Eleven Qualities of Successful People

How do you define successful people? Og Mandino, in “The Greatest Salesman In The World,” defined success as meeting ones goals – whatever they may be. Sounds good to me. Given that definition, what do successful people have in common?

I was challenged to write, in 500 words or less, an answer to that question. Here goes.

They're lucky – if you define luck as the intersection where preparation, opportunity, action and optimism, with a healthy dose of knowledge and prospecting – all come together.

They know you gotta do the work to succeed. No silver bullets. Picasso was asked by a lady in Paris to sketch her likeness. He did. He charged her $5000 . She protested that a five minute sketch for $5000 seemed excessive. He replied “ Madame, not five minutes, but a lifetime.”

They're attractive. Their sense of opportunity and optimism attracts things to them – relationships, opportunity, luck – you name it. Some of the most attractive successful people aren't – by any stretch - Hollywood good looking – but that doesn't matter.

They're competitive and collaborative, and inspired by the success of others – and by the challenges on the way to success. They see the success of others as proof of there being plenty for everybody.

They know what's important to them and they focus on whatever that might be. They respect what's important to others, and work to align their own goals with the goals of others. But when push comes to shove, their goals are the ones that take priority.

They're selfish with their time, so they can be generous with it. Sounds like a contradiction but it isn't. Treating time as the least flexible of commodities - treasuring every moment of it – not spending time where it does no good – being able to say “No” - allows more time for the things that really matter.

They're persistently consistent – what they say and what they do are closely aligned – you can count on it – again and again and again.

They know that trust is the cornerstone of effective relationships. It's hard to earn, easy to lose and almost impossible to regain. They treat gaining and giving trust as top priorities in all their relationships.

They set high expectations for themselves and for others – while being able to separate their ideals from their expectations. They are realistic about the human condition – their own and others.

They are optimistic about their relationships with the people they meet and they seek out new contacts. They go into new relationships with the expectation of something good coming out of it – for everybody.

They have a real respect for people – all kinds of people. They treat people that can do them neither any harm – nor any good – the same way they would treat anyone else.

To add to the eleven qualities, send me an E Mail.

Written by Andy Cox, President

Cox Consulting Group, 4049 E Vista Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85032 Ph& Fax: 602-795-4100; E Mail: acox@coxconsultgroup.com;Website:www.coxconsultgroup.com; Blog: http://multiplysuccess.blogspot.com

Copyright 2009 All Rights Reserved

A Story of Success - Here's To You, Hank Teuteberg

I'm looking at a picture of one of the most successful men I have ever had the privilege to know. He was raised in Brookfield WI and moved all the way to a beautiful house he and my sister built overlooking Lake Oconomowoc – about 15 miles away from where he had been born. He enlisted in the Navy shortly after high school, then became a computer programmer back in the days of punch cards and big box mainframes.

He got married to my sister 44 years ago, and they raised three children – and raised them well. And those children gave them eight grandchildren – and they delighted in them. He founded his own business in 1976 – a printing company that, over the years, has grown into one of the top marketing services, fulfillment and printing companies in the US.

He was an excellent baseball player. He was an avid golfer – a low handicapper that belonged to two country clubs and played – a lot. For years he ran every morning, and for years he carried his own bag – for all 18 holes.

His success at his business allowed him to buy a place in Florida – on Sanibel Island – so he and his family could get away from the brutal Wisconsin winters – and he could play golf – every day – and he did.

But he never took his eye off the ball – off his business. And it prospered. And it does today – with his son as the President.

He was the kind of guy that you just knew would live forever – or close to it.

And then he drowned, in a freak happening, in Pewaukee Lake - where he had almost drowned at age 11. And at the age of 69, with so much in front of him, he left this earth. And when I look at his picture – it's on the cover of the program for the Visitation and Mass of the Resurrection that was held for him - it simply does not seem possible that he is gone. But he is. And at the Visitation a solid line of people stretched out the door of the church where it was held - and they just kept coming. For four hours my sister stood or sat next to his casket and greeted and talked to every one of the people who came to pay their respects. For four solid hours – without letup. What a tribute to his life and to his family!

And the one quality so many remembered about Hank – whether they were golfing buddies, neighbors, baseball teammates, business associates - was that they never heard him say a bad word about anybody. What an epitaph!

Hank wasn't a particularly reflective guy – had he been asked to write down what people would say about him at his funeral – and that's an exercise often used to develop goals – I'm sure he would have found something more important to do.

He was successful in so many ways success is measured. But for my money, the phrase “ He never said a bad word about anybody” is his true measure of success.

Until we meet again, Hank.

Written by Andy Cox, President

Cox Consulting Group, 4049 E Vista Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85032 Ph & Fax: 602-795-4100; E Mail: acox@coxconsultgroup.com;Website:www.coxconsultgroup.com; Blog: http://multiplysuccess.blogspot.com

Copyright 2009 All Rights Reserved