Success Is an Inside Job

It seems like there are nearly as many people promising to deliver the secret to success as there are people looking for it.

If there is a single secret, it's this:

Success is an inside job.

How long the job takes and how much work is involved is different for each person. The definition of success is different for everyone, and the process of getting there is not that much different from the way a construction or remodeling job works.

The time, money, and effort required to get the results you want depends on the condition of the structure you started with and what you want to end up with.

As with any job, having the right tools makes life easier.

So, what are the tools for this inside job?

Probably the most important tool in this case is consciousness — an awareness of where you are now and a clear picture of what success will look like for you once you arrive at it.

Sounds simple enough, but the truth is that most people have no clear idea of what success means to them.

Getting Present

The quickest path to the clarity that consciousness can bring comes from being centered in the present moment.

Being present to "now" shuts off the endless chatter in your mind and offers an unobstructed view of you.

Not sure how to do that?

Here are some examples of activities that might help you get there:

• Meditation

• Exercise

• Gardening

• Hiking

• Reading

• Journaling

• Cooking

It can be anything, really.

A good sign that you're on the right track is finding an activity that you enjoy so much that you tend to lose track of time while you're doing it.

I've heard it described as "keeping your head where your hands are."

I like that.

Experiment until you find some things that do the trick for you.

When You Still Can't See the Bigger Picture

Sometimes you find that you're able to get yourself into the present moment but still can't get a clear picture of what success looks like for you.

This is where the benefits of coaching kick in.

Coaching is designed to help you find the forest when all you can see are trees.

Sometimes you're simply too close to the situation to see the bigger picture.

A good coach can help you step back, get some perspective, and stay on track so you can get where you want to be faster.

And a good coach is only a phone call or an email away!

Make it a great one!

Coach DQ