The Simplicity of Success Explained
Fools obscure the obvious. The path to achievement is simple. Your definition of success is irrelevant; the steps are the same for everyone.
There are three factors of success within your control. You can’t control the fourth.
The 3 simple factors of success:
#1. Drive:
Grit, motivation, determination, practice, and discipline fit in the drive bucket. Easy achievement isn’t fulfilling. The more you pour in—the more you receive back.
Don’t resent the achievements of others if you don’t have drive.
#2. Talent:
People are born with talent. Successful people use natural-born inclinations, aptitudes, and abilities every day.
Top-level athletes are born with talents the rest of us don’t have. Their achievements are based on work and talent. You can acquire skills, but not talent.
#3. Support:
Achievement requires others. You aren’t self-made. Parents, friends, mentors, colleagues, coaches, and communities contribute to individual advancement. Great athletes are surrounded by strong teammates.
Achievement stands on the shoulders of others.
All who succeed, work hard, maximize their talents, and seek help. Those who receive the most help go the farthest.
Opportunity—the uncontrollable factor:
Education, exposure, resources, networks, family roots, and problems that need solutions enable individuals to showcase their drive and talent.
Winston Churchill led England to victory because he was the right person at the right time.
You control drive, talent, and support, but you can’t control good fortune. Although Colman Cox said, “I am a great believer in luck. The harder I work, the more of it I seem to have.”
What factors of success don’t fit within the four categories I mention in this post?
Which of the above ideas do you believe is the most important?
Still curious:
The 3 Ascending Levels of Leadership Success
I would add to this your ability to collaborate with others to develop, sharpen, test, and scale your work and ideas.
Thanks Daniel, Your suggest a powerful way to understand support. Happy New Year
I’d include a mention of “hard work” in the definition of drive. This may seem obvious, but it doesn’t seem to be clear to everyone that diligently putting in the labor and time is the evidence and fruit of having drive.
Great point, Natasha. Happy New Year
I’m not sure opportunity is out of our control. Not entirely. As Rita Coolidge said, “Too often, opportunity knocks but by the time you push back the chain, push back the bolt, unhook the two locks and shut off the burglar alarm, it is too late.”
I’m with you, Jennifer. However, it’s good to acknowledge that some people have opportunities because of birth. We should use that as an excuse if we don’t. New opportunities come to those who seize the opportunities at hand. Thank you and Happy New Year
I tell my staff, my children and the youth athletes I coach, you can manfucture your own luck. You do the little things the right way at every opportunity every day.
Thanks Greg. It’s true. We can’t sit on the couch expecting opportunities to come knocking on our door. As you suggest, opportunities find us when we do the best with what we have in small ways. Never complain that you don’t have a big opportunity when you aren’t maximizing what you have.
A great post, Dan. My greatest success has always been through encouraging and promoting openness. A colleague reminded me of this the other night. This allows the other elements to thrive 🥳🎉🎆
Wonderful reflection, Sean. It’s useful to know the things we practice that have the most impact on our lives.