer paid more, then I would do more"? Or, "If I thought there
would be a bigger payoff, I would be willing to sacrifice more"?
Successful people earn
promotions by first working harder.
Successful businesses earn
higher revenue by first delivering greater value.
Successful entrepreneurs
earn bigger payoffs by first working hard, well before any potential return is
in sight.
Most people expect to be
compensated more before they will even consider working harder.
Phenomenally successful
people see compensation as the reward for exceptional effort, not the driver.
10. I can make history -- and I will.
You may not make it onto
the pantheon of great entrepreneurs. Yours may not become a household name.
But think about the past
ten years: Technologies, industries, and ways of doing business that were once
notions are now commonplace. You can be part of the next wave -- whatever it
might be.
Or you can make a small
change your industry.
You can make a small
change in your profession.
You can be at the
forefront of a minor or major change, even if only in your community or niche.
You just have to be willing to try something new.
How cool is that?
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