The "Indirect" road to success

As a follow up to my last blog essay, I wanted to explore this topic further. As often happens, my posting an essay prompts a few emails, texts and calls from friends that follow my blog. This happened right on schedule after my last posting earlier this month, and a number of good discussions ensued. Rather than keep them to my self, I thought it best to share a few of the themes here.

First of all, it might make sense to have a quick re-read of the last essay, “ Some times you need to go up to go down …” The core idea is that life, leadership and success are not linear, and have not been in my life. My experience was not one of a single well laid out plan, with no twists or turns, clearly leading on a single upward trajectory. In my essay I encouraged readers to reflect on my experiences and think about ways/avenues where those same experiences may be coming to life in their lives.

In a number of my follow up calls/discussions, I talked with friends about possible enablers or drivers to that approach. The following are a few of those principles highlighted and reviewed:

Be Open

Maybe the toughest idea of all, how to “be open” to new ideas/concepts/approaches as you move through your life and career. I especially think this is tough for those who have been successful early in their lives/careers. Why “be open” to new ideas when what I am doing now is working so well?? Seems like a good question! My experience is that the key drivers of what has made you great, will not only NOT be the drivers of your future success, they probably will be the biggest barriers to that success. I talk about this in great detail in a previous essay, “The Gravity of Success” which you can find in the “Perspective” section of the blog archive to your left.

Be Inquisitive

Such a simple idea! Since the time of Socrates we have been taught to ask questions as a path to knowledge and learning. Why are we so busy preparing our comments, ideas and critiques that we don’t spend much time thinking about and crafting the significant questions that can help us grow and succeed? I have seen this so often across the business landscape, where individuals who have the “quickest” and most “well crafted” responses and actions plans are advanced quickly in their careers. Too often those early advancers don’t end up with a long and impactful career. I have specifically witnessed this in the landscape of sales, and have gone into more detail in a previous essay, “Selling: The art of the “question” which you can find in the “selling” section of the blog archive.



Be Attentive

Even when we ask good questions, are we really listening? How do we use all of our senses to pick up data, deeply “listening” for the underlying meaning and innuendo of the comments we receive? I think back to all the times that I had with mentors from my past and wish that I could find one time with them to dig in an ask questions and really “listen” to their thoughts and comments. Finding ways to really pick up data in life and in business is a rare and precious skill! I have touched on this in a number of previous essays, most recently in an essay titled “A moment in the 3rd person can change your world”, found in the “Perspective “ section of the blog archive.


Be Active

Life and business is not merely a set of reflections and introspection! We need to take those isights that we have uncovered and put them to work! I so often say that we have an inifinate INABILITY to affect yesterday, but an infinite ABILITY to impact tomorrow. Remember the lesson from my old boss Bruce, “Regret is a trap.” Don’t squander your energy on the “what if’s” or the “should have/could have/would have’s” of life. Take the insights and perspectives that you gained above, and turn them into action today! A good example of this idea if covered in my most read essay, “A teachable point of view”, found in the “Leadership” section of the blog archive.


Here are four principles that I hope you find helpful and productive as you seek success in your life and career. Look for ways to be MORE “Open/Inquisitive/Attentive & Active” as you move into your week ahead; always scanning the landscape for more data/input and insights that you can take action quickly!