Tag Archives: Success

Success Equals Goals, But How Bad Do You Want It?

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The goal-setting chapter in Brian Tracy’s book, ‘Maximum Achievement’, has been a favorite of mine for many years.
I also share Brian’s belief that “success equals goals and all else is commentary“.

But since goals don’t magically achieve themselves without effort and perseverance, how do you be(come) successful?

I like this answer from motivational speaker, Eric ‘the Hip Hop Speaker’ Thomas:

When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, then you’ll be successful.

Of course, achieving BIG goals is never 100% sure, even with an iron will that mirrors your desire to keep breathing.
But the inverse is highly likely to occur i.e. no will, no success.

“Sleep? I don’t Sleep. Sleep is for Those Who Are Broke.”

To get an idea of how much you want to succeed at something, watch this five minute video with Eric’s answer (above) in your mind.

For the record, I believe it’s OK to NOT have goals – if that’s what you want. But it’s also OK to choose a path where talent, hard work and lady luck might take you a long way.

The choice is always ours to make.

- Mark McClure

PS – The young running back featured in the video has his own YouTube Channel.
Check out the trailer (released Jan 30th, 2012) for his latest documentary: “My Ambition”.

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Your Online Resume is Everywhere

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Back in the day (we’re talking 1990s) I used to spend a couple of hours every year keeping my paper resume up-to-date.

‘The Internet’ was still a phrase used mainly by geeks and required connecting a modem to a phone line, and then dialing into your email. Lord knows if anyone ever got hired online lol!

Anyway, step forward nearly 20 years, and while paper resumes are still handled and looked at, for many hiring managers the first touch will be a digital one.

Oh, I know what you’re thinking:

I’ll just update my paper resume to an online format.

That approach can still work, especially if you have contacts within the corporate world.

But it won’t be too long before the resume as a standalone document will be only one of several online scores that determine whether you even get to first base i.e. an ‘interview’.

And I’m not referring to the daily digital footprint you leave online.  That’s a mainly passive and reactive view of the persona you appear to be. I say, ‘appear’, because at the moment, “on the Internet no one knows you’re a dog”.

(Check out that famous cartoon from the New Yorker magazine a while back.)

No, if you want to become top of mind for many of those looking for talent via the web, you’ll have to start creating an active and responsive trail leading to the real you.

And how is that done?

Well, here’s someone who’s done all of that and more. And who now looks for the same, or better, in the talent he hires.

The article’s titled “Seven Ways to Position Yourself for Unlimited Work, by Joe Pulizzi.

True, the article’s thrust is toward creative types in the media e.g. journalists, freelance writers and marketers.

However, in a vast digital world where talent for almost any career path’s now located far and wide, you will need to be very clear in your online message and presence. Of course, the ‘offline’ you is still very important but there’s a merging of digital with physical coming, courtesy of awesome networked computing power and bandwidth.

Be prepared!

- Mark McClure

PS – This is the final post on this blog for 2010.

I’ll have a short break for Japanese New Year celebrations and then it’s full steam ahead in the “Year of the rabbit”. Happy New Year!

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Will 2011 Be Your Year For Success, Wealth, Financial Freedom & Happiness?

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That’s quite a headline, isn’t it?

But it’s not actually mine…

Anyway, perhaps you’re not surprised anymore by such outlandish claims – seems like a small army of personal growth gurus, self help experts and sundry life coaches start ramping up their 2011 online marketing efforts before folks get wrapped up in end of year celebrations and/or general busyness.

So, what’s different about this ‘castles in the air’ headline?

year-to-success.jpg

I think the key point is that the author, Bo Bennett, has (as far as I can tell) walked the talk. He certainly has with respect to visible business success, wealth and financial freedom.

(Personal happiness is a subjective judgment but I’m sure he’s got that one covered too.)

Just who is Bo Bennett?

Looking around his personal growth site, year to success, along with a little googling, soon gave me a picture of a man who is determined to succeed at whatever he attempts.

From making millions with his web business company in the ‘Internet gold rush’ of the 90s (he sold his business at the tech market peak in 2001, while still in his 20s) to becoming a martial arts expert, he’s turned a life-long interest with personal growth into direct action.

You’ve probably read that many of the self-help gurus parrot the line about finding someone who has done what you want to do, and then copying or mimicking what they did.

Well, Bo has sure left a trail of ideas and thinking for others to pick up on – in the form of his success web site. Although there are paying membership options, you can download the entire 366 daily podcast lessons to your iPad or mp3 player for free (just email registration required.)

I don’t think this is another “get rich quick” slam on the unwary because Bo’s personal and business story is one of ups and downs, and of living the logo up close and personal.

Logo?

Yes, this one (at the top of his home page)

When it comes to success, there are no shortcuts.

Hear! Hear!

2011 is no doubt going to be a challenging year for many. There’ll be successes and setbacks for individuals, companies, all the way up ‘nation states’ and perhaps even trading blocs.

That’s why you need to have some type of plan to make the best of the circumstances you find yourself in. And, where necessary, to start making significant and incremental changes.

Only you know what you can do or not do with your own life and ambitions.

But I know one thing about you for sure.

If you don’t have any plans for your life or career, others will.

- Mark ‘success equals goals and all else is commentary’ McClure

(btw – That’s a Brian Tracy quote in between my name!)

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Rice Picker or Samurai – Which are You?

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Are people born entrepreneurs or become so?

Are you a worker bee / corporate drone, or a samurai / free spirited entrepreneur?

In the link below, Jason Calacanis delivers a rousing performance to some Penn State students – all the more so because it was unscripted. A 37 minute master class in self-belief, desire and never giving up.

Yes, he’s controversial and outspoken. Drones around the globe will hate him with a vengeance. But hey, he’s a Brooklyn boy, and while acknowledging that rice pickers are needed, holds a special affection for the samurai (entrepreneurial) class.

The downloadable video and audio-only files are well worth keeping if you have even a smidgen of desire to start and grow your own business.

Jason Calacanis – Rice Picker or Samurai? (Oct 2011 Update: Broken link?)

Some choice quotes:

For the people who want to be worker bees and drones:

“…there’s really not very much to tell you. Your life’s going to be very boring. You’re not going to get much accomplished. And you’re going to die and regret not starting a company, and not being your own boss, and not doing something epic. But by that time it will be too late.”

And for those who felt and acted on an entrepreneurial calling:

“… you saw that you had a choice in life. You didn’t just have to get in line and go work for somebody. You could actually come up with an idea, execute on it and be responsible for your destiny.”

Interestingly, while he believes that entrepreneurs can be made, the roots usually come from the example or influence of entrepreneurial parents in a person’s younger years.

That being said, there’s no time like the present…

Mark ‘samurai’ McClure ;-)

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Individuality Begins With Boldness

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I attended a high school festival recently where one of the class themes was a ‘celebration of individuality.’

And among the various exhibits the students had made was a poster with those famous words of Goethe:

“Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.”

Having watched these students take that theme from concept to execution, despite being very busy with their studies, I think the seeds of success in any major goal (such as career change or finding meaningful work) come down to the two ‘B’ words:

Boldness and Begin.
That’s it.
- Mark ‘To Boldly Go’ McClure

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