There is a temptation in today’s world to claim “I’m just too busy” to avoid doing those things we know we need to do.  We like to think that today’s demands on our time are significantly more than those of 10, 20, or 30 years ago.  After all, at work, we aim to achieve “top ten” performance – thus, we have to do more with less every day.  At home, there are more demands on our time because of sports clubs, community events, and other mandatory functions.  However, have you thought lately how many more “tools” we have today that in previous generations?  For example, we now have iPhones or similar devices that help us remain in touch 24/7 with anyone in the world.  We can view our work or home e-mail anytime, anywhere.  We can use our devices to turn off our lights, ensure security, look up anything, and, generally, to do much more than 20 years ago.

Did you know that in every week, there are 1132 blocks of 10-minutes?  Can you comprehend that?  Over 1000 blocks of 10-minutes in every week!  In any given workday, there are 50-60 blocks of 10-minutes.  Are we so busy that we could not set aside one or more of these blocks to do something that needs to get done or to make a difference to someone else?  Could we make it a habit to even give one of these away each day or each week?  So, what do I mean by “give one of these away”?  How about these suggestions:

What could I do with 10 minutes?

At work, I could:

• Check the status of my goals for the year and plan on need adjustments
• Send a thank you note to a coworker, mentor, supervisor, confidante, support person, or teammate
• Clean up that pile of unneeded paperwork on my desk and throw it away
• Restock the coffee maker area or break room rather than rely upon someone else
• Delete obsolete or unneeded e-mails
• Create a log book of examples of contributions that I can use for my year-end performance appraisal
• Walk to the work space of a team member to get to know them better to nurture a relationship
• Attend a team meeting event another to learn more best practices
• Clean off overdue items from a bulletin board
• Pick up lunch for someone else to save them a trip to the cafeteria
• Bring coffee or a treat to a teammate experiencing a difficult or challenging time
• Do something to encourage or motivate someone else
• Forward a pertinent article or news item to someone that might benefit from it

At home:

• Unload the dishwasher for your spouse (unless, of course, you are the one that normally does it)
• Hide a note to your spouse where they’ll find it
• Clean out and/or throw away just one box or pile of junk in your basement or garage (repeat next week)
• Take out the trash, wash the dog, or wash the car
• Wrestle with your kids on the floor (any age works — even teenagers will enjoy this “remember when…” time)
• Start a tax organizer
• Plant a flower or favorite plant
• Give your spouse a back or neck rub
• Put the kids to bed
• Call a friend, brother or sister, mother or father, or former coworker
• Read a book to your kids

The point is… Think about those 1000+ 10-minute blocks of time you’ve been given each week.  Today’s challenge is to INTENTIONALLY identify just one of these you can give away as a gift to yourself, to a coworker, or to a family member.  What will be your 10-minute gift to someone else today?  I guarantee that you’ll be glad you gave one of these away!

Have a great day and consider how you can make a difference for someone else today.

Have you ever ridden a bus?  Did you ride a bus to school as a kid?  Have you vowed to never ride a bus again?  What do you think of when you are asked to comment on riding a bus?  Today, we recall those bus rides and looks at all those phrases, idioms, and comments used in the business world about buses.  I’ll bet you didn’t see this one coming!

I did not ride a bus to school every day.  I walked the two blocks from my house to school.  But, I did ride buses many times to attend sporting and other school events.  I have also ridden a number of charter buses to corporate events.  There is a significant difference between the comfort of an old-style school bus and a charter bus.  But, I recall many fun and enjoyable times on those hot/cold, rough, bumpy school buses.

Buses are used prominently in analogies in the business world.  Let’s look at some of these phrases, what they mean, and how these can be positive motivators in our work:

1. “Get on the bus” – This is a term used to encourage individuals to join the effort, get involved, buy-in, support to team, etc.  It says that we should not be left behind while everyone else goes ahead on the journey.  For us, it might mean to get involved in our career journey, be excited about our future, or to get involved in efforts that will move us forward in 2016.  So, are you on the bus?
2. “He might have to be thrown off the bus” – This phrase refers to an individual that does not seem to be heading in the same direction or that does not have the same destination in mind as the team.  An individual that is negative or detrimental to the team effort may need to be removed from the effort before damage occurs.  Is there someone on your team that either needs to actively join the effort or get off the bus?
3. “Don’t throw me under the bus” – This refers to the effort by some to place the blame on others.  When you look for an individual that you can single out as the potential problem, you are throwing that person under the bus.  No one appreciates this.  Throwing someone under the bus is a way of deflecting the attention for an issue from the actual cause to another individual.  There is no place for this.  Accountability is important, but use caution when you look to singling out an individual to place blame.
4. “We need to allow everyone on the bus that wants to come aboard” – This refers to ensuring the team is open to everyone, especially those that are not typically part of the team.  Creating an atmosphere that makes everyone welcome is a critical success factor.
5. “No one, ever, should be forced to ride at the back of the bus” – We need everyone to participate in our journey and, ultimate, success.  Forcing someone to the backseat is essentially asking that person to take a less important role.  It is asking team members that deserve full participation to a role where their views and ideas are considered irrelevant.  This should never occur.  We need to be open to the ideas of everyone.  We need to embrace the participation of all.  The more participation we have, the better the outcome, typically.
6. “You might need to take the next bus that comes along, no matter where it is going” – This phrase is usually used for someone that seems stuck in a situation with no hope for change.  When you find yourself in that situation, you might need to make a change or assume a new viewpoint.  You might need to go in a new direction.
7. “If your answer is always no, we don’t need you – we can find your replacement at any bus stop” – This phrase is used when someone always takes a black or white viewpoint.  They are dogmatic and uncompromising.  This statement suggests that unless one is willing to seek a new viewpoint or get comfortable in the gray, their participation may not be needed.  Instead of looking at why something cannot be done, they need to be more open to how we could make it work.

So, the questions for today… How can we ensure that everyone has a chance to be on the bus?  Are we doing all we can to allow everyone to sit wherever they want, including the front seat?  Do we often throw others under the bus at the first hint of pressure?  In reality, we are all along for a challenging and rewarding ride in our own company.  Everyone needs to contribute.  And, everyone needs to feel that they have the opportunity to participate.  Let’s ensure that we create a culture that not only allows it, but promotes it.  Have a splendid day!

Recently, the new Peanuts movie opened.  I’ve been a fan of this crew for decades now.  How can you ignore the simplicity and transparency of Charlie, Lucy, Snoopy, and all the rest?  Below are just a few of the great quotes from the Gang.  Check these out and see what strikes you today (all are attributed to Charles M. Schulz, the inventor of the Gang):

1. “All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.” – We need to keep things in perspective.  Sometimes, I do my best thinking when I have a large basket of chocolate in front of me.  There is just something about chocolate that makes you relax and forget all the complexities of life.  Give it a try.  When there are too many items on your plate, try a little chocolate comfort to help you sort them out.
2. “Sometimes I lie awake at night and I ask, “Is life a multiple choice test or is it a true or false test?” …Then a voice comes to me out of the dark and says, “We hate to tell you this but life is a thousand word essay.” –  We simply cannot script the times and events of our lives, no matter how much we would like.  We plan that every batch of every product will be perfect, but it doesn’t happen.  We plan our projects with 500-line Gantt charts down to the day and penny.  However, it seems changes to the chart are needed every day.  Our work is complex.  However, our ability to adjust and yet remain professional and kind to others defines our character.
3. “Are you upset little friend? Have you been lying awake worrying? Well, don’t worry…I’m here. The flood waters will recede, the famine will end, the sun will shine tomorrow, and I will always be here to take care of you.” – I am so fortunate to have many people in my life that I just know will always be there when I need them!  No matter what life brings, there are those that will be at my side to help me through it —- I know it and go to sleep at night comforted by that.  Do you have such people in your life?  Why not tell them today that this quote applies to them and that you appreciate having them in your life?
4. “All his life he tried to be a good person. Many times, however, he failed.  For after all, he was only human. He wasn’t a dog.” – There is just something about a dog and the loyalty they show every day.  What can we learn about the unfailing love and loyalty that our dog shows us?  Can we not exhibit even a portion of that to those around us?
5. “Exercise is a dirty word. Every time I hear it I wash my mouth out with chocolate.” – There are no possible additional comments that could be make with this.  In short, enough said!
6. “Just thinking about a friend makes you want to do a happy dance, because a friend is someone who loves you in spite of your faults.” – When is the last time you did a happy dance because of a friend?  Perhaps, today?
7. “Just remember, when you’re over the hill, you begin to pick up speed.” – This one strikes me perfectly!  It is very nice to have all that uphill climb behind me!
8. “Happiness is waking up, looking at the clock and finding that you still have two hours left to sleep.” – Yes, this feeling hits me many nights at 1:00am.
9. “If I stand here, I can see the Little Red Haired girl when she comes out of her house… Of course, if she sees me peeking around this tree, she’ll think I’m the dumbest person in the world… But if I don’t peek around the tree, I’ll never see her… Which means I probably AM the dumbest person in the world… which explains why I’m standing in a batch of poison oak.” – This quote speaks to me about taking risks.  How many great things in life would never have occurred if we didn’t take a risk — or, step out from behind that tree?  Then, when you think about those positive things, you might ask, “Why don’t I take more measured risks?  Do I always have to play everything so cautiously?”
10. “Learn from yesterday, live for today, look to tomorrow, rest this afternoon.” – Obviously, this was said to a morning person.  The point here is that sleep and rest are often over-rated.  Live, take a risk, go for it!

So, for those true Charlie Brown fans, enjoy the movie!

I keep seeing this float around on LinkedIn and other places,  “Your character is defined not by how hard you fall, but by how high you bounce when you fall.”  Do you remember those Super Balls from our youth?  I loved those things.  They were made from a new space-age, probably toxic, material that had a “secret formula.”  You throw them down on the driveway and they would bounce a 100 meters high… then they would bounce away and you’d never find them again.  Or, if you did find them, you would break a lamp inside the house when you tried dribbling them in the living room.  Yes, I think most parents are glad those have not made a comeback.

However, I think Super Balls have a good correlation with character.  Everyone falls sometimes.  You get tripped, you fall because you take too many risks, or you simply give up and throw yourself down.  We have all been there —- or, some might be there now.  You might be experiencing a tough time at home.  Or, you may have been hit with an extraordinary financial crunch.  Or, a spouse may have lost a job.  Or, someone in your life might be experiencing a health issue.  Or, you get tired from those daily calls from your child’s Principal at school.  Or, you need to make a hard decision.  Or, you feel your career has dead-ended.  Or, you are lonely.  Or, you just feel disappointed in how things are going or have turned out.  Or, you are depressed or sad.  Or, you have disappointed someone else.  Or…  There are many reasons why we might fall.

The measure of our character, though, is not how hard we might have fallen, but how high we bounce!  There are many, many examples of great people that have fallen, but gotten up and thrived.  A measure of our character is… Can you put whatever made you fall behind you and take control of your future?  It is easy to feel you are the victim of something or someone.  But, can you intentionally put that aside and move on and move forward?  Whatever it is – whether personal or work-related – we are the most effective, the most fun, and the most useful in life and work when you have bounced back.  And, when you show that you can bounce, you become a role model for others that are still down.

So, for today, how high can you bounce?  And, if you see someone else on your team or in your life still trying to bounce, lend a hand.

Have you been around a group of preschool children in the last few months?  One of the things you might observe is a significant difference in how the children approach problems.  In one group, you’ll see the children working diligently to build a block tower.  The tower may fall, but they will stay with it until they have built “the highest tower in the world.”  When other children knock down the tower, these children will diligently work to rebuild.  This process may include a few bruises or crying children, but these kids will keep working at it until they feel they have ultimately conquered their block challenge.

On the other hand, you will also see children that are not so diligent.  For some, their attention span is simply not very long.  However, for others, whenever they experience an obstacle or challenge, their first response is either to cry or to run to the nearest adult and plead for help.  In other words, these children feel that only an adult or someone else can solve their problems.  And, if that doesn’t work, they cry, fall to the floor, or give up.

In the first group, you see children that are developing confidence.  When they see a challenge, they face it and keep working until they are successful.  Thus, they become more confident.  In the second group, the children feel they are helpless to solve their own problems.  Thus, the challenge appears hopeless unless they get someone else to solve their problem. 

I’m sure you know where this is going….  We can see the same characteristics in the workplace.  Some individuals have “never met a challenge they couldn’t defeat.”  They are unaffected by roadblocks.  When they need an answer, they will be persistent until they get the information they need.  Thus, by getting things done, they become (and are perceived as) more competent.  Lack of information is no excuse to these individuals.  When they see that something needs done, they are relentless in doing it.  They help others, as well.  The confident & competent individual is one that will not sit idle and wait for someone else to answer an e-mail, return a call, or give them permission to accomplish a needed task.  They simply do whatever it takes to achieve results.

On the other hand, the hopeless & helpless individual is easily defeated.  I heard an individual recently say something like, “That has been a problem for us for a long time.  We keep hoping that someone will do something about it, but no one has yet.”  Certainly, we cannot solve every problem ourselves.  However, when someone comes to me and says something like that, my response is likely, “So, tell me all the things you have done so far to solve this problem.  Who have you talked to about this?  What steps have you taken?  What have you tried that did not work?  What do you think your next actions should be?  Who else have you worked with to solve this problem?  Why did you come to me before you have exhausted all other possibilities?”  As leaders, we absolutely want to serve our team.  We want team members to be successful.  We want to help solve problems.  However, we do individuals no favor when our first response is to take control of someone else’s problem that should have solved it on their own.  We should not accept hopeless & helpless. 

So, which group do you most often fit in to?  Are you more likely to see obstacles as challenges to conquer or issues to elevate?  How would your teammates or supervisor classify you?  As a leader, is your first response always to attempt to solve everyone else’s problems?  Could this be a wake-up call?

 

 

Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American poet that lived and worked in the 19^th century.  Though Emerson had many struggles in his life, those challenges led to a number of important quotes attributed to him.  Many of these can apply to us.  Everything we attempt is not successful.  Often, our very best plans need to be modified because something has changed.  Our attitude might be our most important predictor of success in work and in life.  We can see these themes coming from Emerson’s work.  Let’s take a look at a few of his quotes today to see how they might help drive us to a successful new FY’16:

1. “What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you.” – Emerson is clearly saying here that our attitude, motivation, drive, desire, and persistence are more important in our success than the circumstances that occur to us.  Notice also that Emerson minimizes those things in the past (we can no longer influence those things, so why dwell on them) and the future (no one can predict or control the future).  He is simply saying that our internal make-up is far more important that the events of our lives.  Our ability to persevere and strive to the end makes all the difference.
2. “Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.” – Who has never failed at anything?  No one, that’s who.  If we never fail, we are not taking enough risks or we are not aggressive enough.  Emerson is saying that an important character attribute is in how we react when something negative does occur.  Are we the kind that lets something negative drive us down and keep us there or do we look at failures as a chance to learn.  Getting up quickly demonstrates our drive and ability to learn.
3. “You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.” – There you have it… another quote on kindness.  Here, though is a new slant.  Emerson is assuming that we will desire and behave kindly to others.  He is simply emphasizing that we mustn’t delay doing what we know we should.  I saw a photo recently of a little boy looking at things in his late grandfather’s garage.  You could see him remembering the things they had done together and the good memories they had made.  The photo reminded me again that a day will come when my own grandchildren will only have memories of me.  Will those memories be happy ones of us playing and working together?  Or, will they be negative memories?  Will my grandchildren tell stories to their own kids some day of the escapades they had with their grandfather and the things we did together?  Will any of those stories survive even to their children?  Am I doing what I can now to make those happy memories because you never know when it will be too late.  Please don’t assume that your friends, your coworkers, or your family members will always be there tomorrow.  Perhaps you need to express a word of thanks or an act of kindness today because “soon it will be too late.”
4.  “Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” – I guess I don’t have a patent on “this could be our best day yet.”  I never realized Emerson said this until just recently.  Emerson, though, is emphasizing our attitude again.  We need to simply assume that today is special and that it could be the best day of the year.  Make this a habit and your life will change!

So, how does your attitude stack up to these quotes from Emerson?  Do you have that drive and persistence within that makes a champion?  Are you cherishing today as though it will never come again?  Are you valuing those you love as you should?  Are you looking ahead to 2016 with optimism and enthusiasm?  Has Emerson said anything to you today?

Have a terrific day!  And, remember, this could be “the best day in the year.”

There was a discussion this past week with a number of others looking at data comparing performance data from one company with others (e.g., benchmarking).  They were looking at probably 20 – 30 metrics.  In some cases, one company compared very favorably with others, while faring poorly in others.  The discussion in the room eventually came down to this, “What is needed to do to turn all of these metrics to ‘green’?”  In other words, there was a feeling that to be considered “top quartile” or “best-in-class”, they needed to perform at the top of the scale in every metric.  However, fortunately, another view was eventually voiced that essentially stated, “Why do you think you need to be ‘green’ in every category?  You haven’t even decided yet which of these metrics truly adds value.  First, decide which elements, if done well, would make a difference and add value to what you do.”  Presto!  This was a perfect example of “the perils of perfectionism” — that feeling that we will never measure up unless we do everything perfectly, regardless of whether it adds value to us as an organization or us as individuals.

Perfectionism can also be a plague for us as individuals.  We can never, as human beings, achieve perfection.  Yet, many individuals spend their entire lives striving for that impossibility.  I have included several quotes below on perfectionism that describe these perils much better than I ever could, so please take the time to read them.  Certainly, we should strive for continuous improvement.  And, we should endeavor to be the very best that we are capable of being.  This applies to us as individuals and to our efforts as teammates.  However, we can reach the point of diminishing returns.  Let me illustrate…  Let’s say that you can achieve the 95% level of performance for $100.  However, it will cost you $1,000,000 to move to 96% and $10,000,000 to move to 98%.  Thus, you need to determine whether the value of moving from 95% performance to 98% performance is worth the additional cost.  The pursuit of perfection can paralyze us into inaction, indecision, or the feeling of inferiority.

Many individuals never experience a level of satisfaction in their work or lives because they never feel able to achieve the level of perfection they believe is necessary.  The questions we need to ask ourselves are, “Will the effort required to achieve perfection for this activity be value-added?  By spending extra time and effort on this activity, am I forfeiting the opportunity to complete other tasks or spend time with my family or friends?  What level of perfection is actually needed?  If I don’t know, perhaps it would be time well spent to ask that question.  How can I make the most of the time and resources available without compromising or getting things out of balance?”

This probably does not apply to everyone, but, for some of you, the quotes below may challenge you to view your approach in a different way.  Have a fabulous day!

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Quotes on Perfectionism

“Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life, and it is the main obstacle between you and a crappy first draft. I think perfectionism is based on the obsessive belief that if you run carefully enough, hitting each stepping-stone just right, you won’t have to die. The truth is that you will die anyway and that a lot of people who aren’t even looking at their feet are going to do a whole lot better than you, and have a lot more fun while they’re doing it.”
― Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

 

“But I am learning that perfection isn’t what matters. In fact, it’s the very thing that can destroy you if you let it.”
― Emily Giffin, Something Borrowed

 

“Perfectionism is a self destructive and addictive belief system that fuels this primary thought: If I look perfect, and do everything perfectly, I can avoid or minimize the painful feelings of shame, judgment, and blame.”
― Brené Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are

 

“Healthy striving is self-focused: “How can I improve?” Perfectionism is other-focused: “What will they think?  Perfectionism is a hustle.”
― Brené Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are

 

“At its root, perfectionism isn’t really about a deep love of being meticulous. It’s about fear. Fear of making a mistake. Fear of disappointing others. Fear of failure. Fear of success.”
― Michael Law

 

“Good enough is good enough. Perfect will make you a big fat mess every time.”
― Rebecca Wells, The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder

 

 

 

 

Today, Eldon’s Porch looks at some quotes from A. A. Milne, the author of Winnie the Pooh books.  I am a rather new fan of the sayings contained in Winnie the Pooh.  Had I known the wisdom contained in Milne’s books, I would certainly have exposed my own three children to them.  But, I have another chance with my grandchildren, so they will be getting a steady dose starting soon.

Milne’s quotes apply very well to life in general and the things we experience in our world.

1. “People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” — When you enjoy what you do, it does not seem like work.  In fact, our work, especially when things go as we plan, can be fun and enjoyable.  It can also seem that we can easily work hard all day, yet accomplish nothing.  Some of the greatest inventions or greatest works of art required years of day-by-day progress.  When it seems that you are not making progress with our transformation, with compliance, with continuous improvement… whatever the task, remember that progress occurs item-by-item, day-by-day, success-by-success.  Don’t give up!

2. “You can’t stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.” — I hear individuals say to me at least weekly, “I sent him/her an e-mail and need an answer before I can go to the next step.”  Sometimes, you make greater and faster progress when you go see the person face-to-face.  As Pooh says, “You have to go the them sometimes.”

3. “It is more fun to talk with someone who doesn’t use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like “What about lunch?” — Don’t overuse the language.  As someone once said, “The best solutions are often the most simple ones.”

4. “If the person you are talking to doesn’t appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear.” — Patience is a virtue.  It is easy to jump to conclusions about someone – that is, until you know what they are going through in their lives.  Before you place blame or become frustrated with others, first put yourself in their shoes.  When you know the real story, their actions may be totally understandable.

5. “When you see someone putting on his Big Boots, you can be pretty sure that an Adventure is going to happen.” — We are all in a Great Adventure at our company.  It can be an exciting time, but there are challenges occurring every day.

The question for today is, “Will you put on your Big Boots or will you go hide in the forest?”

Have a very productive and wonderful day!

 

 

 

LinkedIn has become a very interesting place to find information on people, companies, technical information, and leadership attributes and approaches.  Though there is quite a bit of worthless information, once in awhile, there is something that really matters or makes an excellent point.  This past weekend, I saw a very simple comment that said, “Be a warrior, not a worrier.”  Simple, but so very important.

Why is it important to be a warrior versus a worrier?  For one, a worrier impedes progress.  This type of individual always wants more information, needs more discussion, requires additional data, etc., etc.  This individual also is typically negative and brings others down.  A warrior, on the other hand, is usually willing to take on the impossible.  A warrior also helps us envision more than what we can see, rather than limit us to the details we can see and touch.  In short, we need warriors!  We need individuals that are not afraid to march into the unknown.  Certainly, we must never forge ahead without proper caution, but the point is, we need less worry and more action.

What are the characteristics of a warrior?  Do the characteristics identified below ring true for you?

Comparison of a Warrior with a Worrier

Characteristics of a “Warrior”	Characteristics of a “Worrier”
Is not afraid to take a measured risk	Is risk averse – very reluctant to take any action unless all risks have been identified and eliminated
Asks “why not”	Asks “why”
Is energized by a challenge	Is often defeated by a challenge
Recognizes that failure may occur, but every failure represents an opportunity to learn and grow	Is afraid of failure and will avoid it by avoiding action
Looks for ways to make something happen, even if there are obstacles	Is blinded by any potential obstacles that might be perceived
Has an action default and becomes impatient when we do not make progress	Has a “let’s discuss it further” default and becomes impatient when others want to go faster
Is concerned that he/she will make the mistake of not doing enough	Is concerned that he/she will make a mistake by doing something
Is the person you always want on your team with you	Is the person you always want on the other team

So, are you a warrior or a worrier?  Are you the person others want on their team?  Are you making a difference for your team or your company?

People often ask, “What are the things I need to do to ensure that my career will be successful? What training or development activities will make a difference? Will an MBA degree guarantee my success?” If you visit a book store, you will find complete rows of books on this subject. Everyone wants that “silver bullet” that will guarantee that they achieve career success and ultimate happiness or fulfillment. What is the answer?

To me, a career has many pieces… very much like a jigsaw puzzle. You remember jigsaw puzzles, right? There is only one piece that will perfectly fit each spot. Many of the pieces look the same, but only one will work. Each piece is unique. No two people have the same “method” for completing a puzzle. Our careers are very much like this with many pieces being available. Some of these pieces include:

• Training programs or courses
• Good bosses
• Mentors
• Bad bosses
• Project assignments
• Finding a new job
• Education
• Conferences and seminars
• Self-taught activities
• Keen observation of behaviors
• Successes and failures

All of these pieces work together to create the perfect you. No one is exactly like you. No one else has the same combination of education, experience, skills, abilities, personality, drive, and motivation that you do. So, is there any “formula” or “key list” of things common to all successful people? Once again, no two people would have the same things on such a list. Take it for what it is worth — some of this may become a piece in your own career jigsaw puzzle. Before starting, however, it is important to define exactly what career “success” looks like. To some, success equates to a title, salary, and office with a view. I contend that career success is essentially equal to career fulfillment. Being satisfied or fulfilled in your career, work, or life defines success – not a title, salary, or office location. If you chase a title, you are destined to be disappointed. Chasing a salary can drive you to make poor long-term decisions. Chasing fulfillment, however, has no downside. So, here is my list of six components that, if done consistently, are guaranteed to result in what you will deem a “successful career.”

Six Key Components to Career Success (e.g., Fulfillment)

(Note: Career Success = Career Fulfillment… success cannot be defined in terms of title, salary, or responsibilities, but as a measure of fulfillment in your own life)

1. Relationships – Career fulfillment always begins with those essential relationships we build. Nothing is more important in a fulfilling career. Who could possibly say that their career was fulfilling if they did not develop life-long friendships along the way? Relationships are also important in growing our careers. A significant percentage of individuals hired and/or promoted can attribute this to a direct or indirect relationship. Relationships drive many business transactions, can make the difference in whether or not you make the deal, can define how successfully an inspection goes, and on-and-on. Relationships are vital for our success and critical to our overall happiness. Take the time to care for others and nurture those friendships you have!
2. Intentionality – Many individuals I know have gotten to the end of their careers and had many regrets. They regretted not taking career risks. They regretted waiting when they should have charged forward. They regretted not using their skills, not connecting with others, and, simply, not doing more to manage their careers. They saw others get the promotion or the big assignment they wanted and wondered why they were not the choice. Much of what we gain in our careers is because we were willing to step out and take risks. Taking action when others were unwilling often makes the difference. We must be intentional about identifying important career steps and charging forward to grab the brass ring. Don’t get to the end of your career and regret not being more active, taking more initiative, or doing more.
3. Value – Individuals that have the most fulfillment in their careers are ones that learn the importance of “value.” Value can be defined as creating benefits for a reasonable cost. When you learn that the company most cherishes employees that can discern how to provide value, your career will take an entirely different turn. When you learn to seek value, you become one that provides a return on investment that cannot be ignored. A person that understands value, does not waste time or resources; gets to the point quickly; does not major on the minors; and drives toward results, not activity.  In another sense, you gain career fulfillment when you learn to add value to the lives of others. You become a “giver” not a “taker”. You seek ways to make a positive difference for others. You look for ways to turn a bad day into a good one for others. When you live in a way in which you intentionally (there that word is again… intentional) seek to add value to the lives of others, you gain fulfillment that exceeds anything your actual job can provide.

4. Excellence – You automatically increase the fulfillment you get from your career when you become an individual that constantly seeks excellence in everything. Colin Powell once said, “If you are going to achieve excellence in the big things, you develop the habit in little matters.” When you can consistently say to yourself when you walk to your car at the end of each day that you have done your best in all matters, you have achieve an attitude of excellence. When you become known as the individual that will always complete the work on time, in an high quality manner, and with no drama, your career will advance and you will gain a sense of fulfillment that goes beyond those tangible benefits you might receive.
5. Return the favor – You will never look back on your career with fulfillment unless you took the time to return the favor. Most of the individuals I know that volunteer to serve as mentors do so because someone took the time to mentor them earlier in their career. When you pass along those things you have learned and share the positive (and negative) experiences you have lived, you pour yourself into the life or career of another. When you volunteer your time to better the life or career of another, you are paying back all those that took the time to make your career successful and better.
6. Serve – Few things in life provide more fulfillment and satisfaction than serving others. By putting others first, you demonstrate a level of leadership and sacrifice that can erase many feelings of career stagnation. When you feel that your career is not moving as you desire, begin serving others and see what difference it makes. When you put yourself on the line to make a difference for others, there are returns that cannot be measured by dollars, titles, or anything else. If you adopt an attitude of service, the details of your career will take care of themselves.

There you have it. If you do all six of these well and consistently, I guarantee you will find fulfillment in your career. (Yes, I give you my personal guarantee that this is true!) These six items, if done well, can yield RIVERS (an acrostic for each of the points) of satisfaction and achievement. To put it another way, someone once said the following of excellence (but, I have changed it to career fulfillment):

“Excellence Career Fulfillment can be obtained if you:
…care more than others think is wise;
…risk more than others think is safe;
…dream more than others think is practical;
…expect more than others think is possible.”

When you achieve this, your career fulfillment will exceed even your expectations!