Have you ever wondered what the single greatest thing is that will determine your success? There is a common denominator. And the interesting part? It doesn’t really matter if you’re looking for success in business or in life. This “secret” is applicable to all facets and will completely transform the way you view success. Keep reading to learn more.
The Key To Your Success In Life
Success doesn’t have to be a complicated subject. In fact, quite the opposite is true when you focus on the fundamentals. And one of the most essential (yet often overlooked) success fundamentals is your relationships. How many people actually consider this? It’s so true because, in the end, nobody will care about what you have or how much you accumulated.
Instead, people will remember who you were and the effect you had on them. I know a lot of us, especially in Western Culture, have been taught that the most important thing is you. Let me promise you that’s a lie.
Because as awesome as you are, you will only be able to carry yourself so far in this life without the help of other people.
A Painful $50,000 Lesson In Business And Relationships
Now, there was a time in my life when I lost everything. And it was at that moment that I started to rebuild.
And one of the things I realized during this period was:
“I can’t do this by myself.”
So I reached out to some people; some people reached out to me. As a result, I began forming some immature business relationships. And what I mean by that is we weren’t really mature enough to know how to operate a successful business or work together as partners.
But I was desperate…
And if you’ve ever been desperate, then you know what it’s like to be forced to team up with somebody who isn’t really worthy of your partnership. Meaning, they’re not quite at your level but you don’t have a lot of choices.
So I went into this partnership within an industry I knew nothing about.
And in that process, I lost $50,000 cash.
Now, to be clear, nobody broke into my house and stole the cash. It slowly disappeared over a 6-month period as I gave $50,000 of my own cash to this individual and it never came back. And the most painful part?
At that moment in my life, $50,000 was everything I had.
Consequently, I learned several lessons about relationships and business. Let me tell you what, that experience helped me understand…
- We All Crave Relationships: Every person wants to feel a sense of connection and community. The problem with that, if I’m being blunt, is that makes us vulnerable. And I’m not just talking about business relationships either; this also applies romantically, and with friends and family.
- People Don’t Really Care About You: At least not initially anyway; however, what they do care about is the value that you bring. At first, I was offended by this, I thought “People should just love me for who I am.” But the truth is only my mom loves me for who I am (thanks Mom!) And for everybody else, I have to go out there and show the value that I can bring.
- People Will Take Advantage Of You (If You Let Them): Hate to break it to you, but in business, there are a lot of people out there who want to take advantage of you. Why? Because you’re vulnerable and valuable. And some people who see your value will try to exploit it for their own personal gain.
Leveraging Your Relationships
Ultimately, the best relationships are those when two (or more) people come together to serve and contribute to one another. This concept applies to every relationship you have—whether personal or professional. A sense of synergy is created when both parties willingly give. But how do you find these types of relationships?
At Certified Flourishing Coach, our expert team of coaches and facilitators is here to serve you. And the best part? Aside from evidence-based coaching programs and certifications, you will be welcomed into a community of like-minded individuals who are there to help you flourish. So, if you’re ready, contact us today to learn more.
About the Author
Abe Brown, MBA, CMCT, CPHSA is the Coach’s Coach, and is an Entrepreneur, Professional Speaker, International Best-Selling Author, and High-Performance Leadership Coach. He is the founder of Certified Flourishing Coaching™, the Flourishing Life Coaching Program™, and Flourishing Workplace. Abe is also the author of the Certified Flourishing Coaching™ Programs.