Revisiting the 20 Things

The secret to success is that there isn’t a secret. There isn’t one thing you can do to become an instant success. I wish there were I would be much wealthier. The simple truth is that there are hundreds of things you can do to be successful. I would like to share twenty of them—twenty that were shared with me at a different point in my career, twenty that helped me, and twenty I believe will help you.

These powerful, simple things can be used in virtually any career by anyone and will help you set the stage for your own success.

Try to be the most positive and enthusiastic person you know. Start right now. This works even when it is a work in progress. A good way to begin is by realizing when you are complaining and stopping yourself from going any further. Instead, find ways to solve problems by talking with respect, energy, and enthusiasm to people who can actually help solve what is bothering you, as well as smiling more and being genuinely interested in other people. There are many ways to accomplish this objective, and you will be amazed at how the people around you respond. Each day, try to be more positive and enthusiastic than you were yesterday.

Start each day the night before. Many people I meet are stressed and anxious and seem to spend their entire day one step behind everyone else. Don’t do that to yourself: start tonight, take a few minutes, and prepare what you can for tomorrow. Consider what you are going to wear tomorrow, make lunch or lunches for your family, and take a moment to make a plan of what you want to accomplish the next day. These are all examples of small things, but each will dial down the pressure you feel and help you not fall behind in your day. One last point: get enough sleep. Typically, adults need about eight hours of sleep each night. You might need a little more or a little less, but it will help.

Get up early. Consider—even 30 minutes earlier than what you are currently doing—can make a huge difference in your day. Thirty extra minutes to work out, to prepare a better breakfast, or simply to relax before heading to work.

Read the equivalent of at least one book every month related to your career or job. Books are great, but so are podcasts, audiobooks (listen to them while driving to work instead of the radio), and even YouTube videos. Having a self-directed professional development plan will expand your knowledge base and can be done with as little as 15 or 30 minutes of dedicated time every day.

Maintain a balance between work and living. As someone who has not always followed this lesson—believe me, this is important. Being the first person to work and the last person to leave is not a great way to show how valuable you are. Be dedicated, be diligent, be reliable, but also be building your team and your people and demonstrate to them that what they do outside of work is as important as what they do while they are working. Whatever success you will enjoy is always better when it is shared with someone else.

Schedule your e-mail time and limit it to no more than two hours per day.This limit does not diminish the importance of using emails. However, if you need to communicate with people—your team, customers, and suppliers—remember email only gives the illusion of communication. Effective communication can be served so much better in person, by Zoom-type interactions, or by simple phone calls. Email never conveys tone or provides feedback, which is so important when dealing with people. While emailing seems easier, it can become a convenience trap, isolating you from those around you.

Look and act successful. This is not about vanity; it is about professionalism and respect. Taking care of your appearance when interacting with customers, clients, suppliers, and your team doesn’t mean wearing $1,000 outfits. I have seen presidents of companies looking the part in blue jeans and T-shirts if that is what is called for in certain situations. Additionally, good leaders always go last—after their customers and team members at events.

Be on time, every time. Every single successful person I have ever met does this. Being on time doesn’t mean arriving right at the scheduled time. Respectful and successful people consistently arrive 10 to 30 minutes earlier than their schedule says. By arriving a little earlier, they have time to prepare and time to relax before their workday begins, and also time to react if something unexpected happens. Most importantly, they believe in setting the example and demonstrating their motivation, reliability, and dependability every moment of every day.

Be prepared. Preparation is something that you control. So many things in our lives are beyond our ability to anticipate; however, preparation is something important we can influence. If you have a 30-minute meeting scheduled, spend the appropriate amount of time researching and preparing for the meeting, as necessary. It will be noticed, and it will be appreciated.

Make three people feel better about themselves every day. Of all the things on this list, this suggestion may be the most powerful and the most effective. To make someone genuinely feel better about themselves, you have to be genuine. You have to notice, you have to learn about the people around you, you have to listen, and you have to respect them.

Say two words sincerely at least 25 times each day—“thank” and “you.” My challenge to you for at least a week is to count the number of times that you say thank you each day. Initially, you may be surprised at how few times you actually thank people for the things that they do. Make a point of saying them at least 25 times daily. Soon, you’ll notice the effect that this simple consideration has on people, and you will wonder why you didn’t start this sooner.

Ask questions—lots of questions. Be curious, interested, and present during the answers. Perhaps one of the most important skills for success is the ability to ask good questions and to listen to what people have to say—not simply wait for your turn to speak.

No matter what or where your workspace may be, keep it organized as if the world’s greatest customer or client could see it. Being well-organized helps to establish your reputation in the eyes of customers, clients, staff, management, and suppliers. Fair or not, it is a perception that matters. It is also very easy to do.

Remember, your two most important things are your time and your attitude. It is impossible to save time; you can only spend it—so spend it well. Prioritize what needs to be done and then get started. Successful people have exactly the same amount of time as unsuccessful people. Your attitude is another key. It is easy to fall into the trap of feeling helpless or out of control. Successful people often feel this way as well—they just find a place to start and then determinedly focus on working toward getting things done.

Avoid pessimistic people. Unfortunately, negative people are everywhere. You have seen them; they make you tired when you talk to them. People who are always “half-empty” drain the energy from you and everyone else around them. It’s okay to vent but realize the difference.

Have written, prioritized goals with an action plan; review regularly. What do you want for yourself, and how soon do you want it? Divide your goals into short-, medium-, and long-term plans, and always try to keep them connected. It’s okay to change your goals as your life changes—to take advantage of opportunities or to navigate barriers.

It’s not about you. Achieving success happens through people, organizational goals, their goals, and their development—professionally or privately. This statement may seem counterintuitive and difficult to sustain—I know I struggle with it even now—but to achieve success, it is vital you appreciate it and never forget it.

Never give up. No matter how bad things may seem, no matter how impossible a situation looks, there is always a way to get unstuck. This does not imply you will win every time. Sometimes, in order to achieve success, you have to realize when one situation is unwinnable and change your goal. Success does not always look the way you originally thought it should.

Interact with people every day. People are necessary for success. Everything happens through and with others. Build your connections, collaborate, appreciate their strengths and weaknesses, and contribute to building our communities. Customers, clients, co-workers, friends, family, prospects, and people you have never met before—all can help to keep you grounded and connected.

Enjoy what you do. Laugh, grow, and enjoy. We work a lot—some of us more than we should. We have responsibilities, we feel accountable, and we are often placed in situations where we have to do work when it is the last thing we want to be doing. Within those parameters, know that it can be possible. Don’t try to do everything yourself. Seek out assistance and know there may be solutions you haven’t considered. It is possible to enjoy work and your life—to laugh, grow, and enjoy life.

I was given the original twenty points many years ago by a co-worker. I have kept his list on my bulletin board since then, even as I have changed jobs several times. I know someone gave them to him. I would like to acknowledge the original author—whoever you are—and say thank you. I have updated them and have used them almost continuously. None of these things are complicated, and all of them are readily achievable right now. Share and use them, and you will succeed with them. There may not be any secrets to success, but there are many paths and points for you to succeed.

Good luck,

Paul.