There are many talented people in this world, yet only a handful achieve their goals and objectives. There are numerous factors why, including things out of your control such as timing and market dynamics. However, I have seen very special people miss the mark because of issues and characteristics that they directly influence. In other words, some feel unfulfilled because they underperformed in a certain area that affected their ability to succeed.
The definition of success can be vastly different among us. It can be to significantly grow your firm and take it to the next level; to be the best at your function within your firm; to achieve a specific corporate goal – say a revenue target; to fundraise for an important cause meaningful to you to help the world be a better place; to be a better parent; or to simply excel in a particular sport. How can you achieve your goals and how do you drive to success?
Unless you get extremely lucky (which does happen on the rare occasion, though there is something to be said for making your own luck), success begins within yourself. In the business world, I have seen brilliant people with considerable talent fail time and time again and not succeed in achieving their objectives. On the other hand, I have witnessed ordinary people achieve extraordinary results. Why the disparity? The overwhelming majority of “success” stories (regardless of the objective) began with one simple word – will. I have found that most successful people (those who met their objectives) have and had the will to make it happen. In many cases, they met significant obstacles along the way and did whatever it took to break down the barriers to success or go through the appropriate roadblocks.
Successful people don’t have all the answers and make mistakes during their journey. However, they do not accept ultimate failure, learn from their mistakes, and truly embrace “magic making” moments. At Axispoint, my teammates often hear me discuss making magic. What I mean is the ability to channel the will that’s inside you to achieve extraordinary things. When people tell you it can’t be done, you take that to heart and use the power of that negativity as a fiery motivator to help you achieve. If you have passion, energy, smarts, work ethic, and the will to succeed, nothing can stop you, not even external influencers such as the economic downturn or global events or even a sports injury. The most successful people embrace these external influencers, even if it means a near-term setback, and use their will to eventually overcome and drive to ultimate success. If you feel you haven’t done so already, now is the time to Make Your Own Magic!
