The Real Principles of Success

Over three years ago I posted an anonymous Craig’s list ad and sent out a viral email seeking volunteers who wanted to take a yearlong journey to discover the real secrets to loving work.  I egotistically thought I’d share my wisdom, and in return, they’d give me permission to chronicle their stories in a book one day.  In the end, I was humbly reminded that they had more to teach me about the real principles of success than I had to share, and the book was put on hold.  Fast-forward to today and a lot has changed since that first innocent post.

My quest for more answers changed the face of my business, corporate clients replaced my willing volunteers, and the yearlong program was shaved down to nine months.  What hasn’t changed, however, is that my students continue to teach me much about happiness and success.  In fact, I want to share today the collective wisdom that surfaced from one of my last groups that wrapped up earlier this month. My hope – to pay homage to their hard work and dedication by sharing what I think they’d want you to know about the real secrets to loving work.

Meaning

We’ve always known that purpose and meaning grows in importance come mid-life. Finding meaning answers the question, “What’s important and why am I here?”  People seem to be waking up to this question earlier these days.  For folks just like you and me, answering this question means connecting to the emotional desire and intrinsic motivation that carries you in the face of adversity and challenge.  It creates grit.  For those receiving the benefits of what we do, meaning and purpose conveys without words that heart is embedded in the outcome of the work. 

Conscious Choice

By the time adults become employees they have become a bundle of automatic reflexes and their earliest life experiences have settled into comfortable patterns meant to keep them safe from repeating the past.  And so, those who are achieving a new level of success operate from a place of present-moment awareness and choice. This allows anyone to more gracefully embrace uncertainty, trust their intuition and take full responsibility for what’s important…one decision and solution at a time.  Sure, living in the present still includes a declaration to big bold intentions for the future, but never at the cost of ignoring what they’re being called to do right now.

Authenticity

We’ve grown accustomed to “sameness” in the Western world, which forced people to quiet their own needs, vulnerabilities, desires and hide behind the mask of ego: the person they think they need to be in order to be successful. This shaped the fear-based systems of conformity, control and judgment that’s still present in business today.  However, sameness is making way for greater individuality and creativity that is being fueled by awareness and a willingness to let go of old ways of being.  In return, there’s more unapologetic authenticity out in the world. These are the folks who have learned to listen from the inside and operate from a place of flow, faith, gratitude and abundance that manifests in very tangible ways.   In the end, they define and achieve success on their own terms because work is an extension of who they are most naturally.

Ecological

When using the term ecological, it’s much more than a reference to the planet. Ecology begs the question about whether what and how people do their work is good for those who are directly and indirectly impacted: maybe those they love the most, the team, organization or community they support, the country where they live, and yes, even the planet.  Using ecology as an on-going litmus test gives way to healthy boundaries, flexibility, character and ultimately, legacy.  Those who ignore this natural ecosystem suffer the effects of non-sustainability because resources are easily depleted – even within humans – when there are more withdrawals than deposits. 

Collaboration

Competition was emphasized when Darwin declared the human ecosystem was based on survival of the fittest.  Of course, this is fear-based thinking.  However, physics now tells us what we believed in more mystical times:  we are all interconnected.  There is no such thing as “separateness” that keeps anyone safe when someone strives to win at any cost.  In fact, when someone loses, the whole collective of humanity loses a little bit at a time even when we hide behind the façade of pride. I suspect those of you who are prospering in this economy already understand this principle and are maximizing opportunities to trade, collaborate and partner for the greater good.

Service

All of us have a unique set of special gifts and talents we bring to this world.  When these natural wonders converge, it defines that one thing someone does better than most.  We call this brilliance.  Claiming and naming one’s brilliance illuminates the possibilities and lights the pathway to success through a natural call into service. Not subservient service, but empowered service for the betterment of humanity.  No longer is it necessary to extrapolate our interests, desires and ambitions in order to serve humanity. When humanity launches from this place, there is no need to sell, convince or unnaturally wedge services into places where they don’t fit because it’s the story embedded in the repetition that opens doors and closes deals.

Again, I thank my students [turned teachers] for this wisdom. You courageously showed up, discovered and clarified for me what really creates happiness and success from the inside out.  On a personal level, you gently reminded me that living these principles is the only way to see clear to your place in the world; and, it’s not a destination, but a journey.  For that, and many other things, I am humbled and grateful that you allowed me to serve as your guide on this leg of this journey.

After this post and over the next few weeks, I will expand on what these principals mean to me – please stay tuned.