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Secrets to Success
John-Paul Micek
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Map out each bit of advice to its end point
I was shocked by a quote I read today. It was given as advice to business people, and it went like this: "Emulate, do not innovate. Be unique, but not original."
As soon as I read it, the hair stood up on the back of my neck and I started to shake with frustration. I managed to get control of myself before I sent a comment to the author: "That's good advice - if you want to be a follower!"
In my mind, I was ranting and raving, "Really! Do you think Apple, Virgin, Chris Angel, Martha Stewart, Oprah or any other standout company or personal brand adheres to advice like that?"
No, of course they don't. The "nots" in that piece of advice will limit your success by making you a follower not a leader. And, that's the worst thing that can happen to you in business.
You're trudging along day after day, thinking you're on the right path because someone else beat it down for you. Finally, one day you get to the end, and you realize your destination is really not the goal you originally had in mind. And, you have to start all over again.
That's not good, not good at all. Modeling is great, but only when you innovate, using your own strengths.
Being unique is terrific. We all know that. But my dogs leave unique piles of poop every day. If my dogs were original and used the toilet, now that would get my attention - and the rest of the world's too! I'm sure I don't have to draw you any more pictures.
Beware of using cute little quotes as the basis for your business strategies. Dissect them and make sure they'll work for your style.
Use common sense to map out each piece of advice to its conclusion. That way you'll see if the end point aligns with your goals. If it doesn't, either learn how to modify them to work with your strengths, communication, and motivation style, and personal brand - or trash it.
Following the advice of an Internet marketing guru, (or any other type of guru) is much like going to school. It's anti-entrepreneurial.
Our educational system is still based on industrial-era principles, where students are stripped of independent thought and indoctrinated in beliefs that will make them compliant to the wishes of both the state and corporations. There's little in the way of independent thought taught in the vast majority of schools. It's the same with the "education systems" peddled by product pushers on every Internet street corner. It takes originality, flexibility, and a willingness to leave your ego at the door, if you want to truly lead people on a journey of discovery. And that takes effort.
There are principles and general strategies that must be learned. But how they are adapted and applied is much more important than knowledge of them. That is called wisdom. And wisdom, not knowledge, is what creates wealth.
John-Paul Micek is a business coach at RPM Success Group Inc. He can be reached via
JPM@RPMsuccess.com
John-Paul Micek is the lead business coach at RPM Success Group Inc. Reach him at
JPM@RPMsuccess.com or toll-free at (888) 334-8151.
Deborah Cole Micek, chief executive officer of RPM Success Group, is a business success coach and life strategist. Reach her at
DCM@RPMsuccess.com or toll-free at (888) 334-8151.