Success is everybody’s dream. But what is the key to success? How can you be successful? In my post about defining successful people, I wrote that we should measure success based on how much we give rather than how much we receive. Fortunately, it also works nicely the other way around since those who give more almost always will also receive more.
Based on that, you can see that the more value you give to others, the more successful you will be. So how do you pave your way to success? How do you become more successful? The answer is amazingly simple. Here it is:
The key to success is making yourself as useful as possible to others.
That’s it. Making yourself as useful as possible to others.
If you focus on applying this, others will realize the value they get from you and they will attract more people to come to you. These new people will also realize the value they get from you and they will attract even more people to come to you. The virtuous cycle begins and you are now on your way to success.
With this principle in mind, you should aim at increasing your usefulness to others. How do you do that? Here are some ideas:
- Be observant of needs
To be useful to others, you should always be aware of even the slightest clues of needs. The more sensitive you are to the needs of others, the more appreciative people will eventually become. The best scenario is being able to anticipate a need before the other people are even aware of it. - Find solutions to the needs
Now that you are aware of needs, the next step is finding solutions to them. The solutions you offer should be as useful as possible. To be able to do so, there is no other way but to continuously build your own value. It is from the value you have that you could give value to others. - Be proactive to help
Do not wait for the other person to ask for your help. Be proactive. Give your help even before they ask. - Be sincere
What matters is not only the solution you offer, but also the way you deliver it. Being sincere means being glad to help others without expecting anything in return. Make it your joy to give something to others. People can somehow distinguish whether or not you are sincere. - Go the extra mile
Doing the above four steps is good, but add this one if you can: give more than expected. First, give what is expected, and then add a little more. If you do the above four steps people will be appreciative, but if you add this one step they will be impressed.
Comment by Fran
#1 27. June 2007, 2:04 pm o'clock |
These are great ideas. Sometimes I don’t mind working normally. As long as it’s good and I get to do everything needed for the day, I’m satisfied. But we can’t expect to be successful if we are not willing to go the extra mile. Thanks so much for sharing your ideas.
Comment by Donald Latumahina
#2 27. June 2007, 8:59 pm o'clock |
That’s right, Fran. Going the extra mile is not easy, and I guess that’s why there are so few successful people. It’s much easier to just get our job done without aiming for something more.
Comment by Joseph Bernard
#3 28. June 2007, 9:03 am o'clock |
Hi Donald, How simple and clear your writing are. Making yourself useful to for others is a great way of stating it.
How do you make yourself useful to yourself may be the starting point? Many people are out of touch with their own needs, purpose, heart, body and sources of joy because they have allowed their lives to eat them up with worry and hurry. Begin first by discovering your own needs and take care of at least the basics. The you are much more powerful in be of use to others.
Joseph @ http://www.explorelifeblog.com
Comment by Pamela
#4 28. June 2007, 9:23 am o'clock |
I agree with your ideas, especially with being sincere about our goals to achieve success. With all the problems we face, we surely need every motivation we can get to keep us fueled on our journey to success.
Comment by Donald Latumahina
#5 28. June 2007, 11:45 pm o'clock |
Great idea Joseph, I love it. You’re right, if people can’t be useful to themselves, they won’t be useful to others either. As you said, that should be the starting point.
Comment by Dave
#6 29. June 2007, 10:00 am o'clock |
Great ideas, Donald. It’s true that our success is also on when to engage. Most of the time, our work requires us to make decisions and how we make them may affect our progress.
Comment by Donald Latumahina
#7 29. June 2007, 3:58 pm o'clock |
@Pamela:
Being sincere is indeed important, but I’m afraid that it’s one of the not-so-easy thing to do. Most of the time we expect something in return.
@Dave:
Thanks, Dave.
Comment by muneer
#8 28. November 2008, 7:45 am o'clock |
hi i m munir from karachi from pakistan , i read tht and i agree that Find solutions to the needs, Go the extra mile and Be proactive to help, these points is very useful 4every one who wants to success
Comment by Donald Latumahina
#9 1. December 2008, 11:37 pm o'clock |
Muneer,
Thanks for stopping by! I wish you the best of luck.
Comment by mohammad
#10 27. February 2009, 11:06 pm o'clock |
hi i read your ideas and i caught lots of information and i am agree with you to being useful for others.mohammad(afghanistan)
Comment by Donald Latumahina
#11 5. March 2009, 7:36 pm o'clock |
Mohammad, glad you like it!
Comment by Charles
#12 7. June 2009, 11:50 am o'clock |
Because I have read this it has inspierd me to change my life for the better and to use these key to be successful.
Comment by Fache Ejima Hassan
#13 19. July 2009, 2:43 am o'clock |
I agree with you but without self control we can’t reach anyware
Comment by ravi nandan singh
#14 30. August 2009, 2:26 pm o'clock |
hai, its ravi from india, i read and wrote the ways u described here, it is too amazing and so surprising facts i cam to know through u, it really helped me alot to do sumthing in my life. thanx for the very kind appreciation.
Comment by Ihsan Ullah
#15 22. October 2009, 12:58 pm o'clock |
A.A n hello every body. i really impressed by the ideas u have mentioned here.but without giving time these things are impossible because we have to work hard for our carrior and these suggestions are better for those who want to be successful in the political fields.
Comment by venus
#16 15. December 2009, 9:11 pm o'clock |
Perfect exactly what i needed. oh ya I needed an educational website for reading. send me a website please.
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# 26. June 2007, 11:16 pm o'clock |
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