Midlands Business Profiles

Swallow That Frog & 24 Other Success Strategies

From time to time, some sharp young person asks me to share the secrets of success. I am often tempted to tell them what the late Chicago entrepreneur Al Capone said: "You need only three things to succeed in business - a smile, a plan and a gun."

Al knew what he was talking about. He should have added a fourth - a really smart accountant. Al spent a lot of needless time in the pokey for tax evasion. My accountant could have had him home in time for supper. But here are 25 secrets gleaned from successful people.

Follow them. They work for me.

1. Swallow that frog. Mark Twain said to swallow one every morning. It will be the worst thing that can happen to you that day. The frog doesn't particularly enjoy it either. But what Mark meant, I think, was to tackle that big payoff task first. Don't let the little busy things in your in-box bog you down.

2. No whining, complaining or tears. I know you have your troubles. But the rest of us do, too. We don't want to hear how your sweetheart walked out with your best friend, your dog and your CDs.

3. No gossiping. Have you heard who's sleeping with who in the mail room? Or how Miss Smart___ got the promotion you deserved? Keep it to yourself. People don't trust gossips.

4. Control your ego. We know it's the size of a Patton tank. But don't go telling us how great you are. It's boring and offensive. We don't care if youíre the World Tiddlywinks Champion. Or that you sold more life insurance than anybody in the Guinness Book of World Records. If you're so great, the rest of us would know it and bow down to you.

5. Watch your mouth. Don't let it overload your you-know-what. If you say you'll do it, just go ahead and do it. We don't want your lame excuses. And we sure don't want to hear you say you'll "try". People who say they'll "try" never do anything. And watch those sexist jokes. You could get sued.

6. Keep your hands to yourself. No romance on the job. Sleeping with the boss might get you a promotion - or it just might get you something else. Sleeping with your administrative assistant might not get you a case of something else but it could get you a trip to divorce court.

7. Mind your manners. Everything Mom drilled into your little noggin was right. Play nice. Do right. Don't kick the dog. Hold hands when you cross the street. Say your prayers before bedtime, etc.,

8. Stay off the Internet. OK. It's a wonderful research tool. And you love to read all those jokes from your buddies. No Heart, Solitaire, Free Cell or Pinball. Only check your messages. Delete the crap. Do you realize it is already 4:45 and you have 15 minutes to get your desk cleared before you clock out?

9. Work smart. Delegate. Persuade. Get organized. Prioritize. Do the Big Payoff stuff first. Don't confuse being busy with being productive. And be especially nice to the kid from the mail room. He's going to be president or chairman of the board of this company one day.

10. Find capable partners. You don't have to be a super salesperson, cost accountant or even widget maker. Find someone who is good in the areas where you aren't and recruit, partner, contract or hire them for their complementary strengths. Concentrate on your own strengths which may not be theirs.

11. Decide on your purpose. Remember what you wanted to become when you were five years old? What happened to that mission? Start making notes while I'm talking about all the things you want to do with your life. List the important ones in one column and the fun ones in the other. Lou Holtz made a list of 104 things he wanted to accomplish in life. Winning a national championship was one of them. At last count, he was closing in on No. 100.

12. Develop a well-thought-out plan. If it isn't in writing, it's still just a dream. Take that list you're working on, set priorities and deadlines. Tackle an important one before you reward yourself with one from the fun list. Set down all the action steps you need to take, put a deadline on each one and go for it.

13. Discipline yourself. This is one of life's most demanding jobs. But if you can set priorities and deadlines and meet them, you will succeed. That's a guarantee. Don't and you won't. As Henry Ford said, whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right.

14. Learn to deal with time bandits. These are the aimless people who want to waste your time as well as theirs. One of the easiest ways to deal with them is to just say no when they ask the three most hated words in the English language: "Got a minute?" There's a whole set of ways to deal with them on my web sit - www.JerryBellune.com. Help yourself. It's free

15. Put a brave face on your fears. If it's any consolation, everyone in this room has been afraid at some time in their life. Some may be afraid right now as they struggle with some major decision or problem they are facing. When I'm afraid, I don't let anybody know it. I act brave until I feel brave. Dale Carnegie taught me and thousands of other people that. It isn't hypocritical to put a brave face on your fears. Your courage lifts others and helps them deal with fear, too.

16. Use your sense of smell. We're talking honesty and integrity here. Use your nose. If it doesn't smell right, it probably isn't right. Don't let greed, avarice or any other selfish motive lead you into conduct you would not expect of your mother. Use the Mom Test. If Mom wouldn't do this, why should you?

17. Keep your sense of humor. Life's short. We'll all be pushing up posies one day. Learn to laugh and enjoy life while you can. It takes less muscles to smile and laughing is good for your endorphins.

18. Find opportunity in every problem. That's right. There are lots of opportunities behind every problem. If it's a family problem, get the family together, discuss the options and pick the one that everyone thinks has the best chance to succeed. If it's a work problem, get your colleagues together and give it the blue sky treatment. Remind everyone, there are no dumb ideas. Everything gets considered. When all the possible solutions are on the table, find consensus on the solution to pursue.

19. Do more than is expected. Are you in sales? Sure you are. Even if you don't sell to the end user. Take the advice of super sales stars: Under promise and over deliver. Always do more than people expect you to do and you will win their confidence and trust.

20. Think positively. That's easier said than done. When the stuff hits the fan, we are all tempted to fight or flee. People who think and act positively in the face of adversity always seem to win in the end. Practice thinking positively. Look what it's done for thousands of Norman Vincent Peale fans.

21. Be understanding. People do not act without motive. Find out why Jane was late for work. Maybe her baby was ill and she didn't have time to call. Bobby hasn't cleaned his room yet? He's still working on his home work. Or maybe he was playing a computer game and now has to own up to it. There may be extenuating circumstances. You need to ask not only why but what can "we" do about it. It's always better to talk in the first person plural. "We" trumps "I" every time.

22. Assume full responsibility. When the stuff hits the fan, it doesn't matter who's to blame. Fix it. Bear Bryant said when the team won, it was their fault. When they lost, he was to blame.

23. Live by the Golden Rule. This ancient 2,000-year-old guide to personal conduct still works as well today as it did then. If we respect the other person's interests, we can generally find a win-win solution for everyone. It's not "me, me, me". Try "us". Together, we all can win.

24. Go home with a glad heart. The lady or gentleman you're married to - or thinking about marrying - is eager to see you. So you didn't get everything off your desk today. There's always tomorrow. Update your "to do" list for tomorrow and go home.

25. Have faith. From the time our Mother read to us, I knew I wanted to be a writer. I've done a lot else in my life. Soldier, foreign correspondent, editor, photographer, business owner, teacher, consultant and coach. But writing has always been my driver. Have faith in yourself, your mission and your God.

That's all you need. With apologies to Mr. Capone, you don't even need a gun.

For more success strategies, go to www.JerryBellune.com