Category: Leadership Development

“In the throws,” of frustration, businesses and individuals find success to be a fleeting proposition. There is no question that success is a journey, but it can become a very manageable and measurable journey focused on desired outcomes and results. There is a significant difference between wishing for success and achieving success. And, that difference makes all the difference in the world!

Successful businesses like successful people have a long list of attributes that contribute to and foster their accomplishments. The objective of this article is to focus on five foundational attributes that apply to both personal and business success. Understanding and committing to these five core attributes will definitely propel you to a higher level of success.  A local Salt Lake City business man, Jim Olsen, has been using these (5) core attributes to propel his business forward

this past year and he’s achieved a 25% increase in sales.

Perspective: For the last three summers the Food Network has run the show “The Next Food Network Star.” Within the first several weeks of the season the judges inquire as to each contestant’s culinary point of view. What is his/her unique perspective on food, cooking, and the potential audience he/she may be in front of with this individual’s own show? Why would the audience at home want to watch their show and learn these recipes and techniques? Differentiation is critical with your business and you. What is your business’s unique point of view? How does your business’ perspective differ from the competition? What are your unique set of beliefs to business and your life, and how can YOU capitalize on those?

Conviction: Having a strong belief in yourself and your business goes hand in hand with your unique perspective. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being the highest) rate your belief in yourself and your belief in your business. Are your ratings where you want them to be? If not, why not? What you accomplished yesterday is a great measurement of the success of past decisions. Your conviction and belief in yourself and in your business is a reliable predictor of your future success.

Vision: Where do you want to go? What do you want to become? Why? Just like an organization’s vision your personal vision should be a short, succinct, and inspiring statement of what you intend to become and achieve at a predetermined point in the future. Vision infers intentions that are broad, all-inclusive and forward thinking. It is the image that a business must have of its goals before it sets out to reach them. It describes aspirations for the future, without specifying the means that will be used to achieve those desired ends. Warren Bennis, a noted writer on leadership says: “To choose a direction, an individual (an organization) must have developed a mental image of the possible and desirable future state.”

Experience: Every individual and every business brings a unique set of skills and knowledge to the table. Do you know what yours are? How are you leveraging your talents?

Attitude: “The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.” This quote by Charles Swindoll states that attitude is more important than many things. What’s remarkable about attitude is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past; we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way; we cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do – is control our attitude and stay focused. Your attitude is your greatest tool!

Your challenge is to review these five attributes and conduct an honest assessment of where you stand as it relates to your perspective, conviction, vision, experience, and attitude. Are these five attributes propelling you to success, or are they hindering your desired outcome? Based on your answer to that question what additional steps do you need to take? What do you need to do differently? Your outcomes are directly connected to your choices—so choose wisely.

Here at Rezults Group, Inc we not only have the ability to help you identify the (5) attributes talked about today, we can show you (in descending order) 79 of your CORE Attributes. Armed with this information, “playing to your strengths,” is no longer an abstract concept … it’s how you’ll live your life – a life of continuous success! For more information on this topic leave a comment and we’ll get back to you.

My colleague Doug Brown of Paradigm Associates, LLC shared a wonderful story with us in his latest newsletter about a woman who runs a National IT Consulting Company and describes herself as a “serial entrepreneur” who has started six companies.  She’s been quoted and honored numerous times. When Doug asked Kim Levin to share how she was able to grow a company that was named to the fastest growing firms list more than five times in a row and qualify for the Hall of Fame, she answered simply. “I always insist on only hiring great people, and then make sure that they are clear about ‘this is what done looks like’ for their project. Then they can go off and execute it.”  Doug stated, “I thought that was brilliant in its simplicity. It also caused me to conclude that when someone is fuzzy about the desired end results, it almost always leads to false starts, wasted time and effort, and disenchantment among the people who are trying to get things accomplished. Avoid disappointment all around. Help people understand what done looks like.”

Fig. 1

As with most “brilliant” statements, the understated, can be profound! [Easily said, difficult to implement]  So if we’re to get to, “this is what done looks like,” do we begin at the end?  Or – do we begin at the beginning?  How about we begin “inside.”  The above figure represents a “process,” it depicts how an Organization or Individual goes about getting results.  Within the layers of Vision, Mission, Critical Success Factors, etc lies the keys to success – on their own they stand firm having passed the test of time – however – when suffused with the “Core Values” we all have, a deeper, richer product is created.  Results from such a blend are what we all desire.

We’ve heard the cliché, “a picture is worth a thousand words.”  Likewise, we’ve heard, “art is in the eye of the beholder.”  In crafting a conversation with your “subordinates” wherein your desire is to convey –“this is what done looks like,” you’d better have a “picture” that others desire to behold!  Where would such a “picture” come from?  It can only come from within and the more you’re in touch with yourself, the clearer the picture you’ll see to convey to others.  Philosophers, for years, have been exploring the concepts of values, attitudes, etc.  In 1914 a German philosopher and psychologist Eduard Spranger published a book, describing his research and observations that led to his identifying six core attitudes and values he found present in every person.  Today we have an “instrument” administered via a web based program that can identify your “core” Attitudes and values.  We call it the “Values Index.”              To reach optimal performance you must understand WHAT natural talents you possess, WHY you are motivated to use them, and HOW you prefer to use them. The Values Index looks at the WHY portion of the What, Why, and How trilogy.  By understanding WHY you are motivated to do things, you are able to better align your environment with what creates the most passion in you.  The Values Index is useful for understanding how to motivate yourself and others by understanding the reasons that drive individuals for success.  In employee development and coaching scenarios, this information is invaluable.  Therein – lie’s the “secret.”  By understanding yourself, your values, attitudes – the WHY, so to speak, of you – you’ll be able to create that “picture” of “This is what done looks like.”  From that point it is then possible to begin to fill in, cascade, and flush out the details of Fig. 1 and craft your personal or Corporate Vision, Mission, Critical Success Factors, Goals and Action Steps all suffused with your very unique Core Values.  The result, as the commercial states is “Priceless!”                        Rezults Group, Inc and its President, Willard Kille, is Certified to administer the “Value Index.”  We are offering a COMPLIMENTARY Values Index now through September 30th for all who qualify [call or email us to discuss the qualifications – a $350 value]

Thanks for reading and have a Safe and Enjoyable Labor Day! Willard KilleTwitter: http://twitter.com/rezultsgroup

“Awakening Solutions personally & professionally for today’s Leaders” [Rezults Group is an affiliate of Resource Associates Corp.  Principle facilitator Mr. Willard Kille has 32 years of business experience.  He’s owned several different business’s:   Stock Brokerage Firm, Management and Marketing Companies, Real Estate Partnerships;  served the Sandy Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors (2 yrs); Past President Sandy Rotary Club;  11 years active duty  USMC and USAF as a Pilot;  accomplished speaker, author and Coach.]        You may unsubscribe if you no longer wish to receive our emails, by replying with “delete” in the subject line.

Here is a list I have put together of the Ten Secrets to Success that Work in Life or Business.

1.  Be Passionate.  What compels you to be in this business?  For me it’s to “Awaken Solutions”   within myself and others;  to carry on the dream of my wife Shari who died fighting breast cancer;  to touch lives with understanding and poise.

2.  Have a WILL not a wish … to be successful

3.  Crazy tenacity … focus on the right thing

4.  Learn to seek out & take “good” advice

5.  Develop Physical & Spiritual health and stamina  [making appointments with yourself]

6.  Measure Success and Happiness [NOT by $]  Develop continuous Joy from service and  compassion expressed to others … making a difference in others lives as well as myself!

7.  Put your EGO in check

8.  Look at your business [and your life] as an outsider and be honest with yourself

9.  Aim for “success” not “perfection”

10.  Have Fun!

Shari used an acronym – JAM your life!  Pack as much Joy Achievement and Meaning into your life as possible.  She focused on and worked with  “women in business”  and held seminars around the Salt Lake Area.

Today our focus here at Rezults Group, Inc is to “Awaken Solutions” within all whom we work with.  It includes JAM ‘ing your life; it includes creating “World Class Goal Achievers” [vs. World Class Goal Setters!];  it includes identifying and naming “your genius and purpose” in life … “genius”  being that exceptional  talent your were blessed with from on high;  balancing your professional and personal life and finally creating what I call your “perfect on purpose day” allowing you to truly live a goal centered life!

Many call our approach “Coaching” or more specifically  “Life Coaching” … business executives like to name it Consulting … whatever you choose to call it … our approach produces REZULTS.  Lives change, bottom lines improve, dreams come true … people become “better” in every sense of the word and we all intuitively understand “better people make better workers” and “better workers produce better results” … whether our approach is directed at a “for profit” business, a sports team or individuals the results are the same … we have  proven processes and systems and that’s what I’ve discovered in my 40+ years of business experience works – Processes and Systems!

What dreams are you on the verge of achieving?  [have you been on that “verge” for years?]

What does success look like to you?

Let’s get together and develop  your “genius” … let’s focus on your purpose.  Commit to yourself today to reach your full potential … no excuses!  I’m here for you and look forward to “Awakening Solutions” that benefit you and your business.