Once again I have the privilege of bringing you an excellent rule written by my assistant Cindy Lee. Read...Enjoy...and Remember! - Anthony Tormey
A few weeks ago, I was sorting through
some old photos for one of my grown children.
In doing so, I came upon Christmas pictures from 1995. At that time I was newly divorced and my
mother had passed away earlier in the year.
My apartment was in a run-down center-city converted house. The entire thing consisted of an ill-equipped
kitchen, drafty living room, two small bedrooms and a minuscule bathroom. It was what I could afford on a
barely-more-than-minimum salary. Despite
all of that, the photos contained smiling faces. Pictures of the ceremonial gift unwrapping,
children sitting cross-legged on the floor, plates being balanced on knees and
a tiny tree decorated and lit as if to be in a grand mansion. The
scenes evoked memories of that Christmas so very long ago.
Success meant something different
then. It meant making the rent each
month, paying the gas bill, scraping together money for food and spending time
with my family to share what little bit I had.
Oh, how far I have come since those days.
Memories are something we all have. Remembering is something we all do. However, the two are not necessarily the same
thing.
In “Success Rule 17, Know Thyself”,
there is a list of techniques to get to know yourself a little better. One of the techniques is to “look back” at
your life. Looking back at your life can
be both pleasurable and painful. These
things contribute to who you are today.
You may wonder how that can advance your success right now. The key is to remember where you came from.
Remembering where you came from, what
you’ve been through and what you have felt leads to a better understanding of
other people and situations. A better
understanding leads to success. Seem
simple? Let’s take a look.
Example 1: People make mistakes. You’ve made mistakes. In the past, when you made a mistake, how
were you confronted about it? Was it
from someone who “got in your face”? Or, was it from someone who helped you
understand the mistake and how to correct it?
Example 2: You receive a phone call from an irate boss,
co-worker or acquaintance. Do you
reflect their attitude? Or, do you try
to understand the situation, allow them to vent and then work toward a
solution?
Example 3: You are in the break room and over hear
someone talking about a bad relationship break up. Do you run to another person and say…”Did you
hear…?” Or, do you wait for a
private moment and say… “I am sorry I overheard, if there is anything I can do
to help, let me know.”
The list can go on and on. In each of these scenarios, which action or
reaction would you consider to be that of a “successful” person?
Success is not measured only by
paychecks and possessions; it is also measured by who you are. What kind of a person you are. Arrogant?
Demeaning? Patient? Understanding? Do people turn around when they see you
coming or are you approachable?
You were the “new guy” once. You’ve been that irate caller. You’ve been through bad situations. Draw from your memories and remember where
you came from. Coming from a place of
understanding will move you toward success.
Remember where you came from and be
Extraordinary in your future!
Cindy Lee
Executive Assistant
Leader Development Institute
