Secrets to Success - 1
There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure - Colin Powell US general (1937 - )
Are there secrets to success? Are there hidden things that if they were open to one could make one a millionaire, progress faster at work, win, lead e.t.c? Are there things that are known to the successful that are unknown to all else? There are currently about 2000 books on Amazon.com promising the secrets of success. Searching for these secrets have become the preoccupation of many… but do these secrets truly exist?
First let me establish a definition of success that goes down well with me. I believe that success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal. Key words here are, progressive, realization, worthy and ideal. I believe that the difference between the successful and the unsuccessful is not essentially knowledge, neither is it talent, it’s action. Someone once said that successful people are people who make an habit of doing what failures hate to do. The essential difference is in doing.
Lately, a mother asked me a question that has gotten me thinking. I answered her on the spur of the moment back then, but I have taken time out to really think about it, and answer practicable ways. This will be the first article in a series on “Secrets to Success”. She asked me, how have you been able to get to what you are now, what did you do? How were you like growing up? I saw in her eyes a strong desire for the best for her children.
The first Success tip I’ll like to share about today, is “Showing Up”
“80% of Success is Showing Up” - Woody Allen
In case you are wondering how showing up is responsible for success, think about it. Once you set yourself up to a particular routine, all you need to do is show up. Some months back, I started golf lessons, and what do I need to do today to be good at golf? Just show up, my coach will handle the rest. I wanted to learn how to trade Forex, all I needed to do was show up for the class, and make it a daily routine to show up on the trading platform. Showing up doesn’t guarantee success, but there is no success without showing up.
When you show up for something, you are giving yourself an opportunity to build a habit while a system that takes over automatically. If you think about it, to get a degree, all you needed to do was show up in school and show up in class, every other process becomes almost autopilot. Look back at everything you have learnt in your life, it was a product of showing up to a process. By showing up in a music class, you learn music, by showing up at work, you get a career - and a monthly salary, by showing up in the gym, you get a good build and good health, by showing up consistently to a friend, you build an exceptional relationship. Showing up is not all you need to do, but it’s sure more than 50%. The actual activity might be difficult, it might be on the contrary be a lot of fun. You might learn because of competition, or just because you have to. Once you commit to showing up however, the die is almost cast.
While on a search online I found this useful piece of information from a friends site, I think it carries the essence of this particular post, rather than quote him here are his thoughts verbatim.
“You can also stretch this concept to apply to other areas:
* Show up to your relationship — set aside time for your partner, go on dates, etc.
* Show up to your spiritual practice — meditate, read, attend services, etc.
* Show up to success – make decisions, set goals, commit
* Show up to give — volunteer, share, help others, etc.
* Show up to opportunities — write a book, start a business, create a web site, etc.
* Show up to growth — read, journal, take time for introspection
- Steve Pavlina”
We human beings find it easier to make short term commitments than long term commitments. It’s easier to say I’ll not eat meat for the next 30 days, than to say I’ll not eat meat again forever. Interestingly however, committing to an activity for as little as 30 days is enough to make it a lifetime habit. The coefficient of static friction is always higher than the coefficient of kinetic friction… this simply means it will be tougher to start than to continue. It requires mustering up inner reserves to show up… but as soon as you show up… it’s almost done. Someone said beginning is half done… how correct!
Do you need to show up for a certification class, do you need to show up for an Msc. Do you need to show up at the golf course, music class, salsa class. I’m online today because I think I have a date with you… I’m showing up… where do you need to show up to succeed… and where also do you need to stop showing up…lol?
Hello. I am 
prof you are pretty much correct,to show up also has to do with self decipline and being determined….i was able to get as much downlines as possible by always showing up to a meeting site whenever anybody wants me to come down and share cf program wth them…so showing up is a vital key,it could also be called punctuality…..cos i feel if u are meant to go for a training class u need to be punctual rather than being late..so its not just showing up but showing up on time……cos people show up late most times…cheers.
@chairman,
Great write up!
hence forth i will make sure i show up for all the things i have set out to achieve because where i want to be is at the TOP!!!
Josh
http://www.joshadeyemi.blogspot.com
You know what got my attention most in this right-up is the last part - “and where also do you need to stop showing up…”
Showing up somewhere important to your success almost always require a stop in showing up at other places. There is a need to make it date with the right places, and break the appointments that takes us to where we shouldn’t be.
I think this is a very important lesson to learn.
Thanks Deolu for this reminder or wake up call to success.
The key operating word is like NIKE,the sporting equipment giant puts it-JUST DO IT.
I you dont do it there is no action,there is no movement ,and if there is no movement there is no achievement otherwise called success.
Another important ingredient is vision.Also learn from successful people,that is mentorship.Montors are like road maps to success.
I salute you
You have set the ball rolling again,it is very important for someone to stop showing up where he/she not ought to in order to have enough time and muster great energy to show up where he/she ought to show up.
Great series Deolu.
I agree absolutely,as nothing is achieved without a measure of commitment and a medium of establishing commitment is SHOWING UP as you have identified
Great job! I hope the subsequent sequels will talk on places where people should stop showing up. Most times, if not all the time, those places are the caterpillars and cancerworms that eat up our required resources for success - vision, zeal, energy, focus, time, money, health etc. There have been stories of sportsmen losing their moments of glory and success because prior to the day of epic events they showed up at wrong places like drinking joints, parties, bars, disco halls, etc. We keep our fingers crossed for the sequels. You are simply an awesomely brilliant young-man. May God continue to add to your wisdom even as you plant the wisdom in many others.
Deolu
This is a very good write up. I have learnt a lot from it i would keep showing up at the right places to achieve my aim. As its know really that commitment and hard work makes a man.
Thanks for the good piece, keep the spirit high.
Cheers