Companies in Transition

                                                                                          February 2009

Dear Friend,

      With this issue of Companies in Transition, we complete our series on the theme taking control of your own destiny with the power of success. Many of the people whom I have worked with over the years have seemed confused about what success really means. They often think it’s about big houses and fancy cars when it’s really more about what’s in your head.

      In the turmoil of today’s economy – now more than ever – we should be focusing on what is really important in our lives and how that can be leveraged by the achievement of our aims and aspirations.

      We hope you enjoy this issue of Companies in Transition.

Wayne Wilson

Taking Control of Your Own Destiny: Part 3 - The Power of Success

By Wayne Wilson

      Successful people share many traits and characteristics. One common trait is that they want to control their own destiny. In Part 1 of this three-part series, we laid out several essential principles for taking control of your own destiny by actively preparing for success:

• Desire is the great motivator
• Your beliefs empower you
• Brainwash yourself (before someone else does)
• Dream big dreams and
• Multiple minds matter. [1]

      Part 2 of the series focused on five key steps in the success process, all of which are necessary to achieving significant personal success:

• Think accurately
• Plan carefully
• Take action
• Learn from your mistakes and
• Stay the course [2]

      Achieving success is not just about “the attainment of wealth, favor or eminence.” [3] Success is also about “the achievement of one’s aims or goals,” and becoming “a person who achieves his or her goals.” [4] More importantly, success brings with it a certain level of flexibility and freedom which is the true power of success.

      Here then are three important benefits that come from achieving significant success.

Copying Kinko's

Stories about entrepreneurs overcoming great obstacles to achieve success offer useful role models as well as hope that you too may become successful. Paul Orfalea’s book [1] about the building of Kinko’s is a testament to the power of such stories.

Orfalea’s lessons could boost the fortunes of most owner/CEOs. They include:

1. Take care of your people – happy employees are more likely to produce satisfied customers. While Orfalea talks up employee benefit packages, other factors (flexibility, autonomy, incentive pay, etc.) may be more important to the success of your business. Figure out what your employees want and give it to them!
2. Don’t take yourself too seriously – this is a key corollary of lesson number 1. Businesses rarely succeed because of the efforts of one person. Success usually requires a team. Younger people especially shy away from stuffy or controlling environments. You as the owner/CEO must provide vision and direction, but don’t get carried away.
3. Make do with what you have – few people have all of the skills or resources necessary for success. But everyone has some unique talent or attribute on which to build or some handicap, which leads to outsized effort. Orfalea’s was hyperactive dyslexia. In a fight, you pick up whatever weapon (stick, rock, etc) is available. Business is no different.
   

---

[1] Paul Orfalea, Copy This! Workman Publishing Company, 2007.

Return to Top

It's all in your head!

I first heard about the three schools of thought regarding the benefits of diet and exercise for longevity from a board certified internist. The schools are:

• The vigilantes – they really do believe that diet and exercise are the keys to a long and healthy life.

• The fatalists – they think it’s all in your genes. Short of being hit by a bus, you’re going to live however long you have been programmed to live.

• The head people – they think it’s all in your head; your mental attitude and outlook on life will be the primary determinant of how long you live.

And where did my doctor come down in this argument?

“Somewhere between the fatalists and the head people.”

For owner/CEOs of companies struggling with transitions and turnarounds, this story suggests three principles:

• Start with what you have – your company has a set of cultural and organizational DNA, which will constrain if not determine your company’s ability to succeed. Develop and communicate an explicit understanding of the positive parts of your DNA so that you are leading from a position of strength.

• Develop a winning attitude – a strong, positive mental commitment to success is a necessary (although not sufficient) element of any great success. On the other hand, a negative attitude can become the boat anchor dragging you down. Create a mental vision of what success will look like and then share it with your organization.

• DO something – a great attitude represents potential, but results come only from attitude coupled with ACTION. Your success depends on your taking affirmative actions to move your organization in the direction of your vision. Wishing without action will not make it so.

Your head game is the connecting glue in this process. Every company has opportunities, despite its DNA, and there are always actions you can take to realize those opportunities. The difference between success and failure is all in your head.

Return to Top