When I’m asked to share the secrets of my success, almost everyone anticipates a profound response. The truth of the
matter, however, is quite simple: I love what I do. After all, it’s no secret that if you love what you do, the rest comes
naturally.
Make sure that the career path you choose fits your personality and fulfills your life goals and objectives. It’s no different than when we teach our young children not to put a square block into a round hole.
That being said, I do recognize that there are people who enjoy what they do but may never reach the level of success that they aspire to achieve. At the same time, the definition of success is very personal; one individual’s definition of success may be very different than another’s.
For me, success is an ongoing journey, not a final destination. While it does come naturally, success is not without sacrifice, hard work and even a little luck. A key lesson I learned along the way is never to sacrifice my personal integrity or character. It’s important to be true to yourself always; I’ve found this to be a valuable life lesson in my professional and personal life.
Rising through the ranks and achieving professional success require that you have a solid foundation on which to build. My foundation is based on the following:
BUILD GREAT TEAMS. First and foremost, surround yourself with great people who challenge you and make you better each and every day. Trust them to do their jobs, and help them grow.
LISTEN. It’s simple advice you may have gotten from your parents. As my mother often told me, “There’s a reason why we have two ears and only one mouth.” LEAD. Provide the leadership and direction that your team needs to succeed. Hold yourself to high standards and never ask your teams to do something you wouldn’t do yourself.
TAKE RISKS. Taking risks and learning from your mistakes are important elements of growth. At the same time, be open to new ideas and embrace change.
An Wang, the founder of Wang Labs, once was quoted as saying, “Success is more a function of consistent common sense than it is of genius.” Add the key ingredients of desire, focus, dedication and hard work and you have a “recipe” for success!
