I always love the helpful reminders from my weekly Philip E. Humbert Newsletter – He talks about the ordinary things we can all copy on our road to success. So no sleeping on the job…

For Better Results, Use Better Strategies

Written & Published by Philip E. Humbert, PhD www.philiphumbert.com

As long-time subscribers know, I am passionate about helping people create the lives they truly want. I am not necessarily concerned that we all get rich or drive fancy cars, because we each have our own definitions of success.
(Think how crowded it would be if we all lived on the same beach!) But I am passionate about developing tools and systems that empower thousands of people to enjoy the life they truly want. Obviously, a tough economy may make success more difficult, but that only emphasizes the need for smart strategies and elegant solutions. Even in tough times, some people achieve magnificent outcomes! And so can you.

Very few people define success in terms that are rare or wildly unusual. Most of us define success in terms that are recognizable to thousands of our friends and neighbours. We want healthy families and enough money to be comfortable and secure. We want to travel or perhaps have a second home in the country. We want happiness, security, and peace of mind. Some people define success as having their own business, or leaving a legacy. But, and this is vital, most of us want things that other people have achieved before! And if they have already done it, we can learn from them, copy their methods, and achieve similar results.

Most of us want the kinds of success that thousands of other people have already achieved, and we are working really, really hard, and yet too many of us are no closer to “the good life” today than we were a year ago. That is terribly frustrating and unacceptable! In most cases, the problem is that we are not using smart strategies. We are working very hard, but not making progress. Many of us are wasting our time, talent and energy on things of secondary importance. We are not focused and we are not getting the results we deserve. We can do better!

Highly successful people work from a “play book.” They begin by clarifying precisely what they want. Then they study the problems, get good advice, and develop a plan. They create a road-map, and follow it to their ultimate goal. They have a budget, a schedule, good teachers (or coaches) and support people. They know what their most important tasks are, what they will focus on next week, and (assuming there are no major revisions) they can tell you where they will be a year from now. If your definition of “the good life” is something other people have already achieved, and you are not making adequate progress, I encourage you to review and (if necessary) revise your strategies. Highly successful people do certain things, and for the most part, they are simple.

Here’s a short list:

1. They have the courage to choose specific, concrete goals. They know they cannot do everything, so they make choices. If necessary, hard choices.

2. They focus on personal development first, external achievement second. They know that to have more, they must first become more.

3. They learn from experts. They study and use techniques that have worked for others, even if at first they seem expensive or uncomfortable.

4. They take time to plan and they follow their plan to completion. They are focused, disciplined and determined. If they aren’t getting the results they anticipated, they devise a better plan.

5. They work hard at working smart. They are not easily distracted and they never give up.

We live in the most amazing time in history, when you can achieve pretty much anything you want. The major requirement is that you have a good plan and be willing to pay the price. If you are not making the progress you desire, double-check the quality of your planning. Get expert advice. Invest in training. Get a coach. And then persist until you reach your goal.

Published by: The Philip E. Humbert Group, Inc
PO Box 50910 Eugene, OR 97405 U.S.A 541-342-1030

Greg Egan photograph ‘Binti’