Momentum By Nathan Jamail

What Success Looks Like

uccess can be defined in a number of ways. If you look up the definition you will find several that you may agree with such as the accomplishment of one’s goals or the attainment of wealth, posi- tion, and honors. These definitions are correct – and none of them are. When it comes to success, there isn’t a set in stone definition because of two reasons: • It depends on whom you ask • It is ever-changing

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In order to “obtain” success, you need to know what success looks like for you. Without having your personal definition of success, how do you know what to shoot for? When you fail to clearly define it, all goals and activities remain fuzzy and unclear – making them more difficult and in some cases impossible to achieve. John Langcuster, a Vice President with a Fortune 500 insurance company who leads hundreds of people in daily opera- tions, feels, “Success is achieved by having a great leader. One who knows how to recruit, practice on a regular basis, exe- cute and most importantly achieve results. Both the leader and team rely on a ‘team- work’ approach with a very strong belief system that a goal can be achieved. Also, consistent behavior breeds success.” Ken Smith, Vice President with Georgia Pacific, states, “Success in the profession- al world is when you build a winning cul- ture. Without having the right culture, strategies break down or lose every time.” As I once heard, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.”

If the question, “What does success look like?” were posed to you, right now, what would your answer be? Would it look like a cookie-cutter definition from a diction- ary? Would it look similar to these suc- cessful executives? What factors contri- bute to your answer? Work? Family? Personal? All of the above?

One way to look at success is to wake up in the morning feeling inspired and excit- ed, and to go to bed feeling content and

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grateful. Your definition of success might not change daily, but the sense of achiev- ing success can change as fast as the weather in Texas. A bad day, a good morning, or a great phone call can take you from one side of success to the other. With that being said, much like happi- ness, success is a state of mind more than a destination. It may look different for many people and may differ in achieve- ment based on personal or business def- inition, but to achieve your desired success there are three key principals that you must implement.

1. Cultural laws

Like Ken Smith says, “Culture eats strat- egy for breakfast.” A person must have cultural or personal laws that support their goals. The word law is important because we must view all behaviors and beliefs that contradict our definition of success as breaking the law. The greatest enemy of achieving success is allowing those that don’t agree or support that belief to break the cultural laws. Many times these infractions are small in action and have a very limited immediate con- sequence. But make no mistake: although the consequences are not immediate, they are immense and can be devastating to the achievement of success.

2. A clear understanding There are two key aspects of achieving

success. First, a person must be able to understand their vision of success so they can share it with others to inspire other like-minded individuals to stay the course. Once it is visualized or communicated, a game plan must be implemented and given to everyone involved that contains key activities with measurable results. This is the difference from making a New Year’s Resolution to lose weight and a dedicated decision to live a more active and healthier life. One is a decision that has commitments, beliefs and key actions

the other is an empty goal that is based purely on a short term desire.

3. A desire and never-ending commitment to achieve it The majority of society desires success, but very view are willing to do what it takes. Achieving great success in life or business will require great sacrifice, con- stant focus, humility to learn and confi- dence to challenge. In many cases a sense of blind optimism is required when deal- ing with seemingly insurmountable obsta- cles. No matter if one’s success is being a great husband or wife, or boss or employ- ee, it requires great sacrifice and a selfless mindset. Achieving success is realized when a group of people are so commit- ted and passionate about achieving their goals that no obstacle or situation can stop them. No matter what, win or lose, they stay committed to achieving their defined success. They have the desire that can outlast any resistance.

Success can be described as when a per-

son’s purpose is aligned with their actions. In business as in life, one must remain positive while in search of success, and understand that once one level of success is reached, it is not the end, rather is the starting point for the next great achieve- ment. At the end of the day, success is what one person makes it -- what one believes. The level of achieving that suc- cess is determined by what one does to earn it. No matter the definition, every- one can agree that “success is earned and not given!”

Nathan Jamail, president of the Jamail Devel- opment Group, and author of the best-selling Playbook Series, is a motivational speaker, en- trepreneur and corporate coach. As a former Executive Director, life insurance sales profes-

sional and business owner of several small businesses, Nathan travels the country helping individuals and or- ganizations achieve maximum success. Nathan has worked with thousands of leaders in creating a coaching culture. Jamail’s recent book, The Leadership Playbook, is available at www.NathanJamail.com.