8 replies to this topic

[Steve Heard]

I recently saw a report on success and motivation.

 

Still trying to find it.

 

What stood out was that a study revealed that people who are successful invariably share one common belief, and that is that they are in control and responsible for their own success or failure. They say things like, 'If it is to be it's up to me.' or, 'I screwed up that deal', or 'I've got to get better.'

 

Those who are not successful share the belief that they are not in control, that outside forces are preventing them from being successful. They say things like, 'It's the market', 'No one is buying (or hiring), or 'If it's meant to be it will happen', and 'It's not my fault'.

 

This year I've had success because I've become good at my job, and I don't give up. I've also dropped the ball and screwed up a couple of times, and had painful lessons, but those mistakes have made me better.

 

I guess whether we succeed or fail, we share the belief that 'everything happens for a reason', we just may disagree on what the reason is.

 

[AMETHYST PRODUCTIVITY]

Very interesting. Yes, I believe that my success in my business is completely dependent upon the effort I put into it. Luckily, for the last 5 years, I have been very successful. 

[knittychick]

One of my favorite quotes is from Henry Ford: "Whether you think you can, or think you can't. You're right."

 

If you believe circumstances have trapped you and you can't succeed then it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. 

[The Average Joe]

Argue for your limitations, and sure enough, they're yours is another similar saying.  I see far too much of the opposite viewpoint. People who blame everyone and everything but themselves for their situation.  Unfortunately, personal responsibility seems to be out of fashion these days.

[Steve Heard]

Argue for your limitations, and sure enough, they're yours is another similar saying.  I see far too much of the opposite viewpoint. People who blame everyone and everything but themselves for their situation.  Unfortunately, personal responsibility seems to be out of fashion these days.

 

Indeed. I know when I've screwed up, and I know it's up to me to get out of it.  Years ago, when discussing education with an unemployed high school dropout I know, she said to me, 'I know people with college degrees that ain't got no job.' Another time, she told me, 'Ain't nobody hirin'.

 

She was able, therefore, to justify her own laziness and lack of progress in life, and sleep well. 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

On the other side of the coin (and not to minimize the comments above),  Andy Grove (Intel CEO during it's heyday) wrote a book after he retired about success and how to achieve it.  It was a very short book (few dozen pages) and concluded that in many cases, success is simply being in the in the right place at the right time with the right skills.  It was certainly true for him. 

[Steve Heard]

On the other side of the coin (and not to minimize the comments above),  Andy Grove (Intel CEO during it's heyday) wrote a book after he retired about success and how to achieve it.  It was a very short book (few dozen pages) and concluded that in many cases, success is simply being in the in the right place at the right time with the right skills.  It was certainly true for him. 

 

I think it's the same side of the coin. Putting yourself in position to win by being in the right place at the right time with the right skills.  

[caligirlz]

I've always been successful in my job, or whatever I put my mind to (with a positive attitude). I've had to make readjustments when I find myself repeating the same failures over & over. Sometimes it's easy to see where the block is, others times, not so much. I think the key is to keep pushing forward, in time, it will be revealed. 

 

On a side note, I was shocked to learn this week that my employer is now grading individuals on our annual review, based on how well the immediate team performs. Basically, boss had an agenda, forced team to come up with solutions for a problem leading us to exactly what boss wanted, now, holds it over teams head, and wa-la, we are now graded on boss's original agenda.

 

So much for being evaluated on our individual skills. Oh, and the other thing, we are reminded regularly how grateful the offshore workers are (vs us ungrateful onshore americans). 

[GrumpyOldGuy]

IMHO, all gratitude is relative.  My company has factories all over the world, and I visit many of them periodically.  A year ago, the company started providing free bottled water in every facility globally (about 170 locations).  Our employees in India thought it was a terrific benefit.  Fresh drinking water is a rare and expensive commodity for them.  Our employees in an Arizona facility grumbled because the company didn't install a refrigerator in the break room to keep the water cold.  If this is typical, your boss may have a point.