Five P-words to Success

PEOPLE

Every business, regardless of industry, country, or model, consists of people. The quality of your people drive the quality of your business, and most importantly, the experience one gets buying or working with you. How much time, energy, and resources do you dedicate to personnel development? Likely, not enough to meet the rapidly changing demands of the marketplace, including your vendors, customers, clients and partners. Dedicating resources (time, money, training and mentoring) can pay huge dividends as you strive to succeed, in any economy.

PASSION

What is this passion-thing really? Is it joy? Is it love? Is it winning? Is it succeeding? Is it graduating? Is it marrying? Is it recognizing? YES, all those things and too many more to mention, because passion begins with/within YOU. Do you display an energy that resonates, attracts, excites, motivates, encapsulates and dedicates others to follow your lead? Passion is an obsession for better___________, en route to best. It is the stuff that you bring to the equation. It is a force for good. It is a genuine desire, and positive intention. It is always being part of the solution. It helps you to embrace change. It guides you through adversity. It is what together we create, and it starts with YOU.

PREPARATION

How do you make ready for a meeting, a lunch, a client, a prospect, a family reunion, a breakfast, a dinner, a conference call, a convention, a date, or an impromptu encounter? If your answer takes too much thought, you're likely in need of a reminder of how to prepare for success. Research the person. Get to know their industry, company, goals, hobbies, interests, involvements and if possible, their burning desire. The more you prepare, the more someone knows you care, which drives the conversation (and relationship) beyond selling to advising, and success is now within reach.

PRACTICE

So what do you say/write, how do you say it/write it, and why say/write that when you are meeting someone new? Lawyers, doctors, accountants, athletes and musicians practice, so why don't you? Successful sales calls, golf shots , surgeries, trials, investments, and seasons have one thing in common: practice. Are you working hard enough, and smart enough, to achieve the success you say you want? If not, one thing you can do immediately to position yourself/your company/your team more success, is to practice.


PROFITABILITY

In business we measure much of our success in financial terms. Revenues, profits, premiums, assets, ebita, percentages and margins are but some of the measures most commonly used. In networking, people are your gateway to success, and social capital is the currency we measure, and trade. The goodwill you create in the service to others can be deployed for positive results in ways beyond imagination. Social capital is not always tangible, yet we can use it to help others, and ourselves, to ongoing success. How do you get it? By creating value in your relationships beyond the product or service you provide. Always do for others more than you take in return, and watch your social capital (and success) grow.