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[Peter Arnold Contribution Level: 3]

The meaning of => S-U-C-C-E-S-S?

Hello Partners:

With your permission, I'd like to touch on a topic that is VAST in its scope.

The subject of S-U-C-C-E-S-S is the foundation theme of many - books - seminars - courses - CDs - Audios - you name it.

History is full of stories of SUCCESS - in wars - in business - in professions - science - art - music - sports - on and on.

Most often, SUCCESS is equated with "money" or "wealth" in some way - which is sad in my opinion - because history is full of stories of 'famous people' who have amassed great riches - huge fortunes - but who were miserable failures as human beings (well documented accounts of - insanity - prison sentences - suicides, etc)

SUCCESS means different things to different people - yes?

For some, it's primarily FINANCIAL in scope ((having enough 'finances' to be able to - be at home with young children - or to retire early - or to have a new vehicle, or a home, all paid for - or to send their parents on a world cruise - or to fund worthy causes - etc)).

For others, it's - "the pregressive realization of a worthwhile DREAM" (this is Dexter Yager - the Master Dreambuilder - his definition of SUCCESS).

Still others might say SUCCESS = something they DON'T WANT in their lives ((to "never have to work for a Boss again" - to "never be in an abusive relationship again" - "to never have to count pennies at the grocery store", etc)). The definitions are endless.

Ingredients of SUCCESS - Personally, I believe SUCCESS has the principles of - desire - commitment - patience - tolerance - integrity - belief - enthusiam - failure - focus - initiative - perseverance, etc.

I am convinced that SUCCESS can also be achieved as a result of what we read, view and listen to - and from the people we associate with. The 'complete picture' of a truly successful person, in any field, is one who understands and applies these principles, in my opinion.

Okay - I’m going to suggest to you that there is a U-N-I-V-E-R-S-A-L definition of SUCCESS - one that is actually the same for ALL of us.

Personally, I love this, and I first understood its application after I had read 'Get Rich Slow' (by John Milton Fogg).

What’s important about this meaning is the way it EMPOWERS us ALL to accomplish what we’re really after.

And what's so beautiful about this definition is - the quality of BALANCE - something many so-called "successful" people find missing - or elusive - in their lives. Balance is something I believe we "must" have to be truly Successful. Here it is...


Universal Meaning of SUCCESS

SUCCESS is => a Triangle => a 3-legged Stool, as follows:

(1)- EXCELLENCE + (2)- PERSONAL GROWTH + (3)- HAPPINESS


Here's the thing - no matter what we do in this life or in our work - in order for our effort to be declared a SUCCESS - it must include ALL three - and in "perfect harmony" with each other.

If one is missing, the structure has no integrity - and it will topple and fall (read FAIL - if you like).

I believe if what we are 'committed' to is our individual SUCCESS -- then WE must - have - do - and be => all three (3).

No exceptions. Period. If I may, I'd like to 'expand' on them...

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(1)-- EXCELLENCE - is simply the quality of being the BEST that we can be. It is the 'optimum' personal performance - not the 'maximum' (optimum means 'most favorable' or advantageous - best).

EXCELLENCE is not mine, or yours, or anyone else’s. In all terms of Excellence - YOU - and only YOU - set the standard. There is no comparison involved, only the answer to the question - "Have I done my very BEST?" The pursuit of Excellence is an on-going process. It is never 'done or finished' - only complete, for now. Because of that, when Excellence is our goal, all our efforts and endeavors can be satisfying and fulfilling, which contributes to us experiencing ever-increasing horizons of competence and confidence.

I feel a powerful commitment to EXCELLENCE each time I hear leaders encourage us to "open our hearts" to H-E-L-P people - both with their WELLNESS and their FINANCIAL FUTURES. It's PURE. I feel it when I hear them encourage us to look only for the GOOD qualities in others - LISTENING to them - UNDERSTANDING them - being PATIENT with them - ENCOURAGING them. Wow! - this is
EXCELLENCE.

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(2)-- PERSONAL GROWTH - is an approach to life and work in which we are consistently and continually learning, developing and growing as 'human beings'. Isn't this is what our top leaders teaching us on our Training Calls? Isn't it here that we are often forced to "dig down DEEP inside ourselves" - for answers - for truth - for self-dscovery?This "is" the start of CHANGE + PERSONAL DEVELOPMEMT - one of the marks of a LEADER.

And it goes 'beyond' that I feel, because every experience, encounter and endeavor we face 'in life' (if our minds are 'open') - presents us with opportunities to gain knowledge - see the bigger picture - catch the vision - expand our awareness - raise our judgment - increase our competence - become critical thinkers - and learn new skills.

I believe that Personal Growth is a journey, not a destination. It is the path of MASTERY. We can call this journey 'Mastery' - and tend to assume that it requires a 'special ticket' - available only to those born with exceptional abilities. But Mastery is not reserved for the super-talented, or even for those who are fortunate enough to have gotten an early start. It is available to ANY OF US who are willing to get on the path and stay on it - regardless of age, sex, or experience. The problem is that we have had few, if any, real MAPS to guide us on that journey - but the ATLAS of Wisdom is open to us with industry leaders like - Sieg - Schroeder - Dillard - Klingler - Earl - Hochman and others.

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(3)-- HAPPINESS - is the third and final leg of the tripod of SUCCESS. Tragically, it is perhaps the one component most often lost and forgotten. For some strange reason, most of us are all-too willing to live and work - "without" being Happy! Most of us are just too "serious"! How often have we heard Mike say - "if this business isn't also giving us some FUN - don't DO it!"! )

Here's what I'm learning from this (and for the first time) -- if a person, place or thing is not a source of pleasure, satisfaction or JOY, why have it (or them) - in our lives? (or in our Network Marketing enterprise)? If we ask ourselves -- what one thing is "missing" in most people’s lives today? - I’ll bet we’d rank "Being HAPPY" way up on the list. It's a mindset. I’m convinced that HAPPINESS is also 'mandatory' for SUCCESS. And as we 'progress positively' to build our businesses, and our lives - correctly - HAPPINESS will follow. We can 'count' on it.

In fact - HAPPINESS is our "birthright" - at least 'seeking it' is - if we live in North America.

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So, my personal assertion is => SUCCESS - for each of us, is composed of three (3) required elements:

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S-U-C-C-E-S-S => EXCELLENCE + PERSONAL GROWTH + HAPPINESS
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QUESTION- How would YOU define Success?


Sincerely, Peter A.
http://www.PeterArnoldOnline.com

Peter Arnold, CLU, CFC // Founder
Business Achievers Academy // Canada