What does success mean to
you?
Knowing the answer
will help you
plan the route to
attain it
DO YOU often look at successful
people with a longing eye and wish you were like them?
In her book If Success is a Game, These are the Rules, Dr Cherie
Carter-Scott shares 10 simple rules to guide you to achieve the
success that you desire.
1
Each person has
his/her
own definition of
success
Success can be many things ― it can
be a concept, an experience, a dream or something that you are
trying to grasp at. However, the true essence of success is feeling
satisfied and fulfilled internally. It is not judged by external
benchmarks.
Consider a person, who volunteers at the hospital to read to
children with cancer. Is he any less of a success than the business
tycoon who masterminds corporate buyouts?
Some might equate success with financial freedom, or to changing
the status quo, or even being able to raise their children well ―
what is important is that you set your own standard and know what
success means to you.
2
Wanting success is the
first
step towards attaining
it
Your ownership of the desire of
success is the initial thrust that will start you on your quest. By
harnessing the intensity, drive and causality, you can make things
happen. No soccer team would win their championship if they just
said “it would be nice if…” Team members must have an intense
desire to win that will propel them to success.
3
Self-trust is
essential
Knowing and trusting yourself leads
you to the path that is uniquely yours. This self-trust can be
tapped only after you truly know your purpose in life ― what do you
want your life to be about? What matters to you? Stop being a
passive participant in your life ― are you the driver or
passenger?
4
Goals are the
stepping
stones on your
path
When you drive to Kuala Lumpur, you
know you are nearing the city by distance markers along the way.
Likewise, goals are the mileposts to motivate you to reach the
finish line.
How often have you put off making goals because you were afraid of
failure? Sure, it might seem unsettling, because of the possibility
of disappointment, but missing goals does not equate to failing.
You can revise deadlines and re-evaluate them (See box).
5
Your actions
affect
your outcomes
What you say, do or think directly
affects the results you produce, and this puts the power of making
your goals happen in your hands.
Focus on what you want to do, not how you are going to do it.
Knowing specifically what you want moves you into action steps you
can take.
For example, Erlina wanted to start a gourmet ice-cream store. She
began by mapping out her action plan: She listed down the things
that she needed to do ― research on other ice-cream joints, find
out more about franchises available, register the company and so
on.
Since the first item seemed to be least threatening, she began with
that and was inspired to pick another “to do” item on her list.
All that is required to move into action is that you venture forth.
What is most important is to take the first step.
6
Opportunities
will
present
themselves
Opportunities in life may be
glaringly obvious or hidden, and you will be faced with many
decisions throughout your life.
Assess the opportunities with your head, heart and gut, and trust
your intuition. Do a cost/benefit analysis to establish whether the
opportunity is worth taking. Risk-taking might be unsettling, but
it might lead to the most exhilarating moment of your life!
7
Each setback
provides
valuable
lessons
Setbacks build character and
perseverance, if you do not give up. Determination was what kept
star basketball player Michael Jordan practising and improving his
game after he was cut from his high school team!
If you are to succeed, however, learn how to deal with
disappointments that come your way. Acknowledge that there will be
obstacles and things might not always go as you want them to.
8
Managing your
resources
maximises your
efforts
Time, energy, relationships and
finances are elements that can impede success or enhance it. Make
them work for instead of against you.
Organise your time to give you the freedom to create, think clear
thought and live life effectively, as opposed to being weighed down
by tasks, time constraints and chaos.
Maintain your energy by finding a balance in your life, spending it
wisely, and recharging when necessary.
9
Every level of
success
brings new
challenges
Attaining some form of success does
not mean the end of the game. A promotion might mean added
responsibility and pressure, but if you are prepared to deal with
changes and stay humble, you can keep your perspective and maintain
your integrity.
10
Success is a
process
that never
ends
There is no magic door labelled
“Destination: Success” that you can enter permanently. It turns,
bends and curves, and can place you at a vantage point that enables
you to see a whole new world of opportunities and challenges.
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Use SMART goals to ground you in
reality
Is your
goal specific?
Articulate
precisely what you mean and exactly what you want to
achieve.
Is your
goal measurable?
Are you able to
count or mark the outcome in some way? If you want to succeed in
advertising for example, what would mark your success? An award? A
managerial role?
Is
it attainable?
Is it possible
for you given your features, characteristics, assets and
limitations to achieve this goal?
Is
it realistic?
Does your goal
make sense? Is it realistic for you to relocate for a promotion
despite having to look after your aged parents?
Is
it time-based?
Attach a
completion date to avoid turning your goal into an “intention” and
letting that process drag on forever.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Being successful is a process that
never ends because our definitions of success are constantly
changing and evolving. Live fully for the moment and enjoy the
journey!
Article adapted from New
York author Dr Cherie Carter-Scott’s book If Success is a Game,
These are the Rules. Dr Carter-Scott is available for corporate
engagements, talks and workshops. For details, call Citadel
Consulting at 6341-7756.