The most effective approach to creating success is to take a good long look inward and discover your most important qualities, behaviors and habits. Take the time to really exam those patterns and determine where they are helping you or where they are harming you. Once you have those answers change them so that each of them serves you in the best ways possible.
Once you have taken the time to build the habits and patterns that will lead you towards success you must actually use them! A frequent pitfall that many people face is thinking that once they have the patterns and habits they need the work is over and everything will fall into place. Remember that as a business professional how you do something is as important as the fact that you actually do it. What does that mean though?
The pitfall that people fall into frequently is one of complacency. They believe everything will be easy, they wait for opportunity to find them and they hold all their tools at the ready waiting for the moment to arrive. If you are like this you will be sadly disappointed when it simply does not happen. If you really want to be outrageously (or even moderately successful) you have to take risks and be bold!
Boldness is not about the tragic image of being inappropriate at all the wrong moments though. Boldness is about asking for what you want, doing the work to back it up and then taking the leap to make it happen. In the business professional world this often means standing out in the crowd. Think about it for a minute. When was the last time the guy standing in the corner doing just enough work to get by got the raise, made the million dollar deal or had a thriving business?
Ask yourself these questions: Where am I being complacent? What am I waiting for? What do I actually expect to fall in my lap?
These are simple traps that you may have fallen into. Undoubtedly you thought you were taking action in some way. But real boldness is about striking out for the hills, taking the big risk to go for that deal of a lifetime or going way past the extra mile to show your boss who deserves the next promotion!
Everything you have done up until now has prepared you for taking the leap! It is time for you to push the envelope. You are READY to ask for what you crave and receive more than you ever thought possible! Your success this year depends on you being bold enough to make it happen.
The complacent business professional will say “It’s ok, I’m satisfied enough with what I have.” The bold business professional will say “What I have is good enough but what I really want is 10x more!” But remember, being bold isn’t about being greedy. Being bold is about taking charge and leading forward with a passion and a purpose.
So ask yourself: How could I stretch myself beyond my limits? Where could I put myself out on a limb? What risk am I willing to take? What actions would move me forward rapidly? What support do I need to ask for to make it most likely to happen?
Boldness doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Boldness needs help. Boldness is being wise enough to know the difference between reasonable and unreasonable but stretching for the unreasonable!
If you are ready for the most fabulous success you ever thought possible repeat these words out loud: “This year is The Year Of The Bold and I am one of the BOLD!”
Now, what are you going to be bold about and where do you need help?
