10 Rules for Success
By Caleb Robinson
When I was 10 years old, I went to my parents with an ornate plan of how I wanted to become the “Best Sailor in the World.” Detailed on a letter-size piece of printer paper in different colored sharpies were three goals: Win a regional competition, win a national competition, and win a world championship. In my mind, it was a linear process — all I had to do was show up and simply check the boxes.
After carefully pondering my plan, my dad asked me how I was going to achieve these monumental tasks. I stated it bluntly: all I had to do was be faster than everyone else and win the race. He then proceeded to dive into an hour-long lecture on the necessities for success in anything in life. It translates to the world of Public Relations as our job is to set goals and find strategic ways of achieving them.
1. Believe You Can Win
To accomplish a monumental task you have to first believe in yourself and that you have a chance at winning. With communications, to get someone to believe in what you’re writing about, you have to first believe in it yourself. Passion is contagious.
2. Do Not Be Seduced by Results
It’s easy to compare yourself to other people and feel inadequate in your abilities. Yet, success in anything comes after a diligent and repetitive cadence of the small details. Getting knocked down, making a mistake, or missing something important is all part of the process.
3. Sulking Will Not Get You Anything
We’ve all done it. We’ve complained for hours or felt down when getting rejected from an internship or job, but ultimately it’s important to recognize that nothing good comes from throwing a tantrum. It’s acceptable to be upset, but don’t dwell on your mistakes or let them define you.
4. Stay Patient and Let Others Beat Themselves
Some of the greatest sport icons of our time got to their level simply because they stayed in the game longer than others. People stray from their path initially set for any number of reasons, but those who stay in the game the longest end up becoming the most successful. Simply, they see more than everyone else.
5. Ignore Unsolicited Advice
People are only willing to hear something when they are ready. You cannot change anything in your life unless you are willing to challenge your thinking and seek advice. If someone comes to you with advice when you’re not willing to hear it, it won’t matter. In other words, don’t accept advice from someone you wouldn’t change positions with.
6. Embrace Your Personality – Be Who You Are
You have a 1 out of 4 trillion chance of being born into this moment of time as a human being: You’re unique. Everything you do should be a reflection of who you truly are and be uncompromising of anything that conflicts with your core values.
7. Have a Routine and Rely on It
Many people have a successful routine to get them started in the morning. As some CEOs say, the brainpower to make accurate decisions is a limited resource that’s replenished after you sleep. To maximize the opportunity for you to make healthy decisions, you need to set up routines that are second-nature and don’t require a heavy amount of thought. This could be spending the first 30 minutes of your day reading the news over coffee, or listening to a relevant podcast on your daily commute.
8. Find Peace in What You Do
While some days can be hectic, it’s important to recognize the small things that bring you peace. Remember why you started doing what you currently do. Most of all, be grateful for the opportunity to be able to do what you love.
9. Test Yourself Against Others
It’s important to test your skills in a non-judgemental way against those of your peers. Learning and incorporating successful tactics from other people can be a great asset in your skill toolbox. By exposing yourself to new experiences you gain a better understanding of the industry as a whole.
10. Find Someone Who Believes In You – Like Friends or Family
Even though it’s the last rule, it might be the most important. Finding people who believe in you can help propel you to take risks when you’re uncertain and encourage you to achieve the goals you’ve set out for yourself. These are the people who see something in you that you don’t yet see yourself and demand you become the best version that you can be.