Some Thoughts On "Success"...

The most successful people I know, and the ones I admire the most, are people who are actively contributing, to the best of their ability, to the betterment of some aspect of life.

A common characteristic I have noticed about these successful individuals is that, to a man and to a woman, they each have a specific, simply-stated (i.e., uncomplicated) INTENTION that is the driving force that motivates them in their actions and activities.

I also noticed that the successful person's intention always springs from an OBSERVATION and a significant, clear-cut DECISION.

Further, the successful person's intention directly relates to something they strongly know or feel is NEEDED or WANTED, either by themselves and/or by others.

Thus, the three precursors to success appear to be OBSERVATION, DECISION, and INTENTION, in that specific order.

The fourth factor, which arises from and is driven by INTENTION, is ACTION.

"Action", as I have seen it reflected in the successful individual, is not just "doing something". That's too general. ACTION, in the context of success, could be defined as "specific doing in the direction of a known objective", or better yet, "execution of intention".

To illustrate, suppose "Joe" (fictional character) notices that the streets of his town are always strewn with litter. This is OBSERVATION. Joe doesn't like it. But just observing the fact, of course, doesn't handle it.

One day, Joe realizes he's "had it" with the litter. He DECIDES "I am NOT going to live in a town with litter strewn all over the streets!" Still, nothing happens, and the litter continues to exist.

This the crucial point. Nothing is going to happen until someone generates the INTENTION to handle that litter! One could run away from the problem (Joe could decide to move to a different town). However, after thinking it over, Joe says to himself "OK, dang it, this is MY town! I am going to get the streets of this town cleaned up, once and for all, and I'm going to make sure they STAY clean no-matter-what!" This is a simply-stated intention.

Now, with this intention motivating him, Joe springs into action. He "does what it takes" to make it happen. He might do it as a volunteer, as a "litter activist", or he might do it as an entrepreneur, making money at it, say, by contracting with the town to keep the streets clean. In the end, Joe gets the job done, and he fits my definition of "a successful person", regardless of the financial aspect.

One might ask, "Isn't what you are calling 'intention' really just a decision?" Answer: Yes, but an "intention" is a SPECIAL kind of decision.

Inherent in an intention is the idea of action, follow-through, "making it happen", or whatever you want to call it. A simple decision is sort of a one time thing, "BAM!", "It's over, I decided". Many times people decide things (it's easy to do), but then nothing happens. A decision, by itself, does not change anything outside of the person himself or herself (i.e., out in the "real world"). What it takes to get something accomlished is intention, because intention is what drives action.

INTENTION, as I see it, is a CONTINUING, MOTIVATING decision. It's a decision that rides with you. It's always there, and it IS what motivates you. INTENTION comes out of one's OWN ideas of what is NEEDED or WANTED. Of course, finding out what is REALLY needed or wanted requires observation.

Thus, I believe that this is the basic sequence of success:

1. OBSERVE
2. DECIDE
3. INTEND
4. ACT

And I believe that this sequence applies broadly, from "volunteer success" to "entrepreneur success", and even to such things as "relationship success", "family success", etc.

What are YOUR thoughts?

---- Hugh