If you prefer podcasts, listen to my podcast episode on this same topic here.
Here's How to Find the Success You've Always Wanted
Nov 11, 2019
Humanity is driven to succeed. We desire success in similar ways, but the definition of the success we desire is often different. Because of this, you would think that there wouldn't be so many one-size-fits-all methods offered from leaders who want to lead their people to success!
I acknowledge that my destination of where I want to go looks different than yours, and if success looks different for me than for you, there needs to be a “success” method that takes into account our differences.
As an experienced coach, I have seen patterns in my clients that have led me to create my own “success” method. It’s a method that considers the unique components of every individual who implements the method.
So what is the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. method and what does it stand for?
Let’s break it down:
Self-Awareness
When new clients start working with me, they all want a roadmap to success with a focus on the external things they can do to get them there quickly. But they learn really fast that lasting success starts with a focus inward. That’s why we start with self-awareness in the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. method.
Now, everyone has a different level of self-awareness, and that’s okay. And some of us think we are self-aware, but really, we are seeing ourselves through a lens of our environment, experience, and upbringing. We start with self-awareness because it’s important to learn how beliefs, values, strengths, and past conditioning all impact how we see and respond to the world around us today.
This Forbes article states the following about the relationship between self-awareness and business: “The more effective you are at examining the way you think about yourself and the way you think about the world around you, the better you can navigate your industry. By extension, this concept has a substantial impact on your career and, if you are an entrepreneur, on your business.”
A few methods to use when you are in the self-awareness phase are personality assessments. A few of my favorites are Strengths Finder, VIA Strengths, and the Enneagram.
But, of course, we all don’t fit perfectly into an assessment, so we must dig deeper and be willing to explore further. Self-assessments are tools, but they don’t define us completely. I have my clients figure out their values — the root of almost all of their decisions (even subconsciously) and we also tap into more self-awareness activities, but if you’re not working with a coach, here are some ways to increase self-awareness today.
1. Keep a journal. Record your inner dialogue in a journal. How do you see the world? How are you feeling and what thoughts are leading you to feel that way? Record everything. This will really help you when you move to the “understanding” phase of the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. method as well.
2. Go through the Self-Coaching Model. I have an entire podcast episode about Brooke Castillo’s model here. This model breaks down the patterns of thoughts you are having without even realizing it and how those thoughts create your current results in life. If you want different results, you need different thoughts. When you can identify thought patterns, you automatically increase self-awareness.
There are many other self-awareness tools, but the ones above provide a good place to start.
Understanding
Next comes understanding. It’s not enough to get assessment results or to go through the self-coaching model and journal without striving to understand your results. Ask yourself, “Why do I feel these assessment result resonate with me?” Or read through your feelings in your journal and ask yourself, “Why do I feel that way?” Become an observer of your life. Start observing your responses to others at work or notice the decisions you make and dig deeper into the “why” behind everything! Look for trends in your mind and behavior. As you gain understanding along your self-awareness journey, you will build a foundation for the action-steps you plan to take towards success.
Clarity
Clarity comes next. With an understanding of who you are, it’s time to decide who it is you want to be and where it is you want to go so that you can determine the right steps to get there. Clarity is a huge area I dive deep into with my clients so they can walk away with a detailed picture of their goals and desires. Lewis Howes said, “If you don’t give yourself a moment to visualize the clear results you want to create, then you are less likely to achieve what you desire.”
In a coaching relationship, we develop a big-picture overview of the desired results and then narrow in the focus to be sure you know exactly how to get there. If you don’t work with a coach but want to tap into clarity each day, start by asking yourself these three questions in the morning:
1. What is one word to describe the person I want to be today?
2. What three things should I do today that can get me one step closer to my overall goal?
3. What is my “why” for today, and how can I intentionally honor that why?
Courage
Once you feel clear about your big goals and your day-to-day habits you need to reach them, you will feel courageous! That’s why “courage” is the next step of the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. method. The world’s highest performers act courageously in facing their challenges and in chasing their dreams. And the biggest obstacle to courage is fear.
Fear usually resides with the unknown, so the clearer your end goal becomes the more your courage increases! Courage is incredibly necessary for growth.
When you develop a sure sense of who you are, you are also more likely to be bold and resilient in tackling life’s major challenges. Choose to step into courage today by committing to take a few bold leaps forward in your life.
Before you decide on those big leaps you want to commit to, let’s talk engagement.
Engagement
Engage the action steps, habits, and disciplines you need to get you to your end goal! In a coaching relationship, together we develop the necessary habits, disciplines, and action steps. But you can still do this on your own, too! I have placed engagement after courage because it takes courage to take action!
I love what Brendon Burchard says in this video about how to engage and take action. (He also speaks on Clarity).
Now it’s time to commit to the bold steps: What are three actions you can take in the next 30 days that will get you outside of your comfort zone and closer to your goals? Commit to those steps right now.
The last two parts of the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. method happens as a result of the foundation you’ve built with self-awareness, understanding, clarity, courage and engagement.
They are solutions and scaling.
Solutions
Solutions happen naturally because when you are engaged in the right habits, you are able to solve more problems and overcome the obstacles that come along your path to success. You feel more equipped, you can engage what you know about yourself to make solutions that honor who you want to be and where you want to go.
Scale
And finally, it’s time to scale! Scale your skills, habits, energy, time management, influence and more! Scaling requires focus, systems, teamwork, and a willingness to take risks. All of the frameworks in the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. method equips you for this!
And want to know what’s great? When you’re ready to scale again, you can go back through the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. cycle! Get to know yourself again through self-awareness and exploration, as you are always changing and growing you need to always be discovering more about who you are! Understand what has lead to those changes you’ve experienced! Next, get clarity around what that next level looks like so you can think about the new big picture plan. Choose to step into courage because you’ve conquered change and growth before, you can do it again! Engage the new habits and disciplines you need to take things to the next level, solve a new problem, and scale once again!
It’s a process, but it’s a valuable one. Find success in the way that YOU have always wanted and get started TODAY!
Share with me, what do you think about the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. method?
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE EPISODE.
If it’s your time for a dramatic change and rapid advancement in your personal and professional life, then I’d like to work one-on-one with you to break through your barriers and help you reach your highest potential and performance in all you do.
