When at First You Don’t’ Succeed – Try and Try it a New Way

There are countless stories of inventors, scientists and creators who did not succeed on their “first try.” Edison credits his 10,000 failures that didn’t work that ultimately led him to invent the light bulb. Colonel Sanders from Kentucky Fried Chicken did not achieve success until he was a senior citizen. The story goes that the Colonel asked 100 people to invest in his new chicken restaurant that we now know as KFC. Although the saying goes, “if at first you don’t succeed – try, try again” – it really should say try and try it again but in a new and different way.

This week as you embark on a path towards achieving your goal, you should also embrace the idea that things will not go as planned – and that’s ok. You will not be successful in every aspect of every project, venture or job. However, you can always successfully move beyond “failure” by approaching the same situation in a new way. Everything that we do has steps and/or a process. Find new ways to approach something when you are doing it a second or third time. Remember doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is the definition of insanity. So whenever you are trying something over, make sure you make at least one fundamental change to your process.

Trying to Try Your Best

There are times in life when you don’t know your next move or which direction to travel. When these times occur, and you feel that you don’t know what to do – pick one thing and try your best. Just like half of life is showing up – making the most out of life is about trying your best. For example, if you are going to spend time applying to jobs and networking on LinkedIn, fully immerse yourself in the process. Challenge yourself to reach out to people who you previously would think you are “out of your league.” Set engagement goals and reach out to 40 people every day. Update your bio or post a professional photo. Push yourself in new ways to give 100% to whatever you are doing.

Doing your best, especially at times of change and transition is sometimes the only and best thing to do because it creates positive motion in direction of your goals. You may not be able to control when and if an employer calls, however, you can ensure that you are 100% ready when and if they do.

This week take time to change your perspective when you are going through the motions and when you are doing your best. In time you will find that it’s better to do fewer things that you can give your all than lots of things that spread you too thin. Remember it’s quality, not quantity that makes the difference in everything that you do. So do your best!

Our 3-Ingredients to Create Personal and Professional Success

Some people attribute their success in life to being at the right place at the right time. Others may say other people as the main reason that they have achieved their many accomplishments. We at the Living on Purpose Project would like to share our (3) three-step recipe for long-term success in life, career, and business.

While many individuals attribute success to many different things, our (3) three ingredients for success include: (1) show up; (2) create and continually adjust your plan; and (3) factor in how what you do impacts others.

1. Show Up: There is a saying that half or even most of life is simply showing up. Over the years I have come to understand that showing up is giving your all to whatever you do. Yet I see people who are chronically late, never follow through, or literally and figuratively sleep through life and miss out on connections and opportunities. In short, showing up is living life like there is no dress rehearsal.

2. Create a Plan or Plan to Fail: One of the easiest and most strategic ways to achieve short wins or long-term success is having a plan. Writing down what steps to take and when to take them can help you focus on how you navigate now and moving forward. Sure, plans will change and at times you will need to pivot and adjust. However, you will be far more likely in any situation to successfully execute your plan to achieve success.

3. Be Considerate of Others in Everything That You Do: Navigating life is not just figuring out what to do in your life. It speaks to your ability to handle the bumps and the ups and downs in life and to always try to prevent your “things” to affect others. Simply ask yourself, “how does what I do affect someone else?” And, always make sure that you show your appreciation and respect for people who go out of their way to help and support you.

This week think of what you believe are the (3) three most important things that you can do to incorporate and embrace them into your life and career. In time, you will find that your work superpowers will take your career and or business to new heights by leaps and bounds. Here’s to finding more ways to Live. Love. Do. ®

How to Make Friends at Work and School?

Perhaps it may not be surprising that while working as a College professor, I have received numerous questions over the years. What is surprising, however, is one of the top three questions I get every year and each semester is, “How do I get to meet and get to know more people and how do I make new friends?” The advice I give is simple, do what worked in kindergarten – questions and compliments.

The 2-part strategy for friendship is to (1) ask questions - to help you find people who share similar interests and hobbies and understand who knows the best places to eat, drink, and hangout and 2) give compliments - let others know that you like the way that someone expresses themselves in a meeting or class and make others more receptive to connecting with you.

The final ingredients in the friendship recipe include patience, kindness, mutual respect, self-confidence, and time.

This week do just one thing that stretches you outside your comfort zone. Try to put yourself in a new social setting, join that group of friends that meets at the bar on the corner each Friday at 5:30 p.m. Do big and small things to engage others by asking questions and giving compliments. Soon you will find your confidence to attract and engage others is possible and will happen when you take the risk to put yourself out there in new and different ways.