SUCCESS - is it luck? or very good planning?

I spent yesterday and all morning today, trying to find the links to the following notes, so that I could properly attribute them to the source, I have looked at all types of articles, in LinkedIn; Facebook; Twitter; Skift Reports; ETN reports; I have had no joy at all.

I shall therefore indicate that these are thoughts from others, not mine and if you recognise the content, let me know and I shall confirm the source.

SUCCESS - is it luck? or very good planning?

1. Be mindful about location - if something is going on in your business sector - then go there, - if not, don't go - no point in wasting time being there.

2. We are all brands; make sure people know about you & your successes - i.e. 'have you checked out my company'?; 'have you followed me on facebook'?; 'have you signed up for my awesome daily email'?; etc..

3. Know the right people - go out of your way to meet them - more important, find ways to help them.

4. Take opportunities - if there is a 'crisis' - you have an opportunity to resolve it.

5. Be optimistic - perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.

6. Make a habit of listening - be empathetic - care what others have to say.

7. Be a lifelong learner - you don't have to know everything - only know where to go for it.

8. Show up for the party - you have to be in it to win it.

9. Focus - not just on the right things - but also on the main things.

10. Diversify - it helps to foresee changes if you have a knowledge of different things & changes, it will help to deal with many different outcomes.

11. Have friends in the right places - be polite; conscientious & work hard to maintain relationships.

12. Have faith - be willing to take leaps.

13. Make sure the numbers add up - do the maths ahead of time.

14. Be an active listener - learn to be sceptical - without being cynical.

15. Be able to 'reason' - practice empathy & strive to be in others shoes.

16. Learn to ignore things that don't matter, know what you can't change.

17. Learn to set goals - review them - focus on achieving them - to find success.

Well that's it for the time being, I will continue to keep alert for other nuggets, I will also remember to take a note of the source in future, it saves a lot of headaches, trust me.

How to 'Make a Difference'

This new blog will slowly build up to make a series of suggestions on how to 'make a difference' -

at home;
at work;
in school;
in business;
in life;
in the world;
each day;
and so many more areas, as you work through each day.

The skills you have, can 'make a difference'; the thoughts you share, can 'make a difference'; the time you give to others, does 'make a difference'.

At the outset, the blog will offer FREE suggestions and ideas, until we (that is, you [the readers] & I [the publisher] together) manage to build a suitable following, big enough to 'make a difference'.

Thereafter, a small donation will be asked for and 80% of that will go towards a charitable project through my involvement in Rotary. In 2017 it will be the centenary of 'The Rotary Foundation' and I would like to raise £100,000 as part of the centenary celebrations, by sharing my skills and expertise.

The ideals of the content will be based on 4 elements - Honesty; Integrity; Truth & Trust - 'HITT'. Every opportunity will be taken to ensure that the content and suggestions are based on at least one or more of these elements.

Thank you for reading, looking forward to sharing with you.

Jimmy Johnston MBE