A Thought Exercise on Success

In a nutshell… I spent some time concentrating on what it would take for me to be successful in my profession.

At some point I got subscribed to this newsletter called Genius Sparks after purchasing a course on photo-reading (similar to speed reading just faster). While I never really figured out the photo-reading techniques, I did continue to get these insightful emails. One such email challenged me to try out something called “Focal Point Thinking”. It suggested seven key areas (i.e. career, family, community, health, financial security, personal growth, and spiritual development) of my life to consider, I took the time to focus only on career. Although I didn’t have any plans on publishing this as an article, I figured it may inspire someone, so why not share!

Questions To Ask:

1. Values: What are the values, virtues, qualities, and traits?
2. Vision: If it was perfect, what would it look like?
3. Goals: What specific goals must you achieve to fulfill your vision?
4. Knowledge and Skills: In what areas will you have to excel?
5. Habits: What specific habits of thought and action do you need?
6. Daily Activities: What do you have to engage in each day?
7. Actions: What are you going to do immediately?

1) Values:

passionate, determined, hopeful, visionary, goal and task oriented, driven, effective, efficient, focused, resolute, emboldened, self-confident, peaceful, clear minded, excited, honest, integrity-filled, constant, leader by example, encouraging, simplicity focused, committed, expertise, knowledgeable, wisdom-filled, get things done, make things happen, motivated, creative, self-reliant, burning desire, ambitious, courageous, competent, competitive, rise to the challenge, self-learning, solution-focused, inquisitive, responsible, productive, innovative, optimistic and realistic, problem-solver, balanced, self-controlled, disciplined, generous, adaptable, resilient, faithful, obedient to God, thankful, loyal, trustworthy

2) Vision:

I would have a job that I love that allows me the flexibility to spend time with my wife, family and friends. I would be making great money working the hours I want to work. I would love my job and be fulfilled each and everyday I work. My work would bring benefit to ALL parties involved including myself, business partners, contractors, and the clients and/or customers. I would handle all financial dealings and partnerships with the utmost professionalism and have all proper systems and practices in place for worry free financial management including taxes, salary, incorporation, partner equity, contractor payments and client and vendor invoicing. Everything I would be doing would be building a long-lasting intrinsic value in a business that would grow in value over time to present a long-term and lasting source of financial stability for myself, my family and all parties involved.

3) Goals:

I need to create a solid plan, a fully researched and well planned out business plan, that will help me to achieve my vision. The business plan MUST take into account all pertinent aspects of my vision including potential income, flexible work hours, business partners, potential services and product offerings, potential markets, sustainability, and long-term viability. Once I have the business plan it will be critical to implement the plan accordingly in a way that relates to my values described above. If I have created a well thought out and business plan and execute using the values, qualities and traits above success will be a forgone conclusion that WILL occur.

4) Knowledge and Skills:

In order to become the most effective professional in my industry it will be necessary to saturate myself with the absolute best techniques for my industry. Self development through reading or listening to books, taking online courses, attending conferences and seminars, listening to online webinars, and ALWAYS consciously looking for opportunities to expand my knowledge and understanding of my industry. I will need to be an EXPERT in online marketing as it relates to brand strategy for custom website design, traffic development through search engine marketing and social marketing, and conversion strategies through website optimization assessment. I will also need to hone my skills in general marketing subjects, sales, leadership and running a company as an entrepreneur. These skills will be critical and pivotal in the holistic success of our company and I will need to associate with and gain expertise and wisdom from the best people that I can find who are willing to listen to me and return valuable advice.

5) Habits:

The most important thought habits will be to create a crystal clarity of the overall goals that need to be achieved. Secondly, after maintaining a grasp of the larger picture it will be important to simplify my life, business, thoughts and required actions to create a clear path to achieving the vision. After accomplishing these two critical components the last part is to create a very sharp focus to accomplish the tasks required. In terms of action habits the single most important habit to form is to move along the path created by the thought habits with an unshakeable determination to succeed. All of your other action habits, like waking up early and getting the most important tasks of the day finished first will result from this first habit of doing whatever it takes to accomplish your goals and “making things happen”.

6) Daily Activities:

It is highly important to approach each day with zeal, enthusiasm and passion. From here it will be important to focus on the goal and ultimate vision using your passion as fuel to power you through any obstacles in the way. Making sure you have a great plan for the day will be vital to accomplishing all the goals on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. By preparing a daily routine and plan ahead of time, time management will be much easier resulting in more productive work time and higher output of productive effort. It will be critical to stay committed to the tasks until completion, depending on circumstances, and never give up despite the obstacles or problems encountered.

7) Actions:

Get organized and motivated. Make sure that my vision is crystal clear and that my goals required to acheive my vision are time based and quantifiable in order to measure my progress. Once these things are set all actions are going to be applied based on the principles employed in my values, knowledge and skills, habits and daily activities until my vision is REALIZED. Even then this entire process will be processed, ever-changing and re-applied.

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