Where Success Happens
Author: Andrew Cox

What does it take to be successful? What is success? How
can I get there?

The best answer to the question of what is success is from
Og Mandino: " Success is meeting your goals."

The answer to what it takes to be successful and how to get
there is a bit longer: Success happens at that special
intersection of passion, commitment, talent and
persistence. Think of those four as separate paths that
flow into one path - one powerful path that leads to
success - in it's infinite variety.. It's a special place,
that path.

That special path is different for each of us. It has to be
- everyone of us is so special and different in every one
of those four requirements. But we all have the capacity to
arrive at our own intersection - again and again. What an
exciting thought - that each of us can combine and align
our special attributes in such a way to be successful - as
we choose to define success.

It's sad that so many people have had experiences that have
taught them to be safe, to stay on the sidelines and watch,
to hold their passions and commitments in check, to see how
the wind blows. What an enormous waste of resources,on a
personal level and on every other level. Those are the
people that are the subject of Henry David Thoreau's
statement: " The mass of men lead lives of quiet
desperation."

It doesn't have to be that way.

The idea that there is the potential to exceed anything yet
accomplished through a process of self discovery,
discipline, commitment and passion is really exciting - and
scary. What's really scary is that it lies within each of
our capabilities to grow and reach that intersection and do
it again and again in our lives. We can do it at any age,
under any circumstance, at any stage - and it's not magic,
it's not a silver bullet, it's not limited in any way.

Let's walk down each of these four paths and see how we can
get them to join together to create a level of success
greater than any yet experienced.

Passion is the first path for a reason. It's the emotion
that leads to commitment. It's the feeling that comes from
the heart and provides us with the strength to dedicate
ourselves to people, places, things, ideas, processes. It's
often the most difficult path to find, but once found, it
can be the most sustaining and exciting. Passion is
excitement, passion is enthusiasm. It's curiosity, it's
wanting to share, it's that spark that lights the fire that
leads to commitment. The path of passion runs very close
to the path of commitment - their intersection is vital to
creating the foundation for success.

Commitment comes in many forms. The qualities of
commitment that we are looking for start with positiveness;
the conviction that we are committing to a worthy cause;
the belief that what we commit to will result in a positive
outcome, and will improve our life and the lives of others.
There is no place on our path for negative, destructive
commitment. Positive commitment sustains, negative
commitment corrodes and destroys. Commitment requires that
special feeling of being part of something bigger than
self. If there is a single tipping point on the path to
success, it is when that feeling of total commitment occurs
- when, as Goethe wrote:

"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to
draw back, always ineffectiveness.

Concerning all acts of initiative there is one elementary
truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and
endless plans: That at the moment one definitely commits
oneself, then providence moves, too.

All sorts of things occur to help one that would never
otherwise occurred. A whole stream of events issues from
the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of
unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance
which no man could have dreamed would come his way.

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

Talent is the path where the rubber meets the road - where
things can be done - where action to create success occurs.
The belief that anyone can do anything if they put their
mind to it may be true at one level, but at the practical
level of creating success, it hinders more than it helps.
An example: without good eye hand coordination and
excellent depth perception, no one is going to be a major
league baseball player - nobody. They don't have a piece of
the puzzle - the talent - that is critical to success. If
they persist in trying to a be a major league ball player,
they're wasting their time. Some people learn that lesson
the hard way. "Experience may be the best teacher, but only
fools can learn by no other" is a harsh reality. Others
find out what they are good at, and pursue success from
that more powerful place. You can have a passion for and a
commitment to baseball, you can manifest that passion and
commitment as a spectator, as a sportscaster, as a grounds
keeper, as a General Manager or a players agent, or as an
employee of the team, but as a player - not. The talent
has to be there to be successful.

The good news - and it is really good news - is that talent
requirements can be identified, talents already present can
be identified, and, in many cases, talents that need to be
developed can be - it's exciting. Even more exciting is
discovering a passion and a commitment that fits with your
unique blend of talents - now that's special. Whether it's
through experience, failures, successes, self discovery, or
tools to help define requirements and capabilities, this is
where the engine of success resides - in the talent to
drive that passion and commitment.

And then Persistence, the centerline that keeps the forces
generated in the paths of Passion, Commitment and Talent
moving toward success. I have a framed saying from Ralph
Waldo Emerson that I keep within eyesight . It's a
powerful message:

"Press On

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.
Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful
men with talent. Genius will not: unrewarded genius is
almost a proverb. Education alone will not: the world is
full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination
alone are omnipotent."

Passion, leading to Commitment, fueled by Talent, and
Directed by Persistence - the formula for success. And in
this time of uncertainty and bad news, it's so important to
find or rediscover our passions and commit or recommit to
them, develop the talent - the skills and abilities and
motivators we need to make them happen - and then persist
in meeting our goals.

That's the package. Now's the time. It's not easy - but
it's worth it - in so many ways. Have a great 2009, and the
best of success to you.


About the Author:

Andy Cox helps individuals, teams and organizations
identify and develop their Multipliers of Success - the
unique set of Behaviors, Motivators and Personal Skills
each client needs for success. Contact Andy at
acox@consultgroup.com
Visit his website for information on how he can help you
discover and develop your Multipliers of Success. His
website address is http://www.coxconsultgroup.com