Product Showcases

Begin Breeding Success

"Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do."
  --- Pele

I'm not sure if it is a new mindset that has taken a foothold or the influence of a particular generation, or simply the way the world is now, but it sure seems that more and more people want success immediately without putting in the hours to achieve it. The blood, sweat and tears that was expected to be shed in order to meet a particular threshold of success has been replaced with a "give it to me now or I leave" kind of attitude. Hard, smart work and patience seems like so yesterday to some people.

Not to sound like a doomsayer or old man spouting off how things used to be, because the successful sign businesses are proof that hard work plus smart work, plus patience will bring success. But there should be a refresher of sorts for people who want a job to know that putting their nose to the grindstone can, will, and does produce a bountiful harvest if they will just stick to it.

"Formulate and stamp indelibly on your mind a mental picture of yourself as succeeding. Hold this picture tenaciously. Never permit it to fade. Your mind will seek to develop the picture... Do not build up obstacles in your imagination."
  --- Norman Vincent Peale

One of the attributes that seems to be missing in some folks coming into our industry is a lack of motivation which can be traced to a lack of belief in their strengths and abilities. Some of us growing up in the decade of PMA, Positive Mental Attitude, discovered early in life that in order to succeed, we must first believe that we can. It is the ant and rubber tree plant scenario that drove us to get out there and make things happen.

"If people are failing, they look inept. If people are succeeding, they look strong and good and competent. That's the 'halo effect.' Your first impression of a thing sets up your subsequent beliefs. If the company looks inept to you, you may assume everything else they do is inept."
  --- Daniel Kahneman

Taking a survey of your team members and how they work, including the attitude they bring with them first thing in the morning, the attitude they have toward the company, and the attitude they have toward a project will tell you a lot about their chances of success. Looking deeper into the person's life might reveal some deep-rooted issues that have never been resolved, and aside from being a psychologist, you may never fix.

But at least giving an employee encouragement and motivation may jump-start their attitude and lead them toward success. This takes time, but is doable and worth the effort.

"If you could equate the amount of time and effort put in mentally and physically into succeeding on the baseball field and measured it by the dirt on your uniform, mine would have been black."
  --- Mike Schmidt

Working long hours won't always bring success, but going the extra mile, which may include working late, will. Explaining this logic to team members and leading by example that success does come to those who pay the price can produce a following. Those team members who follow a good leader will increase greater quality production and expedite business success. Instill an attitude of success in your business today.

"The secret of your success is determined by your daily agenda."
  --- John Maxwell