Chapter 63 A Further Analysis of Success Ingredients.
I have seen, studied and thought enough about the causes of success to impart to you the short and long of them. Let us examine how they interplay and help us in varying degrees under different circumstances.
For those who were not born in Dixies land or in beds of roses, the big determinant is the ability to change, to burst free from the chains of poverty and hopelessness. Change may come as an inspiration, a bounce-back stirred and hardened by hardship, an enforced escape from suffering, or a last resort. You see, setbacks are not bad after all! Unfortunately people are often the product of habit; stick-in-the-mud failures do not on the whole welcome change. If they did, they would have wriggled out of the mud soon enough. This is a chicken or egg problem, a quick-sand and a vicious spiral, because old habits weaken the ability to change, and poverty and commercial competition further dampen any chance of breaking through. Those who wriggle out in the all-important spirit of expectation and wealth-consciousness are fortunate indeed. Anticipation of success is powerful; more powerful when success is considered a birthright. You will simply find a way or make one. Self-image, self-reliance and the ability to think big help tremendously too.
Dreams, burning desire and clear goals are wonderful. There are immense advantages in having or working up a burning desire, which can bring a strong will and sense of direction; motivation and goals then follow suit. If you want something desperately enough, you will get it. Perseverance and hard work are also crucial. Remember, labour provides our bread and butter, and sometimes cake. Here, if enthusiasm and stamina are maintained right to the end, success is almost a certainty. Great achievers have shown not only love but considerable obsession and madness for their work.
The capacity to make things happen, to get things done and to conclude deals is most desirable. It often comes with proactivity, as opposed to reactivity. Proactive people enjoy whatever weather and master whatever situation they encounter, instead of reacting to it and complaining about it. They carry the sunshine with them!
As I said, opportunities are everywhere. There are openings to suit everyone and others that match individual ways and resources. At other times, an opportunity is just an existing product waiting to be improved or a concept needing development. Observance and creativity, as we have seen are great endowments. Making things happen and the seizures of opportunities have much to do with timing. If 2 identical personalities did the same thing in the same way, their results may differ if their timing was different. Acting on something a week earlier or later makes a world of difference, especially when a strategic deal is clinched! That is why some have gained abundantly with a brand-new product, from sudden outbreaks of diseases or wars, from a new fad or fashion, a new idea or scientific discovery.
The niche market is an environment related to timing. Think of the opening of the huge McDonalds in Beijing, think of its novelty to the 10 million Chinese in that City! Or the arrival there of an international tennis tournament featuring Michael Chang. Special knowledge and skills also lead to niche markets, simply because these are needed somewhere. Knowing ones market well also reduces risks, wastage and inefficiency. Some niche markets are in fact fast-growth markets, like TV, videos, movies, Coca Cola and computers in developing countries. Discovery of a hidden new opportunity can be a trump card, you can thrive peacefully for a while without competitors.
Luck is an interesting factor. We can improve ours substantially, as we will see later. It exists in a whole spectrum of situations. There are brilliant, hardworking people with runs of bad luck, stuck in interim periods of limbo and setbacks that can run for years. It is in Gods Divine Scheme that bad things happen to good people, for a purpose. Conversely, certain less-deserving people can without rhyme or reason, get huge windfalls. In summary, some have been very lucky, some very unlucky, while others capitalise on some luck. Then there are those who had no luck, yet they ploughed to victory. Remember too that luck lurks around everywhere, so be ready always!
Common sense is no less important than luck. It is the ability to make sound and practical observation, assessment and decisions to both daily and weighty matters. Imagination and creativity play big roles; many successes sprang from creative ideas. Others may lack creative concepts, but they could handle problems and hence opportunities in a resourceful way and flourished. On a higher plane lies talents, ingenuity and wisdom. Wisdom is vital and is acquired through rich knowledge and experience. It harbours substantial street-smartness which is essential for thriving in a modern and complex society, for winning favours, cooperation and lucrative clientele. Those with talents should capitalise on them while those lacking them should work in areas where talents are not chief cornerstones for success. Others take to the ancient Chinese Thick face, black heart strategy,or Sun Tzes Art of War, and so on. Those without luck, talents and other blessings may resort to cunning and ruthlessness. This is a sad departure from religion and virtues, a path which too often leads to an eventual downfall.
Ruthlessness may take the form of risk-taking, which is not exactly gambling. Often many ventures need some kinds of intelligent, calculated risks to prosper. Without risks, the chances for bigger accomplishments are reduced. If you are a ship sheltering in the harbour, you are safe but you are not going anywhere! Millionaire M. Forbes observed, 'Risk-taking is an integral and intrinsic part of success or living a full life.
Anyone who imitates and tries to be someone else should be thrown cold water. This seldom works, unless all your traits, circumstances and parameters match those of your idol. You may be undermining your natural style and substance. Associating with role models, mentors and winners, and understudying them will prove more satisfying and fruitful.
Those who mingle with losers stand to take on their poverty consciousness, short-sightedness and negativism. Ironically, some winners should be avoided too. They are the scheming, crooked, impermanent victors who thrive on shady deals. They eventually go to the dogs. Your integrity to yourself and to others must always play the first fiddle in life. In concluding, I want to remind you of your social prowess, image, and your ability in selling your knowledge, capabilities, your products and services. You can complete your tour de force by learning and mastering business acumen, win-win situations, reciprocal and interlocking benefits in commerce. You will diversify your businesses, reap multiple profits, preside over vertical and horizontal integration in the industry, and build your great empire and fortune.