This is the second of a three part series on SUCCESS, and how to achieve it by modeling your attributes/behavior after the world’s most successful people. The intent of this article is NOT judge or criticize; simply to communicate the attributes and behaviors I have observed in successful people. These are not MY tips and counsel; they come from observing hundreds of successful executives. Hope you enjoy it!
Today is the First Day of the Rest of Your Life – No matter what happened yesterday or last week or last year, today is the first day of the rest of your life. If you are an alcoholic, you can quit drinking. If you are a drug addict, you can get clean and sober. NOTHING is stopping you from being successful. Stop whining and start working! One day I was working as a bowling alley mechanic. It was 100 degrees and I was changing an air conditioning unit. It was so hot on the roof of the bowling alley that my tennis shoes melted to the roof. Time for a new job. So I went back to college and paid my own way through while working 60 hours a week. That allowed me to go from being a bowling alley mechanic to a computer programmer. Then I worked 60 hours a week while getting an MBA. Went from technology to sales, where one company went public on the NASDAQ and one company was acquired by IBM. For the last 12 years I have OWNED the company. Oprah started with nothing. Bill Gates started with nothing. Steve Jobs started with nothing. Today is the first day of the rest of your life – go write a new ending to your movie.
Don’t Begrudge the Success of Others – Most people believe that high net worth (rich) people inherited their money or won it in a lottery.NOT TRUE. Almost all millionaires are self-made. They started from zero, and for the most part, worked like a sled dog for many years to obtain their success. You need to get out of the mindset that “I’m as good as them and should have their money.” Then you have the 48% that don’t contribute in America saying “money does not matter.” I have news for you, the only people that say money does not matter…don’t have any. There is a saying, “The foolish always want what the wise worked hard to get.” Begrudging the success of others leaves you with a bitter, angry mindset that will keep you from being successful.
Run Your Own Race – Stop worrying about what everyone else is doing! When I was 18 I was one of the top five bowlers in California. Then I went on the National Pro Bowlers Tour and could not break the top 100. Everything is relative. I have a friend with a net worth of $30MM. I do pretty good, but I don’t have $30MM. But you know what? I know someone worth $300MM. And a guy worth $1B. No matter how wealthy or successful you are, there is always someone with more money or success. The key to happiness is being successful right where you are. RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW. And successful people don’t worry about what everyone else has to say about them. Every day I hear, “Mark is a jerk because he won’t invest in my company” or, “Mark is not a Christian because he won’t get me a job.” I kid you not!! Not to offend anyone, but I don’t give a rat’s fat ass about people that criticize me. The Bible states, “Whatever you did for the least of My Brothers, you did for Me.” I place 50 executives a year in new jobs, then donate a portion of the revenues to charity. Mostly children and animals. Some people are just angry and bitter. It is not your job to be GM of the Universe and fix them. As Mother Teresa said, “It’s between them and God, it was never between you and them anyway.” Stop worrying about everyone else, and run your own race!
