What Makes You Successful (and What Doesn't)

 Based on the premise that we are, for the most part, successful - it's probably worth a few minutes to think about what makes us successful. . . and what doesn't.

I'm a worrier. . .and I'm really, really "good" at it.   I like to claim it's built into my DNA from a childhood in the Midwest.   Many vacations we would be 45 minutes down the road when my mother's brow would furrow and she would chirp "I wonder if I shut off the iron?"   With images of the house going up in flames we would turn around our be-finned boat of a car and head for home to turn off the iron - which, as you can imagine, had indeed been turned off before leaving home the first time.

So, my excuse is that it's genetic.   Because I'm successful, somewhere built into my subconscious is the hook that worrying is part of what makes me successful.  In fact, I'm more successful when I don't worry as much - but it takes a very conscious act on my part to differentiate the two.

It's worth thinking about - what are the items that either consciously or subconsciously are built into your success formula that ultimately you are not well-served by?  Is it working such long hours that you don't have a life?  Is it cheating your own health?  Is it a control demeanor when, in fact, a more collaborative approach would serve you and everyone else better?  Is it being so preoccupied with projects that you don't spend quality time with your staff?    Heck - it could be anything.

The key is awareness.  Invest a few moments, on a regular basis, in thinking about all of the components that you believe make up your success - including the ones that, in truth, make you less successful.

Then. . .edit.

The undesirable elements don't go away by wishing. . .it's an active decision.    It's also a decision that may take some time to implement fully.   By making the decision, however, that you can actively edit things that ultimately don't serve you well. . .you will become. . .well. . .  more successful.

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Brent Frerichs is the author of "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders" available for e-reading from Amazon Kindle.