
I’m sure many of you of a certain vintage recognize the saying above. It was the hallmark opening of ABC’s Wide World of Sports, hosted by Jim McKay from the early 1960s to the late 1990s. The words, coupled with the images and the background music, conjure up memories of athletes’ greatest moments and, in some cases, their worst fears. I bring up this topic as I’ve recently had two opportunities to reflect on the themes of success and achievement. I’m writing a series of blogs in parallel with this article, discussing ikigai and my career path. Additionally, I talked with my son about the keys to success in life as he begins to find his way.
So let me first ask, what is success? Is it all about Happiness? Love? Wealth? Fame? A long life? Or is it something more intrinsic and less tangible? I remember playing the board game Careers as a kid. Aside from the obvious goal of winning, the game’s objective was to be the 1st to collect the planned number of fame, happiness, and fortune “points” (designated by a star, heart, or dollar sign). Part of the initial strategy was determining how many of each category you wanted to collect and discovering that it wasn’t necessarily about personal preference but more about the weighted opportunities to gain each category type on the playing board.
So, if success, like the board game, depends on individual aspirations, are there different means to achieve that end goal?
I think so. As I mentioned, this concept struck me when I spoke with my son a few weeks ago about what he considers his strengths and what areas are still in development. Like most teenagers, he wants to be successful when he grows up, but doesn’t know precisely what that will resemble. After spending some time brainstorming, I came up with the following list of seven traits that can lead to success. You don’t need them all for success, but the more, the better.
Let me get two of them out of the way first, as we have less control over them.
Good Luck. Sure, one has to purchase a lottery ticket or otherwise be in the right place at the right time (for whatever reason), but it’s fair to say some element of chance is prevalent in our lives and will offer rewards to those who obtain it.
Inheritance. In this case, I’m referring to the financial element as well as the biological properties. Passing along health, good genes, strong family ties, and financial well-being is something we as individuals have very little control over, yet it can go a long way toward leading to a successful life.
Hopefully, there is some basic agreement on these 1st two pathways to success. Now let’s focus on those that we have more control over, in no particular order:
A unique (in-demand) skill. This struck me as I was working through the elements of ikigai in my other series of posts. For those individuals who are fortunate enough to have developed (as I don’t think an entire skill could be inherited, though I welcome someone to prove me wrong) a skill so strong it can lead to success in any aspect. Aside from the obvious, musicians and athletes, scientists, artists, and entrepreneurs can maximize their offerings to the world because of their skills.
Innovation and creativity. Although some would say this trait is closely aligned with the unique skill, I tend to disagree. I associate this with imagination and invention, being able to spark ideas. Output from this individual provokes amazement and thought and garners attention and interest. Standing alone, without some of the other traits, long-term success might not be possible, though we should recognize and celebrate the ideas as they are generated.
Charisma and kindness (aka personality). Those individuals who can wow (or woo) an audience have the ability to change people’s lives and make a difference. I’m not referring to the prototypical car salesman who excels at pushing the latest vehicle and features. We all know the type, whether at a dinner party, giving a keynote address, or continually displaying beautiful acts of generosity and kindness; many people can impress us with their words and how they carry themselves to inspire others to follow.
Intellect. Beyond being a unique skill, the ability to understand, problem-solve, parse, and relay information is a gift for many. It allows the individual to help move the world ahead by thinking differently and balancing what we know with what might be. They can translate information to those around them to help others succeed. They often create paradigm shifts in how we view everything in the world. Intellect and creativity are a powerful combination.
Lastly, I would suggest what some might call plain and boring. Hard work rounds out the traits that lead to success. Maybe this one, at first blush, is more tied to financial success than the others, yet it provides the impetus for social, relationship, and, yes, financial success.
Are there other traits that people would consider missing from this list? It is funny to note, as I was compiling this list, I did realize that the last three: charisma, intelligence, and hard work, align loosely with the three virtues of Patrick Lencioni’s The Ideal Team Player, namely humility (personality), smarts (intellect), and hunger (hard work). Those who have seen my earlier postings know that I consider those characteristics akin to my core values, so it’s interesting, and perhaps not surprising, to surmise they would also form a foundation for success.
I also noted that creativity and hard work are likely crucial elements for an entrepreneur, with a sprinkle of charisma and intellect thrown in.
Looking back at the initial reason why I began thinking about the topic of success. My conversation with my son. His charisma is strong, with his intellect not far behind. Creativity and having a unique skill have yet to surface, but they might one day. My biggest takeaway is that hard work can often compensate for shortcomings in other areas. As much as I called it the plain and boring one on the list, in many ways, it is the most fundamental and, really, the easiest to have. Sadly, it is one of the least valued as well. Don’t get me wrong, on its own, while valuable, it isn’t a guarantee for success. I’d suggest having three of these traits would be sufficient, however.
What’s so bad about hard work? As a society, we have all come to expect things too quickly. My wife and I look at the younger generation with a sense of entitlement (not meaning to broad-stroke everyone), probably much the same way our parents saw the same evolution in behaviours and beliefs with us. Is working hard for something not a positive? It develops resiliency and adaptability, and challenges one in many different ways. It enables one to overcome obstacles, whether in health, relationships, business, or finances. It will enable people to work better as a team, identify each other’s unique gifts, learn and develop, and leverage all the traits to accomplish a goal.
I believe that everyone, with the right effort, can succeed in life. Whether it be on the big screen, raising a healthy, happy family, or winning a Nobel prize. And who is really to say those conditions are a definition of success? I know the first one on the list would not appeal to me. I’m sure the latter wouldn’t mean much to others as well. And when I say “effort,” what do I mean? Yes, hard work. Call it effort, hard work, drive, or hunger; it forms the foundation for accomplishing positive things.
Finally, that would be my definition of success: many positive accomplishments (determined equally by oneself and society – sorry, being skilled at robbing a bank wouldn’t count) throughout the years, independent of the field or forum. It is an internal feeling of satisfaction influenced by the results one achieves in life.
I’ll get my son to read this in a few years (or maybe a decade) and see where he stands with the traits I’ve listed. For now, I’ll continue the “lecturing,” as he would call it, and yes, with a focus on hard work. It really is how it all begins. Ahhh, teenagers.
Darren