5 Steps

5 Steps

5 Steps to the Ultimate Secret of Total Success

by Christopher L. Hansen

What is Total Success and why is it so important?

For many people success is measured in dollars and cents. What you earn, the car you drive, the house you live in, and the schools your kids go to are their absolute measurement. Divorces, addictions, criminal charges (and convictions) and relationships with their families and God are not within their equation. It’s just the money.

For many others relationships are everything. Family, friends, community, and social interactions set the standard for their success. Money, for many of these people comes down to the mistaken Biblical belief that you can either be wealthy and cursed forever or blessedly poor.

What do you think? Would you rather belong to the first group? Or, the second?

Well, it isn’t either or. You can have both: material success and loving relationships. And, it’s much easier than you think.

Many have heard the quote from Shakespeare, “This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.” What a wonderful insight.

Be true to yourself!

Is it possible that being true to yourself is the essence of the Ultimate Secret of Total Success?

Indeed it is.

The real question is WHO ARE YOU?

Take a few moments and write a brief description of yourself. Be as complete as you need to be.

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What were the things you included?

Did you include: Your physical description? Titles? Degrees? Awards? Job or Position? Family, relationships, hobbies, interests, etc.?

How about your intrinsic strengths, the things that you can do better than anyone else in 10,000? If not you have fallen very short in your description (and perhaps even your knowledge) of yourself. And, unless you know yourself on this deepest level, it is virtually impossible for you to be true to yourself.

You see, ever since you were a little child (unless you had enlightened parents, grandparents, siblings, and inspired teachers) you have been trained into your limitations. It is estimated that a child will hear the word NO one thousand times more often in his/her formative years than YES. Just think about it, you have been told hundreds of thousands of times what you cannot do. You have been trained into your limitations.

Is this important? Weren’t your parents and other authority figures simply trying to protect you out of love? Weren’t they trying to keep you from making mistakes that could be costly to you in the future?

Of course they were. Most authority figures – from parents to police – are there to protect and serve. But, in doing so, they not only protected you from what they thought could possibly harm you, they also created your belief system, a belief in limitations and safe choices. They also kept you from discovering who you really are.

Who are you?

Dr. Martin Seligman, in his research on wellness, discovered that there were literally hundreds of thousands of studies about human psychoses and neuroses and less that 100 about human psychological wellness – and how to be more well. Let’s rephrase that, hundreds of thousands of studies about why people are so screwed up in the head and less than 100 about how well-functioning individuals can function exceptionally well.

So, unless you are psychotic, neurotic, or otherwise mentally debilitated, it’s time for you to discover the path to exceptional performance.

· The 5 Steps of the Ultimate Secret of Total Success begin with discovering your strengths . I have written separately[1] the multi-part process for discovering your strengths. It can be done alone, with a trusted friend (or friends), or in a group setting. There is also a simple, quick, but not free method for discovering your strengths through an on-line test. Each one works. This is the first step. Skip this one and forget the rest.

· Second, once you know your strengths, review all your past successes , using them as a filter. You will see how your successes are a testament to your strengths. Conversely, your failures bear testimony to operating in your areas of weakness.

· Third, learn how to build your strengths to near perfection. (Wait a minute! Some of you are thinking, “Near perfection? That’s: impossible, too much work, unrealistic, etc.” It’s not, so read on.)

· Fourth, explore the field(s) of your interest and look for opportunities that match your strengths and values. There are hundreds of fields. The one you are currently in may present a cornucopia of opportunities, once you apply your strengths filter to the field. Or, look elsewhere. Once you’ve been taught how to spot or create opportunities[2], you’ll find them everywhere.

· The fifth step is to begin applying your discovered strengths to the presented opportunities in such a way as to add value.

When we began this article about the 5 Steps to the Ultimate Secret of Total Success we asked you to define yourself. We also guessed that you would make a statement about everything that is external to who you really are, your titles, possessions, job, earnings, etc. Then we said that you needed to discover your strengths and informed you about the five steps in the process. It’s now time to define yourself again.

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If you are still challenged by this, then visit us at www.askusaboujobs.com and post your question in our quick survey. We will respond with information about how to get your question answered and offer you an opportunity to participate in our upcoming Ultimate Secret of Total Success webinar.

Mention this special code 5Step930 and receive special pricing and other incentives.

Christopher Hansen is the founder of Creating the Future of Work, managing partner of CLH Associates – Human Potential Consultants, writer, speaker, and seminar leader. He can be contacted at Chris@creatingthefutureofwork.com

[1] 24 Hour Job Change, Discovering Your Strengths

[2] Inquire at info@creatingthefutureofwork.com about our articles and courses on opportunity spotting