Month: November 2015

I am often asked what the most important qualities of successful people are.

This is not an easy question to answer because there is not a single definition of success. We are all unique, have different life experiences and talents and therefore have our unique personal success definition.

The skills and qualities required also depend upon what it is that people are looking to be successful at.

Some may be looking to achieve a goal, secure a new contract or job, learn to drive, master a new hobby, manage change and transition, recover from an illness or bounce back from disappointment.

There are many traits and elements required to helping people to be successful at what they set out to do. It is worth remembering that it is not always a straight line to a successful outcome. Along the way we encounter opposition, have to overcome barriers and obstacles and bounce back from set-backs and unexpected events.

Some of the most successful people in history had to overcome adversity and keep faith with what they were seeking to achieve, as shown in the examples below:-

Winston Churchill.

He struggled in school and failed the sixth grade. After school he faced years of political failures, as he was defeated in many elections for public office until he finally became the UK Prime Minister at the age of 62.

JK. Rowling

Before she published the series of Harry Potter novels it is reported that she was nearly penniless, severely depressed, divorced and raising a child on her own. In 5 years, she went from depending on welfare to being one of the richest women in the world through her hard work and determination.

Walt Disney

He was fired by a newspaper editor because, “he lacked imagination and had no good ideas.” After that, Disney started a number of businesses that didn’t last too long and ended with bankruptcy and failure. He kept plugging away and eventually found a recipe for success that worked.

Oprah Winfrey

Oprah faced a hard road to be one of the most iconic faces on television. It has been written that she endured a rough and often abusive childhood as well as numerous career setbacks including being fired from her job as a television reporter because she was “unfit for television.”

The Beatles

When they were just starting out, a recording company rejected them. They were told “we don’t like your sound, and guitar music is on the way out.” That turned out to be a poor judgement by the record company given the rest of the world seemed to like their sound and guitar music a great deal.

One quality I believe you definitely require to be successful is persistence.

The dictionary defines persistence as “the quality that allows someone to continue doing something or trying to do something even though it is difficult or opposed by other people.”

Persistence helps turn something we visualise or imagine and turn it into a reality. Continued effort, persistence and fine tuning ensure that you are able to accomplish things. Persistence enables us to learn, develop and acquire new knowledge.

When we set out to achieve something in life we are quite often given a series of tests and challenges along the journey to enable us to discover hidden strengths and resources. The challenges also help to determine how much we really want to achieve or master something.

Napoleon Hill did a 20 year study of successful people. In his classic book “Think and Grow Rich” first published in 1937 he included an excellent chapter on the importance of persistence when pursuing goals.

He believed that persistence is a state of mind that can be cultivated. He said that like all states of mind, persistence is based upon definite causes.

Here are some of his thoughts on the subject:-

1. Definiteness of purpose – knowing what you want is the first and most important step. A strong motive helps surmount difficulties.
2. Desire. It is comparatively easy to acquire and to maintain persistence in pursuing the object of intense desire.
3. Self-reliance. Belief in one’s ability to carry out a plan encourages one to follow the plan through.
4. Definiteness of plans. Organised plans provide focus and encouragement.
5. Accurate knowledge. Knowing that one’s plans are sound, based upon experience or observation.
6. Co-operation. Sympathy, understanding and harmonious co-operation with others.
7. Will-power. The habit of concentrating one’s thoughts upon the building of plans for the attainment of a definite purpose.
8. Habit. The mind absorbs and becomes part of the daily experiences upon which it feeds. Fear, the worst of all enemies, can be effectively cured by forced repetition of acts of courage.

This week, why not take a few moments to consider if there is something in your personal and professional life that requires a little more persistence on your part or a slight change of approach?

This week’s quotation:

“Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.” Napoleon Hill.

To arrange a free no obligation consultation, please contact Stephen Pauley via the contact form or by e mail: Stephen@befirstclass.co.uk

Last weekend in the UK we put our clocks back by one hour.

This marks the end of British Summer Time and the onset of winter. The leaves are dropping from the trees including the large sycamore tree at the front of the house.

At this time each year at the weekend I spend some time picking up the masses of leaves that have accumulated so we are able to see the lawn and driveway again!

Whilst I was doing this last week I was listening to the radio through ear pieces. The let it go song by Idina Menzel from the film Frozen came on and it made me smile. I thought to myself the trees have certainly let lots of leaves go in the preceding week!

It also got me thinking that we can learn a lot from the natural cycles of nature and how we all benefit sometimes by spending time occasionally to remove clutter and let go of what is no longer needed.

In doing this we make space for new growth and opportunity. I personally find it easier to work, complete tasks and create materials in a clutter free environment.

Letting go of historic papers, magazines, books and things I no longer use helps creates space, brings clarity and just generally freshens up the environment.

The Oxford dictionary defines clutter as “a crowded and untidy collection of things.” That is certainly part of it.

For me clutter relates to things that are no longer used or needed, disorganised and untidy stuff, too many things crammed into a small space and anything that is unfinished and incomplete.

We can also have mental clutter, having too much on our minds, feeling overwhelmed and generally spending too much time in our heads.

When decluttering, after filing or boxing up things that are to be kept and stored, I find it useful to put the physical clutter that I am getting rid of into various boxes/piles:-

• Things to be thrown away or sent for recycling
• Paperwork to be shredded
• Items to give to others or charity
• Possessions to be sold
• Articles that need to be repaired

Frequently, as part of coaching programmes, I encourage clients to spend some time and focus on decluttering their mind and simplifying their thinking to bring greater clarity. I call this process of getting rid of unwanted thinking and habits “moving from clutter to clarity.” It ties in with one of my favourite quotes by Leonardo Da Vinci who said “simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”

Clients tell me after they have been through this exercise that they feel lighter, brighter and more energised.

There is not an exhaustive list of what clients choose to let go of as we are all unique and have different life experiences. However, there are some common things that clients choose to release and let go of and these include:-

• Procrastination – putting off until another day that which can be done straightaway. Many people look to change this habit and adopt a new mindset of “do it now.” To keep them on track and accountable they seek my or other’s help to remind them of their new habit and to encourage them to persevere.
• Over analysis – over thinking and analysing issues. Many clients start to set specific time aside to consider issues and challenges. They literally give themselves a time limit to weigh up the facts, consider their options, the pros and cons of a situation and decide what action to take.
• Pleasing others –putting other’s needs before our own. Many choose to address this habit by getting greater balance on their giving and receiving ratio. They put themselves and their needs first more without feeling selfish or guilty. They recognise that they need to apply their own oxygen mask before helping other people to put their mask on.
• Comparing themselves to others –comparing our results and life to that of others. This is a tough one to tackle as we are encouraged by society to keep score. Clients tell me they feel much happier when they focus on comparing their performance and life to the goals and standards they have set for themselves rather than to other’s performance and life.
• Self-criticism –quite often we are our biggest critic and inhibitor to growth. Whilst self-criticism can have the best of intentions it can go over the top and be really disempowering. Clients report that they feel much more content when they are kinder and gentler to themselves.

This week, why not take a few moments to think about if there is anything you need to let go of physically or mentally. What benefits would it bring you if you were to do so?

This week’s quotation:

“Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties.” Erich Fromm.

To arrange a free no obligation consultation, please contact Stephen Pauley via the contact form or by e mail: Stephen@befirstclass.co.uk