What Makes You Successful?

After struggling for a couple of weeks now on how to use all of the comments I received about success I have decided to just share some of the best and add a comment about them. Because I didn't ask permission to use the comments, I am withholding the names and the names of their businesses. This article is much longer than normal but I just couldn't cut anymore. I hope you find it as interesting as I did. Enjoy!

From Lexington, NC: "In a nutshell, what has made me successful is my parents believing in me and telling me I could do it. That made me believe in myself!"

Rick: It's not only just parents. It's anyone who encourages us and tells us to keep it up. You never hear anyone at the Academy Awards thank the person who discouraged them.

From Arvada, CO: "I can honestly say that personal, hand-written notes after a conversation with a customer has made our business successful. Not many auto repair shops appreciate their customers like we do, and it only takes two minutes to make a lifetime customer. We really focus on giving that 'personal' touch. The main question that your customer is asking is: 'Am I important to this business?'"

Rick: It's all about making that emotional connection

No Location Available for the next: "There is no reward without some risk, and you can't be successful without throwing your hat in the ring and trying."

"For every one or two people I meet who has evolved and moved on after high school, I meet a dozen who are still clinging to the old days. They often seem defeated and some are even quite bitter.
Every time that happens, I think 'Aha! This is why this person is seems so unhappy!' They view forward motion of any kind as a threat - anyone who disrupts the status quo or creates change threatens the status quo and alters the script.
I don't believe true success can be quantified by specific attributes. To me, success means having something you're excited about doing TOMORROW."

Rick: Those comments made me think that I feel badly that I had to cut some of comments for the sake of this article.

From a Community in the Midwest:
"I wanted to share with you - I was the admin. asst. for the exec. director of our downtown revitalization group. I had been in retail all my life. No background in economic or community development at all. I saw the ED, who was 'not from around here' missing opportunities right and left and really felt I could do some things better. But it was way outside my comfort zone. When she gave the board her resignation, I did a gut check. I wanted to at least try. I felt I could create an atmosphere where public and private entities could work together and improve conditions downtown. I asked the board to give me the job of interim director and when they did, I rolled up my sleeves and went to work. That was three years and $3.4 million in investment to downtown properties ago. We are seeing new projects every week in our downtown and some of that is because I took a chance on myself and believed in myself."

Rick: Sometimes success comes in just taking that leap of faith.

Location Unknown: "My strengths are knowing what I am successful at and to look for people whose strengths balance my strengths and weaknesses."

Rick: I'd have this person run my company any day!

From Central South Carolina: "Success for me is being able to work at home, spend time with my husband and enjoy the flexibility and daily challenges of operating an on-line Home Fragrance business. I left a wonderful Purchasing Agent position at a Fortune 500 company at age 45 (after 9/11) and took a 60% pay cut to pursue "The Good Life". I now love getting up every day to solve new problems and create continued growth for my baby: www.Freshbet.com
Being an entrepreneur means never giving up when life throws obstacles in the way of your vision. Many times I have succeeded because I didn't know I wasn't supposed to do things the way I did them. Everyday I focus on great customer service, wonderful products that I love and improvements that create growth for my business and my employees."

Rick: Yes, I left the plug for her website, Why not? She wrote a GREAT piece. Do what you love and the money will follow.

From Detroit: "I think that successful people also take time to assess their strengths and weaknesses, their talent, unique ability, gifts, or whatever one wishes to call it.
I believe that successful people are successful because they've focused their time, energy, and resources in their gifted area. In addition, they lead more fulfilling lives, as they are 'living the dream.'
I would challenge your readers to ask themselves if they are 'living the dream' for them. If not, why not? Is it because they don't know what their dream is? If so, then I would encourage them to turn off the TV, stop the rat race of daily life as much as possible, and get busy finding out what their reason is for being here. This is the starting point to a life of satisfaction, fulfillment, and success."

Rick: It works for me. I couldn't have said it better

From Colorado: "My daughter was born 3 and half months early and was not expected to make it; I was 19 at the time. I saw her fight for life and she won! She will be 9 in December, she has some medical problems but she hits them head on and never hides from them. Seeing her fight for what she wanted drove me to fight for what I wanted.
Strive for the things in life that others say you can't reach and when you reach them don't brag just find the next goal that others say is too far."

Rick: Do your children create success or are they the success. Sometimes both.

From Livermore, CA: "We must deal with 'That Little Inner Voice' that interferes with perseverance, creativity and the ability to look for the new and different ways that lead to successes of any size. Let's call it 'TLIV'.
TLIV has learned it can grab even more power over our thoughts and behaviors. It enjoys intruding into our everyday thoughts, those having nothing to do with real risks or dangers. I guess our biology hasn't caught up with our social advances, but hey, that's a different article!
TLIV tries very hard to keep us stuck right where we are, doesn't it? It's concerned only with security, and risk is its dangerous opposition. It often leads us away from our true path, one little step at a time. And when you think about it, perseverance and success are only available to us one little step at a time. So, dealing with TLIV is a key factor in learning how to persevere.
OK, so what can be done? I have found two very simple things to be valuable: observation and practice.
1) Listen to your own inner dialog a few times each day. Observe TLIV in action and notice how it fights against your natural desire to ask a question, to be curious, to learn, and to act in accordance with your creative self.
2) Practice each day by taking a deep breath and be open to the moment.
I almost let TLIV talk me out of sending you this e-mail, but I enjoy sharing ideas, so we had a little talk and I won..."

Rick: Sorry for the edits. I feel guilty I had to cut any of this. Great stuff. Thank you.

Unknown Location: "What I like about myself is never giving up, if I'm going down I'd rather go down fighting... In times of difficulty, when you make a choice to never give up, your mind just figures out a way to succeed."

Rick: I just love "your mind just figures out a way to succeed".

Rick: This last one is a lesson for us all.

From a Proud daughter about her dad:
"This is a response to your recent email about success. Like you, my Dad keeps on learning and striving no matter what. He was unable to go to college because of serving in WWII so he came back to his little home town in North Carolina and went into business. All his businesses still exist and operate beautifully, he owns almost half of Main Street and he is a respected developer. He will be 88 in November. A few years ago he was diagnosed with macular degeneration. He called me to tell me his doctor told him he would be blind in three months. I expressed my dismay and concern. He only asked if I knew whether or not the local paper put its news on tape.
He had an experimental surgery in Atlanta that allowed him to keep slight vision in one eye. He cannot see straight on, but can see out of the corner of one eye. He has taught himself to read again by seeing only one or two letters at at time. He walks two miles every morning, 'reads' two books on tape each week, keeps up with the news and can talk to my 29 year old computer major son about computers with ease. His newest project is to build an apartment complex because he feels our town needs one.
I think my dad's success is due to courage and willingness to change. He has never feared the future. When WalMart came into our town many stores went out of business. He adjusted his inventory and his stores still operate today.
It is not about the money. It is about the challenge. He just doesn't know any other way."

Rick: I guess that sums it all up.

For all of the other folks who sent comments, I apologize for not being able to include them all. Thank you all for teaching me that part of my success is constantly learning and understanding how others define success. Success is different things to different people. Let's all try to better understand and respect them all. The world might just become a better place.