What is the key to success? It’s a question that gets asked often as people search for the nuggets to propel their lives forward.
Of course, there’s no ONE answer to this question. Read a hundred books and you’ll find a hundred answers. Talk to enough people and you’ll have enough opinions to make you want to bash your head in the wall. And just when we think we have it all figured out…BAM!…pandemic🤪
But wade through enough perspectives and you’re bound to find a few constants. As Mr. Stewman always says, success leaves clues, and it’s not hard to look around at companies winning BIGLY (Apple, Tesla, The Walmarts, Amazon, etc) and see commonalities.
So back to the original question of what is the key to success. In my experience, “what” is not what we’re seeking.
The answer for lasting success lies in the H.O.W…Helping Others Win.
There’s an old Zig Ziglar quote that says if you help enough people get what they want, you’ll eventually get what you want as well. This is not a linear equation, nor is it a 1 for 1 deal. However, over time this truth plays out. The problem is people often stop long before the rewards can be attained.
In my career, as I’m sure many of you have experienced, a plethora of people have wanted to “pick my brain” over the years. Sometimes it’s a genuine ask as they are seeking to solve a problem. Often, it’s just looking for something free and mooching to get as much information as possible without paying for it.
If we have a hardened approach and always operate with a “what’s in it for me” attitude, we close ourselves off to receiving the reciprocation so often associated with giving.
If you have closed fists, no one can hand you a gift.
However, if you think “Wow, this person reached out to ME to solve their problem”, that should tell you a couple of things. Number one, you have positioned yourself as the authority in your field. Well done! Number two, you have an opportunity to help someone and make the world just a little bit better by sharing the knowledge you possess. Don’t let people take advantage of you, but you can absolutely help someone have a small victory.
Social media has proven insanely effective at utilizing this approach and eventually turning it into business. We can share all kinds of quality information, value specific to our industry, and help the masses who are willing to read and implement. Eventually, many of those people you were unknowingly helping win already think “Damn, if this is what’s free, imagine what would happen if I did business with this person!”
It may seem somewhat utopian, but it works over and over again. Amazon has helped millions of people shop easier, faster, and sometimes cheaper, which helps many people win their time back and save money. Apple helps people win by making technology easy to interact with. I help people win by guiding them to long-lasting quality health and fitness. And I’m certain you help people win by serving people at a high level in your profession.
I bet if you look back, you’ll see the more people you have helped, the more YOU have received, and the more successful you have become. If you’re not “there” yet, keep helping others win and you’ll find yourself unlocking the true key to success.
Aaannnddd GO!
