What does it mean to be successful? The dictionary defines success as the achievement of something desired, planned or attempted. Although accurate, this definition omits many valuable attributes and strategies vital to reaching said achievement. Success is a necessity for most but a struggle for many. One must combine a steady work ethic with wisdom, creativity, flexibility and persistence. Success is not the key to happiness. However, happiness is the key to success.
To be successful in any environment, one must deal from a position of strength. In these times, the strongest weapons that a financial institution can utilize are truth and logic. There are many people out there dealing from a position of weakness through corruption and greed. As the leader of an honest business, you should always be able to answer your challengers with truth and back it up with logic. With these weapons in your arsenal, there is no way the competition can harm you.
Another useful tool to remain successful in any environment is imagination. Using your imagination, focus on a specific objective and create a detailed vision of what you want accomplished. With this in mind, outline a path that will lead you to your goal. There are some people who can read a book, absorb it and apply it. Those people are called scholastically or academically inclined. There are others who are more creative and apply their own imagination to their work. Think of the Wright brothers, John D. Rockefeller, Bill Gates and Walt Disney. Although their standard education was rather limited, they still managed to find innovative ways to change the world. Don’t let your education be a roadblock on your creative path. When you take your ideas and strategies off-road, the possibilities are endless.
To be a successful leader, one also must have the ability to listen, observe, acknowledge and adapt. Industries are constantly changing. There is always something to learn and there will always be new ways to improve your business. Be open to suggestions that could launch your business to the next level of success. Spend time with your colleagues, find out how they would run their business differently, and don’t get defensive. There is a fine line between confidence and arrogance and as long as you know which side you’re on, innovation will flow freely within your organization. Even with all of the aforementioned traits and characteristics, one can only go so far without determination, persistency and a strong belief in yourself.
There once was a man who failed at building his own business twice. He ran for Congress and lost twice. He also ran for the Senate and lost twice. That man was Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the Unites States. He could have easily quit after all those shortcomings and failures, but he never gave up and became one of the greatest presidents in the history of our country.
A leader cannot be successful having never experienced failure. There are always bumps in the road. It’s not what happens that matters; it’s how you respond to what happens that will define you as a leader.
Every business executive needs to follow these guidelines to be successful in his or her industry. To maintain morale and to reach the best results, the whole organization must be greater than the sum of its parts. Keep in mind that you must love what you do, you must believe in what you do, and you must surround yourself with others who share that same love and belief.
Phil Cannella is a business executive with 35 years of experience in the financial sector. He is the CEO of First Senior Financial Group, a firm that specializes in financial planning for retirement-age clients.
