On the road to success, you may take a few detours, hit some roadblocks, and arrive at a different place than you’d planned. I’m still on my journey, and I’m offering you my map for smooth sailing: traveling the Seven Cs of Success.
Clarity: 80 percent of success comes from being clear about who you are, what you believe in, and what you want. But you must remain committed to your goals and make sure those around you understand what you’re trying to accomplish.
A young mathematician, commissioned during wartime as captain of a submarine, called his crew together to impress upon them the importance of following safety procedures. “Every day, count the number of times the submarine has dived since you boarded. Add to this the number of times it has surfaced. If the sum is not even, don’t open the hatches.”
Competence: You can’t climb to the next rung on the ladder until you excel at what you do now. Remember: the person who knows “how” will always have a job, and the person who knows “why” will always be the boss.
Constraints: 80 percent of all obstacles to success come from within. Identify what is constraining you or your organization and take action to remove it. Consider the farmer who grew a radish inside a milk bottle to achieve its perfect shape—limitations can be the very things that shape extraordinary outcomes.
Concentration: The ability to focus single-mindedly on one thing and see it through is critical. Great athletes are known for their concentration. Ben Hogan, during a crucial putt, ignored a blaring train whistle and sunk the shot without a second thought. As Yogi Berra said, “You can’t think and hit the ball at the same time.”
Creativity: Surround yourself with creative people and exercise your own creativity. It’s a muscle: if you don’t use it, you lose it. Grandma Moses didn’t start painting until age 80—and went on to produce over 1,500 works of art. Challenge yourself, experiment, and explore new ideas at every opportunity.
Courage: Most in demand and least in supply, courage is the willingness to do the right thing despite fear. It’s not the absence of fear but acting in spite of it. Don’t wait for fear to vanish—let courage lead the way.
Continuous Learning: Set aside time regularly to improve yourself. Read trade publications, listen to business podcasts, attend workshops, or take classes. Whatever your path, commit to learning constantly to stay ahead of the competition.
Some people succeed because they are destined to, but most succeed because they are determined to.
Call to Action: Start today. Pick one of the Seven Cs that resonates most with you and take concrete action this week to strengthen it. Whether it’s clarifying your goals, tackling a personal constraint, or dedicating time to learning, committing to at least one focused step, and watch the momentum build toward your success.
