Why Some People Succeed-and Some Don't

Why Some People Succeed-and Some Don't

Taking care of your customers, clients, stockholders and team is important, no doubt, And leadership is ultimately about service, but at some level, you should always be your own top priority.

People who get ahead think strategically about their career and leadership. They take time to consider how new developments affect them, to consider opportunities and challenges. The best leaders set aside time for their own growth.

Here are some of the things that successful people do to look after their own interests. How many are in your repertoire?

Successful people take responsibility.
They hold themselves accountable for their own career; they have a plan and the determination to achieve it.

Successful people evaluate their value proposition.
When you discover and build on what makes you different, self-knowledge is your most powerful tool. Unless you work at knowing who you really are and what you can really do, you are unlikely to head to head in the direction you want.

Successful people set a direction.
Create a personal route map of your career path; see what you need, where you need to go, and who you need to meet to attain your goals.

Successful people are a learning machine.
The best thing you can do for yourself is to make a commitment to always keep learning. Feed your curiosity and try to learn something new every day.

Successful people connect with a mentor.
Studies show that having a mentor is the single most valuable ingredient in getting ahead. A mentor is someone you can confide in and learn from, someone who can help with stressful situations and accelerate your progress.

Successful people create challenges for themselves.
If you want to get ahead, create goals for yourself and then learn to stretch within them. Take up challenges that show off your talents and lead with confidence.

Successful people know that leadership begets influence.
Take a leadership role in the most important and visible projects; focus on them and make sure that they are completed on time and under budget. Put yourself in the spotlight and bring your best.

Successful people make their boss look good.
Give your boss the very best guidance, help, and motivation; do everything you can to help them out and make them look good. The same is true of your boss’s boss.

Successful people are nice to everyone.
Get to know as many of your colleagues as possible, from senior staff to the cleaning staff. When you have time, practice the leadership skill of walking around.

Successful people always make the right impression.
When you know yourself well, you can craft your personality to be appealing to others. Make sure you aren’t projecting an off-putting attitude.

Successful people develop alliances.
Do everything in your power to build great relationships.

Successful people believe in themselves.
Be prepared to withstand the naysayers and those who don’t believe in you. Know your own worth.

Successful people go the extra mile.
Be a little better than everyone else. Come in early and leave late. When you promise, give a little extra.

Why do some people get the ahead and others don’t? There are lots of factors, but one of them is the way you respond to your own career and its needs.

Most often, the ones who get ahead are the ones who look take every opportunity to learn and grow.

Lolly Daskal is dedicated to helping cultivate the right values, vision and culture for individuals and organizations. She is the Founder of Lead From Within, a global leadership and consulting firm.

Lolly has over 30 years of experience and is one of the most sought after executive leadership coaches and leadership consultants worldwide.

She has worked with prestigious clientele including Fortune 500 companies and organizations of all sizes in a wide range of industries, including biomedical, energy, government, pharmaceuticals, technology, banking and budding entrepreneurs. Connect with Lolly Daskal

Here are some recent articles by Lolly on Inc.com

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Syed Yaseen

PhD Scholar at International Islamic University Islamabad

7y

Gud discussion.

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Christine Moody

Chief Brand Officer + Brand Expert+

7y

Lolly Daskal this is a really good article. Thank you.

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Zoran Milovanović

Organizer & Teacher, Consultant & Educator

7y

Excellent rading material, great article. Yet, I think we should add that successful people are those who happened to be lucky as well. Probability is one great mathematical discipline and also a terrible obstacle if one is not lucky to encouter a favorable outcome at an early stage of whatever one does.

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David Helstowski

Retired & Living the dream.

7y

Exceptional contribution and right on the mark

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Tim Howell

Security professional with experience looking to help with your Security Solutions

7y

Great article, You want to be successful associate yourself with successful people to learn from each other.

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