8 Keys to Success
Last month I posted a list of five traits that the Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius said, were characteristic of successful people. It’s interesting to look at success literature, almost 2,000 years later, and see many of the same ideas are still considered hallmarks of successful people.
David H. Lyman, lists 8 keys that are necessary for success.
- Passion — You have to be driven by a passion for your subject, which in turn leads to your goals. The realization of goals, whatever they may be, forms your success.
- Ability to accept a risk — Successful people are risk takers. People who are afraid to “step out on the ledge.” It is not risk for risk’s sake, but a measured response, to move closer to a goal.
- High Self-esteem — Not an egotist, but an honest assessment of your skills and abilities; knowing how to play to your strengths and overcome your weaknesses.
- Persistence — Thomas Edison went through hundreds of failures until he came up with a working light bulb. Had he given up after the first few or even the first hundred failures, someone else’s name would be associated with the invention of the light bulb.
- Being nice to work with — Success is rarely a solo venture. You need the help of others, and their willingness to help will be commensurate with your ability to get along with others.
- Who you know — Networks and relationships are important: teachers, mentors, peers, clients can all play a part in developing your success.
- Master your craft — You have to work diligently to develop and maintain your skills: musicians practice scales; bricklayers work for speed; teachers improve their lesson planning; and so on.
- Talent — Talent is perhaps the least important key to success. It also can be a limiting factor for some. There are those who let a perceived lack of talent hold them back. There are those with much talent who think they don’t need to work to achieve. We all have some degree of talent. Building on talent, using the previous seven keys, will lead to success.
My extra key to success: a positive attitude.
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