In my work, speaking to audiences about success, I often speak to college students. Inevitably I am asked my views about what it takes for young people to succeed in business and in life. The first thing I say is, “It’s not where you start, it’s where you finish. But if you hurry up and get started, you’ll finish way ahead of everyone else.”
So where do you start? You can ask this question of 100 people and perhaps get 100 different answers. However, there are a few ideas that would be in most responses.
I thought I would share three of these ideas for the students of Farmingdale State University:
Curiosity has led me to incredibly rewarding experiences. We grow up in familiar environments and develop familiar routines. We socialize with certain people and tend to focus on particular subjects and activities. Without becoming aware we can lose our curiosity. We run the risk of staying in the same place mentally. It’s almost like running in place.
However, if we consciously focus on exploration – new ideas, people, and places -- and doing things that we wouldn’t normally do, we discover a world rich with variety and possibilities. It’s important to step outside of the typical young adult mindset. This process will lead you down paths that will help you become more engaged in life. Not only that, knowing more than the obvious makes you an attractive candidate for employers and business opportunities.
A great start is to visit a local bookstore and begin thumbing through books and magazines that you wouldn’t normally read. Look at magazines for travel, culture, and the wide variety of professions that exist in this world. You will be energized by the wealth of opportunities and information that exist for you in this world. Make it a habit to expand your mind.
Don’t just be curious, but make a commitment to act on your curiosity. Decide to expand your scope in a tangible way.
Many of the skills and abilities that earn me the most money as a consultant to entrepreneurs and growing companies are things that I committed myself to learning. In many of these areas I didn’t have strong abilities when I started, but over time, through consistent study, curiosity and commitment I learned how to become one of the best. I see this consistently with entrepreneurs earning millions of dollars.
A committed person is prepared to make a substantial investment in effort, time, and even risk their ego to make significant progress. When you commit to something it’s hardest in the beginning. You work at it and may see very little progress. You may even have a setback or two. But if you persist, you’ll start to make gains. Soon your gains will multiply and you’ll see the exponential impact of your early efforts. Ninety percent of people will not commit, but the ten percent who are the most successful in their chosen field know that the majority has merely left behind the greater rewards for them. Make it a habit to expand your work and become committed to your goals in a big way today.
All of the great technology invented still requires that humans communicate with each other. We commit to projects and ideas most often when we become emotionally involved through our dialogue with others. Successful people understand this and invest in their communication skills so they can convince and excite others.
Many college graduates are at a disadvantage because of their inability to speak and write in compelling ways. I have interviewed recent college graduates only to find that they were not ready to work in my company because of poor communication skills. Because communication skills are all integrated – you have to listen, read, write, and speak well to be a great communicator – there’s a fair amount of work to do if you’re behind in this area. Yet this is important work, because no one rises to the top of his or her industry without being a great communicator.
Great communicators are in demand because we always have to “sell” our ideas. The successful don’t just present information, but they organize it and deliver it in a way that invigorates, motivates, and persuades. They know that communication is a total experience and speaking correctly and moving confidently will move others.
There are many examples of great communicators all around us. Study educators, politicians, news commentators, and you’ll begin to see the ingredients that lead to strong, confident and dynamic communicators. There are many great books on the subject at your local bookstore.
To become a great communicator combine your observation and study with practice. Consciously improve your dialogue. Outline your key points before a telephone call or meeting. Practice talking about your subject in front of the mirror. Speak in complete and clear sentences with colleagues and friends. Eliminate clichés and verbal graffiti from your speech. Read the dictionary regularly and learn a new word every day. In time you’ll find that you too will become a great communicator.
Start right now using the three Cs -- curiosity, commitment, and communication – to be sure you make the grade in today’s competitive environment. Get started now and you’ll be sure to cross the finish line a winner.
Get more from André Taylor at www.andretaylor.com
© Copyright 2006 – André Taylor – Taylor Insight Group, LLC.
André Taylor visited Farmingdale State University of New York on October 19, 2006 as part of the Distinguished Speakers Program. Mr. Taylor is an entrepreneur, a highly paid consultant, and the idea leader for entrepreneurs and growing companies. He works with organizations to significantly enhance corporate capabilities and performance. He’s the author of the business-building system, 81 Lessons of The Natural Entrepreneur and a collection of audio and video programs. For more than 25 years, André has been involved in enterprise management and the discipline of personal and organizational development. Combining broad range experience in high-growth industries, and an uncommon understanding of the lessons of business and personal resilience, he provides extraordinary insight and commentary on the subjects of entrepreneurship, leadership, sales, marketing, innovation, and growth.
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