The top spot doesn’t come easy
No matter which industry you’re in, we can all agree on one thing: it’s good to be on top. Thing is, that top spot doesn’t come easy. Any top producer will tell you about the long hours and dedication it took to get there. They may even touch on their secrets of success – but stop short of telling you the whole story. At Happy Grasshopper, we know what it takes to succeed at the highest levels. It starts with you!
Five Activities That Will Get You to the Top
- Maintain a “Me First” Attitude
I know, I know. You’ve been taught that selfishness is a universally negative trait – but that’s not always the case. A “Me First” attitude is crucial if you want to stand out within your industry.
You’ve got to put yourself first.
This may seem an easy enough attitude in theory, but in practice can prove difficult. After all, we’ve been conditioned that putting others before us is the expectation. The truth is, that you really can’t take care of others until you take care of yourself. When you’re operating at 100%, so are your relationships, which makes self-development paramount to success in all areas.
Be yourself.
Your success depends on who you are – not anyone else. Top producers all have one thing in common: they remain true to themselves across the board. If you need inspiration, look no further than the tiger. Tigers are apex predators – they don’t second-guess who they are. They exist to hunt and they do it well, because they embrace who they are on the most basic level. Truly knowing yourself will help you to realize and achieve your goals. Speaking of goals… what are they? Additionally, what are your core values – those things that guide your decisions?
Write them down!
These goals and core values encompass who we are – make note. Writing these down not only keep them tangible, but also serve as a daily reminder of who we are and what we want to achieve. Manifest these values in your everyday life, whether in personal interactions or professional ones. Isolate who you are. Be a tiger!
- Be Confident
This point cannot be overstated enough: be unequivocally and unapologetically confident in everything you do – always. People often make the critical mistake of thinking confidence is an attitude with rigid parameters. They believe that confidence relies on knowing the answer. They’re wrong. You don’t have to know the answer to exude confidence; in fact these are times when confidence is most crucial. The most important thing to remember is that confidence is, in fact, an attitude – it doesn’t rely on anything but you. You don’t know the answer? No worries, you’re going to find it.
The important thing to remember is how confidence in others appears to you. People with confidence radiate comfort – they put you at ease because no matter the situation, they’re going to get it done.
- Give Generously
Wait, we just told you to adopt a “Me First” attitude, and now you’re supposed to be generous? Of course! You can focus on your own progress while still being generous to others – the two are not mutually exclusive. You want to give your time and resources generously on a continuous basis, especially in regards to your team and community. Giving back to these people will earn you 10x back in other areas.
Lead by example.
The concept is simple: people respond with more generosity when it is shown to them. If you’re willing to put time aside for people, rolling your sleeves up and getting your hands dirty, people are often going to reciprocate. This not only builds up your relationship with your community and team, but also projects a personality that others will instantly want to work with. Generosity is the great equalizer that brings everyone, including potential clients, together.
- Flock Together
You are the average sum of the people you surround yourself with, which means if you’re the smartest person in the room…you’re in the wrong room! You not only want to surround yourself with successful people, but also those who have achieved what you want to achieve – people that are performing at a much higher level. These people not only serve as inspiration in reaching your goals, but also as resources on your path to the top. They’ll prove invaluable in helping you do the fifth and final activity, which is to…
- Stay Hungry
This is something that cannot be an option – you must stay hungry all the time. There are always new ideas to try, risks to take, and areas in which you can improve. There’s never a need to be satisfied, because there’s always more to achieve and new ground to break.
Never. Stop. Evolving.
We really want to drive this point home because the simple fact is that boredom can be dangerous. We need to keep working toward something to maintain a successful attitude, and the easiest way to do this is to find a reason for it all. What is the truly compelling reason to want more than what you have? Once you find that reason you’ll be unstoppable.