4 Things I've Learned from Successful People

I've become slightly obsessed... with this blog.

See, I've realized that I have a lot of things to say and I love the idea of teaching people various things that I've learned.

So, that's where my focus is: To teach you, my dear reader, something. Anything. I don't think I care what I teach you, as long as you go away thinking, "Wow, I didn't know [insert awesome thing here]."

Now, without further delay, the first lesson: 4 things I've learned from successful people.


1. Successful People Try New Food

I don't know if I can be any more clear than that. I guess another way of saying it would be, "successful people aren't afraid of taking risks."

The really interesting thing about this point is the context in which I learned it. (How's that for a grammatically correct sentence, you were expecting me to end with a hanging preposition, weren't you? 'learned it in' How improper...)

This idea dawned on me after eating lunch with a few of the corporate exes at my job. It seemed that they would frequently order something they had never tried before. I sat back and thought, "even if I apply this to my everyday, non-business life, I think I will be better off." So I have been. And I have tasted many a food item that has been amazing, but which I would have missed were I to have avoided it because it was different.


2. Successful People Ask Dumb Questions

"There are no dumb questions," says the voice of your former (or current?) elementary school teacher. And I believe Mrs. Applebottom has it right. Let me be frank (this is my blog, I can do what I want): We don't ask enough questions.

Asking questions is essential to learning. And I think one of the most important questions to ask is, "Why?"

Why?

I'm glad you asked.

That simple question brings context, and context brings clarity and reveals the meaning behind actions and events. And don't be afraid to ask questions of people who aren't "on your level." Something that will severely limit learning is thinking that just because someone is your subordinate they can't teach you something or reveal a perspective you haven't thought about before.

S. Leonard Rubinstein wrote, "Curiosity is a willing, a proud, an eager confession of ignorance." I think we should adopt Mr. Rubinstein's view.


3. Successful People Can't Remember Everything

And to avoid that, they write things down. On paper.

I can hear the tree-huggers protesting already, "What? Don't write things down, you'll just waste paper and kill trees, and that's bad. Use a computer."

Sigh.

Yes, yes, you can type if you like. And yes, killing trees is bad. But, non-the-less, writing things down allows you to stop trying to juggle it in your head. It doesn't really matter what it is, it's probably better going in writing (or in Notepad).

For example, I noticed that my boss has a legal-sized yellow pad that he carries around with him. I noticed that he makes notes in there, and frequently has lists titled "Things to do." And, in true 'monkey see, monkey do,' fashion, I started doing the same thing.

It has been a gigantic relief for my brain to have a list of important tasks to do sitting on that large paper instead of rattling around in the empty cavity in my head.


4. Successful People Just Start Things

Yes, cheap way to play off of the title of my blog, I know, but it's true.

My boss calls it, "Fast Failure."

It's the ability to look at something that should be done, and taking action... even if they don't know if it's going to work. If you never DO anything, nothing will ever get done.

There is obviously a time to think and plan. But there must be a tipping point where all that thinking and planning turns into an actionable item or all the effort put into the front-end will be utterly in vein. And that's just stupid.

"Hey, don't call me stupid, Stupid."

I wasn't calling you stupid, I was just trying to... nevermind.


Well, that's the 4 things I've learned from successful people. I'm sure there's more, so I may come out with a part 2 sometime, but... not right now.


If you have a question or something to add, please feel free to post a comment.

Also, you can follow me on Twitter @thestosbias