I had an interesting exchange with a great consultant...

I had an interesting exchange with a great consultant about the nature of the principles of success.  I don't claim to know everything about success, but I know that success begins with certain principles/values that determine our actions, which become habits (I'll write about habits next), then these control our outcomes and destiny.  With that in mind, here is the exchange:

• The Principles of Success (I will not reveal this persons name out of respect)

"Over the years a vast amount of work has been carried out on the topic of success. Many self-help gurus and academic experts have given their opinions on what it takes to be successful and a great deal of academic research has been carried out. 

The principles are: 

Take Responsibility. Understand that we, and nobody else, are ultimately responsible for our actions, thoughts and attitudes. How our lives turn out is up to us and no-one else. 

Set Goals. Goals provide us with a direction in life. They help us to focus our energy on what is important to us. We need to make decisions about what we want from life and to set clear goals that reflect this. 

Be Positive. Having a positive, optimistic outlook makes life more enjoyable for us and for those around us. It also gives us energy and drive, making us far more likely to be successful. 

Persevere Intelligently. Getting the most from life requires determination and perseverance. It also requires a flexible and intelligent approach to life. If a course of action doesn't work, we must be able to find effective alternatives. 

Connect with People. None of us lives in isolation. To be successful we need to have effective relationships with other people in all areas of our professional and personal lives. 

These five principles are tried, tested and scientifically proven, and they have produced huge benefits for people who have followed them. If we can understand them and apply them on a regular basis, then our lives will be dramatically transformed for the better."

My response:

"I appreciate your response to "The Principles of Success." While I agree with each of them as being components to even larger portion of a system, I believe that we can boil down the bigger principles and then flesh them out with the composition of principles such as the ones you shared. It also misses the mark on research based systems to help us accomplish these 5 things. It's almost like sales where the features are explained but not taken to the next level of benefits and possibly other layers of benefits. 

In the words of Daniel H. Pink, the author of the bestselling A Whole New Mind, comes a paradigm-shattering look at what truly motivates us and how we can use that knowledge to work smarter and live better. 

Most of us believe that the best way to motivate ourselves and others is with external rewards like money—the carrot-and-stick approach. That’s a mistake, Daniel H. Pink says in, Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, his provocative and persuasive new book. The secret to high performance and satisfaction—at work, at school, and at home—is the deeply human need to direct our own lives, to learn and create new things, and to do better by ourselves and our world. 

Drawing on four decades of scientific research on human motivation, Pink exposes the mismatch between what science knows and what business does—and how that affects every aspect of life. He demonstrates that while carrots and sticks worked successfully in the twentieth century, that’s precisely the wrong way to motivate people for today’s challenges. In Drive, he examines the three elements of true motivation—autonomy, mastery, and purpose—and offers smart and surprising techniques for putting these into action. Along the way, he takes us to companies that are enlisting new approaches to motivation and introduces us to the scientists and entrepreneurs who are pointing a bold way forward. 

Just a few thoughts based on Drive, which I hope just opens up our minds to the nuances of High Performing Organizations/People."

I believe in engaging intellectually in philosophical discussion and will expand on the whole concept so that the storytelling posts will have more impact, even though I hope you've enjoyed them so far.  Thank you and I wish you all success, but arguably more important is my wish that you have a sense of fulfillment!