The Science of Success.

Warning:
Okay, so this is another high-risk article.
Some of you will connect with it and have a moment, some of you will think I’m an opinionated, insensitive pig and some of you will already be on the same page.
Proceed with care.

If, like me, you have a propensity to spend inordinate amounts of time navigating your way around some of the squillions of personal development / motivational / inspirational / be-your-very-best-in-next-to-no-time sites, then you’ve probably found a massive amount of repetition, fluff, feel-good, mumbo-jumbo crap and the occasional valuable article.

I am of the opinion (and yes, I know it’s not a popular one) that success isn’t as hard, or as complex as some people make it. And before you write to disagree with me, yes, I acknowledge that the above statement is dependant on your definition of success… but I am speaking generally (as I often need to, when speaking to an audience of more than one).

I have spoken with many people who have been on the personal development journey for years….. and they’re still in the same place (physically, emotionally, spiritually, psychologically, financially and professionally). They’ve read eight million books, been to thirteen thousand workshops, therapists and specialists, and they’re still miserable, unfulfilled, stressed and directionless.
Still complaining, rationalising, justifying, excusing, blaming, procrastinating… and waiting.
If they put one tenth of what they’ve read or heard into practice… things would be drastically different but the truth is, they consistently do nothing.

While I acknowledge (and know from experience) that there are many variables, factors and considerations to negotiate when we set out to create specific outcomes, I also believe that there exists a scientific, practical formula for success if only we can step out of our emotional, psychological and behavioural limitations.

As you may or may not know, I am a scientist by qualification (not a very good one), and in science we usually look at results (collected data) and do our best to discover what produced those observed outcomes.
In other words; reasons for things being as they are.

So for the purpose of this chat (okay, it’s a one-way chat) let’s call success the ‘result’, and let’s explore what the common denominators are; the reasons for things (typically) being as they are. For the sake of pseudo-scientific accuracy and validity, we’ll do our best to de-emotionalise the process and take a practical, analytical glimpse at what consistently produces optimal results in the big wide world of Personal Growth.

Who succeeds and why.

We’ve already established (in previous posts) that we all want to be successful and we’ve also discovered that success is represented by different things for different people.
No brainer; easy.
What might be cause for celebration, jubilation and overwhelming joy for one person, may produce a response of panic, stress and unhappiness for someone else; a pregnancy, for example.

In my post, the success myth I discussed the common denominator on the personal growth journey being that we all want to be happy. How we get ‘there’ will vary greatly depending on our standards, values, beliefs, knowledge, attitude, resources, drive and life-situation.
And where, and what, happy is.

When it comes to creating positive change (which is what we’re all about – that’s why you’re reading this) there are (in my opinion) certain non-negotiables. When we stand back and look objectively at a collective of (what would generally be regarded as) successful people,we discover that there are certain traits, qualities and characteristics which are universal across the group; irrespective of their particular area of endeavour.

Of course this is not really a research article (in the strict sense) but it is based on many years of working with, and observing, a range of people, teams, corporations and organisations all trying to achieve a broad range of positive outcomes.

So, this is what ’science’ has taught me about successful people.

1. Consistency. They have an ability to finish what they start. When most people throw in the towel, these guys persevere. Whether it’s convenient, practical, fun, easy, hard or popular, they get the job done. The number one reason people fail is they don’t finish what they start (health club owners are safe in the knowledge that most people will join their centre and rarely show up!).

2. Discomfort. These people have an amazing capacity to deal with discomfort. They are tough. While others are getting precious, they’re getting busy and getting their hands dirty. They don’t look for quick fixes or magic pills. They ‘get’ the short-term pain, for long-term gain concept. They have an amazing ability to adapt to ever-changing (dynamic) situations and circumstances. They identify, and develop their own weaknesses and limitations.

3. Talent. Not absolutely necessary but kinda helpful! Many people with less talent have created amazing outcomes and many highly-talented people have been treading water for years. Talent and commitment ….now there’s a combination.

4. Passion and Drive. It’s pretty easy to pick whether or not someone is genuinely ready to change and do what’s needed. Successful people ooze motivation and enthusiasm… their passion is infectious.

5. Creativity and vision. They have an ability to ’see’ something before it actually becomes a reality. They are innovators not imitators.

6. People of action. They do stuff. While many are talking, they’re doing. As boring and old-fashioned as it sounds, your Grand-dad was right when he said “there ain’t no substitute for hard work”. In science we would call this a correlation between investment of energy and outcome.

7. Decision Makers. While many people are perpetually considering, analysing and hoping things will ‘fall into place’, these girls are making decisions… and not those fluffy, inconsequential decisions… but those big-ass, change-your-life-forever decisions.
You know the ones.

8. Attitude. These people are always finding reasons to succeed. They deal with problems quickly and effectively. They focus on what they can change, rather than bitch about what they can’t. They are realists but they are also glass-half-full people. People want to hang out with them because they have great energy.

9. Practical and Logical. While still being in touch with their emotions, they have the capacity to think clearly and logically in all situations. When others might succumb to their own emotions (fear, insecurity, self-doubt) these people have a capacity to find practical solutions to challenging situations. They set goals, they create action plans and they research. They are well organised and good time-managers.

10. Self Control. While others let the wheels fall off, these guys stay in control. Even when there’s a ‘reason’ to panic, complain, criticise or react negatively, they don’t. They are in charge of their internal state, no matter what’s going on around them.

Q. You know what’s good about articles like this one?
A. Lots of great information and practical ideas.

Q. You know what’s bad?
A. Most people won’t do anything with it.

What about you?