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The Tripod of Success

June 18, 2019 By Dave Ferguson Leave a Comment

The Tripod of Success
Image Credit: Shutterstock

Featured article by Dave Ferguson in CEOWORLD magazine. Reprinted by permission.

Several years ago, a movie called “The Pursuit of Happyness” debuted. It was based on the real-life story of Chris Gardner, a highly successful businessman who was once homeless.

It compellingly shows how one man and his young son went from sleeping on the floor in a public restroom to living a life of greater comfort, security, and success.

How does someone go from such dire straits to high levels of success?

It boils down to the tripod of success.

  • Attitude
  • Motivation
  • Willingness to learn and do the work

Chris had the tripod.

Was life hard? Harder than most can imagine.

Were the odds against him? Indeed, they were.

Was his dream nearly impossible, given his situation? Most people would say, “Yes.”

But Chris was incessantly driven to get back up every time life knocked him down.

Driven from within by a “never-give-up” attitude; and motivated from without by the desire to give his son a better life, Chris walked up to a highly successful businessman and point-blank asked him how he got there.

The man was taken aback. No one had the nerve to ask him that question before. But it got his attention, and in a good way.

One thing led to another, and Chris worked his way into becoming a highly successful businessman, too. There were nights he and his son slept in homeless shelters or on a public restroom floor, but he showed up for work each day, nonetheless.

His is one powerful story of how attitude, motivation, and a willingness to learn and work can change a life trajectory; and, what’s more, a family’s legacy.

People often say they want a better life for themselves and their families.

They are tired of just getting by in their career or business. Unlike Chris, they may live in nice houses and drive expensive cars; but underneath it all, they know they are just a few paychecks from homeless. Or maybe they are doing well, but dependent on one company or one client for the support of their family.

Think about that.

Does the thought concern you?

It should.

It is wise to diversify – not just your stock portfolio, but your income streams. This doesn’t mean you have to work 80 hours a week, either.

What would it mean to you to have the security of an additional income stream?

What would several income streams provide in terms of freedom and opportunity?

Conversations reveal that most people are concerned about the limits on their income from a job that may or may not exist for them tomorrow – and the limits on their freedom if it does.

There’s a better way.

Those same conversations also reveal key indicators for whether or not they will succeed. This is where the attitude surfaces, and attitude is a key indicator.

“Teach me how, and I will do this!”

“I will do whatever it takes because this is important to me and my family.”

OR

“I need more income, but…”

“I want more freedom, but…”

These are clear indicators.

Surprisingly, many argue against the advice they have requested, saying it won’t work for them or they are too busy (or any number of other excuses). It would be like Chris Gardner asking the stockbroker how he got to where he was and then…walking away.

In two words, that is MISSED OPPORTUNITY.

There is a tripod of success, and it is this.

  • Attitude
  • Motivation
  • Willingness to learn and do the work

Armed with these three powerful tools, Chris Gardner created a brand-new life.

And, by the way, so can you!


Dave FergusonDave Ferguson is “The Leaders’ Coach”, an internationally recognized executive leadership coach, speaker, facilitator, and author. Are you interested in talking to Dave about coaching or having Dave speak to inspire and motivate your team? “ASK COACH DAVE” at 704-907-0171 or at Dave@AskCoachDave.com.

 

Five Step Plan to Turn Failure into Success

April 12, 2017 By Dave Ferguson Leave a Comment

Few of us grow up thinking failure is a pathway to success. In fact, our natural instinct is to be ashamed of our failures, humiliated by them. But failure is not just a part of life, it is a fundamental element of success—a catalyst.

As a leader, you will face instances of failure – personal failures, professional failures, and failure on the part of your team members. The big question is, how are you going to handle it?

How do you quickly turn failures into successes?

Here is the five-step plan you can engage for yourself and share with your team.

1. Take a Step Back

Burnout in business is real, and it is often fed by or results in mistakes. While logic compels us to keep on going, push through, and take more risk, the fact is, there are times when you truly need to STOP. Taking a short break, a vacation, or spending time with family can reduce the burnout factor and its unintended consequences. Very often walking away for a short time helps your mind think more clearly and come up with solutions to the issues. For a team, this could be in the form of a corporate retreat. Getting away gives clear perspective to problems and begins to help formulate solid solutions.

2. Own It

It is important to openly acknowledge your mistakes, otherwise you can’t redeem yourself. You don’t have to apologize for your choices, but you do have to confront them so you can make better ones going forward. Harry Truman said it well, “The buck stops here.”

3. Reassess

Look at your situation from every angle, and talk with others about it. Look for those people who will give you honest feedback. They could be your business advisors, friends, employees, co-workers, or family. The key is to listen, synthesize everything, and get the complete picture of your failure. Figure out what happened, and why. With your new perspective, look for ideas on how to move forward.

4. Stay Confident

Failure can be a huge blow to the ego, especially after steps two and three. It’s human. But, if you want to be a successful leader, you must let go of your failure and move forward with optimism and confidence. An occasional ego correction is both humbling and healing. It teaches us to make better decisions in the future. Realizing this is normal will help you regain your confidence to move on.

5. Revise and Refocus

Now you are ready to learn from your mistakes, improve, and find success from your failure. You simply can’t afford to spend time replaying the pity party or second-guessing yourself. Form a new plan of action and write it out on paper. Then embrace your new plan, and enjoy this new beginning. Consistent action yields consistent results. The mistake that caused the downturn can be a pivot point for the upturn if you consciously adjust your plan based on what you have learned.

Our greatest lessons come from mistakes and failures. Leaders don’t just see failures as an example of what not to do again. They try to learn everything possible, embracing failure as a way to learn how to do things right.

It takes determination, and with each lesson learned, you will pave the way to success.


Dave Ferguson is “The Leaders’ Coach”, an internationally recognized executive leadership coach, speaker, facilitator, and author. For help in getting past a mistake and on to the path to success, “ASK COACH DAVE” at 704-907-0171 or at Dave@AskCoachDave.com.

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