Success Article
Success Article: Seven
Secrets for Creating Outrageous Success in Your Life!
by Ed Sykes
By now you may have heard the ultimate success story: the “man with
the golden voice.” Ted Williams, a homeless man had a very special talent: he
has the beautiful voice of a radio announcer and voiceover professional. Yet,
he fell on hard times, took drugs and alcohol, lost his job and family, and
resorted to living on the street and taking handouts on a busy street corner.
Then, one day a videographer who had heard about the man with the golden voice,
interviewed Ted Williams and discovered that Ted truly had a voice of gold and a
personality to match.
The video was aired on a local television newscast and took off
from there, appearing on other stations, YouTube and social networking sites.
Other media stations started sharing Ted’s story. The video was put on YouTube
and social networking sites started sharing his story. He started receiving
hundreds of job offers, and now can pick and choose his opportunity and create
his own success.
You don’t have to be homeless like Ted Williams to learn how to be
successful. However, you face a challenging situations and not know how to pull
yourself out of your situation. You may strove to create more success in your
career or business and are looking for the tools to help get there. You can
apply the following seven success secrets from Ted’s story:
It’s Not What You Know, It’s Not Who You Know…
I recite the old saying during my programs, “It
is not what you know, it’s who you know.” In the 21st century, that
no longer applies. A better quote for success in the 21st century
is, “It is not what you know, it is not who you know, it’s who knows what you
know.” Ted used his sign and his interview to let other people know he had a
talent: his golden voice.
The power was not in hiding his special gift;
but in letting as many people as possible know about it. The same applies in
the workplace. Your success is based on letting as many people as possible know
about your skills and sharing it. Sharing your special talents will allow the
right people to create more opportunities of success for you.
Give People the Tools to Help You Be Successful!
Ted allowed the interviewer to videotape him
using his voice. This made it easy for the interviewer to advocate for Ted and
find job resources for him.
What tools are you giving others so they can
help you achieve more success in your career, your business, and your life?
You could use the tool of presenting in your meetings so that management can see
your solution creation abilities. It could be taking charge on creating a
cost-saving report that makes the team and organization better. It could
also be volunteering for a challenging project within your organization so that
others can see your special talents. Whatever the skill, create the tool
or vehicle to let others know about your talents.
Tell Your Story!
During the interview, Ted Williams told his
story of success, failure, and bad luck. He honestly and sincerely shared his
passion for radio, his involvement in drugs and alcohol, which led to him losing
his job, family, and everything dear to him, and how he was winning the battle
to “stay clean.” His story touched the heart of all who heard it.
What is your story? So many times we hear this
when a person is overlooked for a promotion, “I should have got that job. My
work speaks for itself!” It doesn’t, so you need to tell your story. If you
are in the workplace, let management know how you overcame a challenge at work
and what steps you or your team took to achieve success. If you are in
business, tell your story to your customers about how you developed a quality
product or service.
Create Your Own Luck!
Ted created his own luck by being prepared when
the opportunity arrived. He didn’t say to the interviewer, “I am not prepared
to share my voice with you today. Can you come back tomorrow?” Ted went with
the opportunity and created his own luck.
Are you planning too much for your luck? Luck
is knowledge (or skills) and opportunity plus action. Create your own luck by
seizing the moment when it arrives. By over-planning to create success in your
life, you miss the opportunities for success and wonder why everyone else is
achieving success.
Ask for Your Success!
At the end of the
interview, Ted Williams said he just needed a break to get back into the radio
and voice over business. That simple and clear request was very powerful, and
he received numerous offers of employment.
Many times people
cannot or do not know how to ask for success. Sometimes it is because of no
goals or unclear goals that people do not know how to ask for success in their
life. Be clear and concise when you ask for your opportunity of success. If
you want a particular job, go to your manager and express that you want that
job. If you are in business, be clear and concise that you want the business.
The most important point is…ask for your success. If you don’t ask, you won’t
receive.
Note: When asking for your success, make sure you explain what
you will give in return for your success.
Appreciate the Help!
Ted Williams, in a very sincere way, said he
would appreciate any help he could get in finding a job. After the job offers
came in, he continued to express his appreciation.
How do you show your appreciation when someone
helps you succeed? Do you take the time to acknowledge them in public? Do you
find a way to return the favor? Or maybe you do something extra that makes
their lives easier? When you take the time to show appreciation for their help,
the person appreciates it. They are most likely to share this appreciation with
others, and other people will be more willing to help you succeed. Take the
time to show appreciation.
Give Others a Reason to Help You Be Successful!
Generally, people want to help you be more
successful. You just need to give them a reason to help you. If you work in an
organization, another department might want to help you because it would achieve
the organization’s overall goals, and your help might complete a project early.
If you are a business, you might ask another company to form a joint venture
with you because it would result in more business for both companies. Take the
time to explain why it would be beneficial for the other party to help you.
I am sure that Mr. Williams will find the opportunities that will
create success in his life. Apply the success techniques of the “man with the
golden voice” and you will enjoy the golden opportunities that lead to more
success in your life.
Watch a video of Ted Williams in action
VIDEO
Additional Motivation Reading
Resources:
Are You Singing Your
Song of Success? Five Secrets to Following Your Dreams and Achieving More
Success in Your Life
Appreciate to Motivate
(The Key to Successful Team Building)
The Secret to Successful Goal
Setting for Changing Times: Seven Steps to Achieving Your Dreams
Romance Your Goals: Seven Secrets for SMARTER Goal
Setting
Five Secrets to Creating a
"Goal" Medal Life - Part 1
Five Secrets to
Creating a "Goal" Medal Life - Part 2 :
How Fourteen Olympic Gold Medal Winning Swimmer Michael Phelps Can Help You
Achieve Your Goals!
Are You Building Your Foundation of Success: Six Secrets of Motivating Yourself for Success
Employee
Motivation, Don Imus, and Team Building: Five Secrets of Motivated Teams
Adversity: Your Seed of
Greatness (Three Secrets to Using
Adversity to Become Great)
Connect the Dots! Your Roadmap for Success
Seven Secrets to Being the Leader Everyone
Wants to Work For
Five Secrets to Becoming the Perfect Employee
That Everyone Wants – Part One
Have You Appreciated Someone Today?
Nine Ways Johnny Carson Can
Help You Run Outstanding Meetings
You Mean I Need to
Promote Myself to Get a Promotion? 5 Promotion Secrets to Get the Job You Want!
Five Secrets to
Gaining Credibility with Your Team for Outstanding
Results
Five Secrets to
Creating a "Goal" Medal Life - Part 2
How Appetizing Is
Your Feedback? (5 Steps to Giving Effective Feedback)
Five Secrets to Creating a
"Goal" Medal Life
Ten Techniques for
Motivating Others Through Chaos
10
Action Steps to Motivate Yourself to Great Accomplishments
Eight Ways to Motivate
Part-Time Employees
Delegate to Accelerate Success
(How to Prepare
Yourself and Others for Success)
The
Greatest Gift of All - The Gift of Empowerment
Leadership Secrets for Challenging Times
Goal Setting Secrets to Jumpstart Your Life
Ed Sykes is a motivational speaker based in
Virginia and is published in
the areas of leadership, change management, customer service, presentation
skills, and teamwork. He
works with business, government organizations, and educational institutions that want to reach the next
level of success and individuals who want to perform at their best. You
can email him at esykes@thesykesgrp.com www.thesykesgrp.com
