What Gets in the Way of Success

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Molly Gordon, Shaboom Inc., http://www.authenticpromotion.com

I don't know about you, but sometimes I wish success were a simple matter of following the right formula.

I mean, wouldn't it be great if you knew for certain that meditating for 30 minutes a day, exercising for an hour five times a week, eating five servings of vegetables, reading the right books, and flossing would lead to perfection?

Ah! There's the rub. Perfection.

Encarta defines perfection as "something that reaches the highest attainable standard." But whose standard? And what determines whether or not it is attainable? And as for the word, "highest," can we just agree now that it is a set-up for the inner critic?

In contrast, success is defined as "achievement of something planned or attempted." This feels a lot saner. Success is measured in terms of something we set out to accomplish, not in terms of an absolute standard.

And that is the key distinction between perfection and success: Success is getting the job done.

Are We There Yet? Conditions of Satisfaction
Perfection is an absolute, but standards for success vary. The thing is, sometimes we set out without specifying our standards for success, so we don't envision what "done" looks like. Without conditions of satisfaction, we can work endlessly and never realize that we have arrived.

This is a real danger when you work for yourself. In the press of getting things done, who has the time to develop formal conditions of satisfaction? Besides, you know what you want, right?

Wrong. As creative, learning critters, our standards evolve at least as fast as our skills. Our vision of what is possible and desirable develops even faster, making it virtually impossible to know when we have reached a goal unless we set conscious standards for satisfaction.

These days I am reminded of the importance of conditions of satisfaction as I move toward completion of The Way of the Accidental Entrepreneur. Conditions of satisfaction are like mileposts. When I forge ahead without them, I get lost in endless possibilities. I procrastinate and fidget. (Who, me?)

Which brings me to these tips, which I have shared in the past. Like they say: teach what you need to learn.

Setting Conditions of Satisfaction

1. Keep it simple. Make your standards easy to understand and measure.

2. Set standards for things you can control. You can't control whether your book is a bestseller, your paintings are selected for an exhibit, or you get cancer. You can control how many words you write each day, how often you submit your paintings to curators, and how many servings of vegetables you eat each day.

3. Get support. When we work for ourselves we play multiple roles. Often we lack the expertise and perspective to craft realistic conditions of satisfaction.

In my case, I've tried to be the writer, editor, designer, project manager, marketing manager, sales manager, copy writer, and publicist for my book. (Gee. How come that didn't work?)

Hiring an editor has made a huge difference. Working with her clarifies what needs to be done, lightens the load, and provides much-needed reality testing.

4. Celebrate success. This is another thing we tend to skip when we are self-employed. Who has time to stop to celebrate when there is always something else to do? Besides, if you are nuts like me, rewards seem like a motivational gimmick. (I hate gimmicks.)

For goodness sake! Rewards are not just about motivation, they're about acknowledging progress, recognizing achievement, and establishing a platform for the next step. And celebration is fun, and that is good for the soul.

5. Review and revise. Course correction is the secret to getting from here to where you are going. It works for airplanes, rockets, and people. Stop from time to time and evaluate your progress and your plan. Revise as needed. This protects your sanity and your integrity.

I hope these tips prove useful to you. Let me know how you use them. If I print your letter, I'll mail you a copy (a real live physical book) of 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life, essays from 101 self-growth experts including Dennis Waitley, Joe Vitale, Brian Tracy, and Yours Truly.

Send your comments to letters@authenticpromotion.com .

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