The following feature by Dr. Chris Kirubi was first published in his #AskKirubi forum on Capital FM.
Most successful people begin with two beliefs: the future can be better than the present, and ‘I have the power to make it so’. In pursuit of the belief that I have the power to make my future better than my present, I use certain guiding principles that have led me to my path of success.
As you strive to succeed you must identify the values and principles that will stand by and that will guide you. Success isn’t just about what you accomplish in your life but what you inspire others to do. What are your principles of success?
Here are some of my principles of success….
Passion
Your passion is what you love to do even when you are tired, sad, happy, disappointed etc. FOCUS or PRIORITIZE on your passion as you venture into various things. Most successful people have had to work twice as hard to see their passion come to life. Nothing good comes easy so enjoy the hardships and celebrate the victories.
Purpose
Recognizing and making a decision on where you want to go, what you want to do and why you want to do it. What’s your purpose in life? What’s your vision? You must live for something so let your purpose and vision be your motivation for achieving success.
Commitment
I once read that commitment means staying loyal to what you said you were going to do long after the mood you said it in has left you. You must be committed to achieving what you set out to do and making the most of every opportunity you are given.
Learn to finish the job first. Whenever I began something, I made sure I finished it. Sometimes, my efforts led to failure but I never gave up. Be committed.
Honesty/Integrity
Integrity is the heart of character and as you conduct business your integrity will be tested. We are responsible for our thoughts, our feelings, our attitudes, our words, our actions, and our reactions. Always do what’s right. Once you create a credible and reliable portfolio many will be willing to work with you and for you.
Diversification
Diversification is indeed the name of the game. As I said above, you must FOCUS on what you are good at and at the same time spread your wings. Strive to have more than one source of income and broaden your investments so that you can have consistent cash flow. Be a jack of all trades but a master of one.
Positive attitude; Positive Energy
Nothing can stop a man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal, while nothing on earth can help a man with the wrong attitude. The right attitude will get you to work hard, achieve your goals and will encourage you when the times get tough. Nothing good comes out of negative energy. Remember what you believe, you shall receive.
Taking Calculated Risks
Every business is a risk taken. Is your business venture a calculated risk?Taking calculated risks (within your tolerance level) can help you make decisions wisely while keeping your business energized and moving forward. You must think thoroughly, weigh the best and worst case scenarios of an action then decide whether the risk is worth taking.
Surround yourself with the best and employ the best.
You need to surround yourself with the most skilled, intelligent, and knowledgeable people. They edify you, challenge your decisions, brainstorm with you, hold intellectual discussions and are great to learn from. Associate yourself with greatness if you want to achieve success. On the other hand try your best to employ the best talent and sustain them. Why? If you make them part of the business they will ‘own’ it and help your business grow.
Keep learning
I don’t mean that you pursue education all your life but study books and other material that will help you become a better person. Being and staying informed will help you craft new ways and ideas of doing things. Innovation is key to the success of any business and I must say that it is the key to the success of all my businesses. Every day is a new dawn which we must prepare for. Don’t be caught unawares.
Finally, in all that you do plan for tomorrow. Always have the bigger picture in mind to help you make the right decisions.
I have managed to create a balance across all the above but that did not come easy. I endured the tough times.
The struggles you are in today develop the strength you need for tomorrow; strength to endure tougher times and to create your success story. Create your success story.
