Success: it’s a word you hear all the time. Have you ever taken the time to define what it means to you? How will you know if you are succeeding in life if you don’t define success for yourself? Successful individuals make their own plan for success and take personal responsibility for achieving it.

You have within you the strength, the patience and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.

-Harriet Tubman

You know you will be successful if you can determine what success is to you and create a plan for achieving it by working backwards from where you want to be. Do not base your definition of success on someone else’s criteria. For some, success may mean being the first female president of the company. For others it may mean mastering skills at every level, learning all she can from the company and moving on to start her own company. For someone else it may mean being promoted to a position where her abilities can be the most useful. Or being the example of a good mother.

“Success is the realization of a goal or vision which is worthwile to you,” says Jeff Cockrell, a veteran instructor with the Dale Carnegie Institute in Dallas. He took his first Dale Carnegie course at age 16, had a few work experiences and eventually realized helping people change their lives was his passion.

He warns that “sometimes the hardest part is figuring out what we want,” noting that “goals do not have to be overwhelming, they just need to matter to us personally.” He recommends having written goals which will allow you to check in regularly and ensure that you are moving toward – not away from – your goal.

If you have a passion for what you are doing, you improve your chances for success. You will focus your time and energy on your goal. “We are good at the things we like and like the things we are good at. When you have a passion for what you are doing you get in the zone. Eight hours pass and you don’t even realize it,” says Cockrell.

Your passion will drive you to learn and master the skills you need through classes, books, asking questions, work experience, internships or shadowing. If you do your best and turn out quality work, you will get noticed. Do what ever needs to be done and make necessary sacrifices, knowing that doing so will get you to the next step. When your goal is something you are passionate about your enthusiasm will be sufficient fuel to keep you going. Reflect on the progress and the little successes you have made to keep yourself energized. “Success is progressive. It is a succession of worthwhile goals,” says Cockrell.

You must take on the responsibility to make things happen for yourself. If you let someone else be responsible, they get to decide when you will reach your goal and what you will have when you reach it. As Thomas Jefferson said “I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it.” Taking responsibility for progress requires taking risks, but take thoughtful risks and be aware of all possible consequences.

Perseverance is required on your journey to success. The explorer Christopher Columbus reminds us “By prevailing over all obstacles and distractions, one may unfailingly arrive at his chosen goal or destination.” There will be times when progress will be slower than at other times. Stay focused, be patient and continue to give your best during these frustrating times.

Cockrell suggests that overcoming struggles and obstacles demonstrate how much talent we really have. “Sometimes we take obstacles and make them bigger than what they are. Then they become bigger than the goal. Overcome the obstacle by focusing on the goal,” says Cockrell.

You must be a problem solver. There will always be a problem to deal with. The key is solving the problem and moving onward with your plan. Success-minded individuals do not let these delays stop them in their tracks. They take the hit, get help, regroup and continue on. When necessary, and it almost always becomes necessary, they ask for help. Successful individuals do not let fear of rejection, fear of embarrassment, pride or insecurity prevent them from asking for help. Cockrell says that “if you do, you are not focused on the goal. You are not focused on success, you are focused on you. Your ego is more important than the goal. Get your ego out of the way.”

A successful person is teachable. Life would be easy if we were born knowing all we need to know, but we are born knowing nothing. We must learn everything. A successful person is more than educated. A successful person takes every opportunity to learn. Cockrell says the difference is attitude. You must have an open mind and be willing to listen and learn as much as possible from everyone you come in contact with. A successful person welcomes critique, realizing someone has graciously presented an opportunity for improvement.

You must take action. Setting goals and creating a plan is important, but taking action to get to the goal is where many fall short. All the goal setting, planning and talking will have no effect if you do not take action. If you are not taking action toward reaching your goal, you do not want it badly enough, and perhaps you have set a goal that you don’t want. You may need to rethink what success is to you and rethink your goals.

Successful individuals are flexible. If things don’t go as planned, they make adjustments. You may find that you do not have the necessary skills or knowledge at certain stages. Take the time to learn. When you encounter challenges that are out of your control, you must be able to adapt. Complaining about how unfair the obstacle is to your plan wastes time. Instead, use the energy to keep moving forward.

You must have an attitude that attracts people. Developing relationships is crucial to reaching your goal, because no one has achieved success without help. Whether you need information, services, or products, you need help from many people. Developing the skills to make people feel good around you will make them want to help you. Be humble, have a positive attitude and make others feel comfortable around you. You will develop contacts that will help you move toward your goal.

Create your own success by identifying realistic goals based on your interests and abilities then take the steps necessary to take you in the direction to achieve your goal. Cockrell recalls the man who when asked about his overnight success replied “It was the longest night of my life.” Be patient and commit the time and energy to achieve success. Do you have what it takes to be successful? Of course you do.

from the Fall 2008 Issue