Success: Journey or Destination?

I used to think success was all about the destination—that the accurate measure of accomplishment lay in reaching that pinnacle. Isn't that what we're taught? To chase that ultimate goal, to climb to the top?

While reading From Strength to Strength by Arthur C. Brooks, a statement hit me deeply: "Where striving for success should be an exciting journey toward an amazing destination."
This line stopped me in my tracks.

We all strive for success in our lives and encounter triumphs and setbacks along the way. But no matter the outcome, I know that each success and "almost" required hard work, dedication, focus, enormous sacrifice, and, yes, a lot of luck.

One of my successes was leading one of the most creative, thriving, and exciting organizations. It took years of relentless work, dedication, and...

A question from Amy, who attended the Three Key Principles webinar. It was a good question on creating and implementing Values and Culture. 

Question One:

Domenic, I love your story about your daughters. I can see that you have values and are living them. How did you create the values in your company?

My values turn into the values of the company.
These values that my job as a leader is to be the mentor and teacher of these values. 
When there are issues, I teach the employees how to handle them. 

If they solve them not the way the values are of the company, I work with them on how to manage them the next time.
It is a constant vigil job to teach and mentor the values during the work day. 

In the beginning, I was not as vigilant with how employees acted and how we handled issues.

But I wanted to create an environment where everyone thrived.

The values to do this had to be taught.

But before teaching, I had to hire people that had these traits.

If...

Hi Judith,

Thank you for sharing your time with me at the webinar.

I love your question,
How do you know what from your head is the most important to impart to your employees?

I was at a dinner last Saturday night.
One of my oldest friends was musing.
He said, "I wish I could go back and know what I know now."

I waited to listen to everyone on that musing.
Most, if not all, were thinking the same thing.
If only I could go back.

I gave my two cents.
I would not want to go back in time with my knowledge of today.

I made many mistakes. I made some real doozies with work and life.

But I would not want to go back with my knowledge of today.
There is an excitement of not knowing something and doing it anyway—the guessing and figuring out. 
That naivety was there for me not to know what I was doing and doing them anyway.

It is not about the good or bad things (hopefully, when all is said and done, I did more good).
I would not want to take that adrenaline and feeling away.

Question after question after question. I am filling my free time by answering these great questions from my last webinar. G asked me the perfect question. And she offered some kind words that warmed the cockles of my heart, plus lets me know that sharing this expertise is worth it and keeps me in this game:

"Thank you, Domenic, for a great presentation. Lots of good information was given."

I know many of you will be working on your Primary Aims from the resources. There may be a time when you may become puzzled. G's question about aims and goals is one of those times.

Thank you, G. This question allows me to help you with the difference between the two. The clearer you can make this distinction, the more opportunity you have to create lasting aims.

I have had the "pleasure" of collaborating with many remarkable mentors and many more excellent employees. I tried to build the first without many of the tools and methods I am teaching today. Yes, I created three multi-million-dollar...

After the webinar, J asked a very inciteful question: Do you apply the Who-What-When-Where-Why Model to attitude/mindset?

I loved this question. Yes, J, the who, what, when, where, and why of the Strategic Objective and the Value Statement have so much to do and apply to attitude and mindset.

Thank you, J, for joining us at the webinar: "What You Need to Know Moving Forward your Business Idea." I shared three areas of this leadership webinar: your personal Primary Aims, your company's Strategic Objective, and your company Value Statement.

First, let me tackle how you apply these areas to your mindset.

Imagine yourself sitting under this stone pergola. Relaxing and enjoying reading a good blog post.

Strategic Objective is your companies' Who, what, when, and where.
Who are you as a company?
Who are your clients?
Who are your employees?

What are the services you offer?

When will you be at the sales and the net you envision?

Where are you located?
Where...

Two webinar attendees asked a similar question:

M asked, “Does leadership’s key apply to small businesses with less than five employees?”

B asked, “How do I lead if I'm a solopreneur?”

I love these two questions.

It gets to the core of success in life and business.

Creating a meaningful company is a challenge and choice. Creating a meaningful life is more of a challenge.

No matter how many employees you have or if you are a solopreneur, you will make choices.   

I have shared with you: "What does it take to be a leader and grow a great company?
One that is meaningful to the client, to the employees, to the community, to your family, and you, the owner.

A leader transforms from a worker-owner to a mentor and teacher to their employees with a Value Statement.

A leader creates and leads the organization to a future vision with a Strategic Objective.

A leader will develop and mentor the culture...

During the webinar, there was an excellent question about implementing Aims, Strategic Objectives, and Value Statements.

I am a roll-up-your-sleeve type webinar/seminar speaker that tells an audience:
Here is the theory.
Here are the stories of building or starting your business without the theory.
Here are the stories of building or starting your business with the theory.
AND
HERE IS THE HOW.

This question by M is spot-on.
I hit this theory of the Three Key Principles.
I gave ways to implement them, but

The question from M is a good one because
She wants to learn new ideas when she goes to a webinar or seminar.
But often, you come out more confused at the end of the hour.
How you did this is the big question. When you did this is another question.

I know how M feels
I attended a snow industry conference.
We had a commercial snow removal division in the company.
I am always searching for networks, software, and new ideas.

I remember looking for an educational program I could learn new...

One webinar participant asked me, "Is this a learning thing about business? Or if you made a mistake and it was about this person's life?

This question about the webinar made me smile. S wondered whether the webinar was about me and my personal life. I had fun with this question. You spent so much time starting, running, and growing your business if you are so inclined (as I was). Business is part of your life. How much depends on how much YOU want it in your life.

I know from experience. For the first ten years of my business, I worked 24/7. I thought my family was an essential part of my life. My actions? Work was the most important part of my life: I spent all my time working. In the next ten years, we thought in a new way. We grew 20 times. And the essential part of this growth, I had the time and the profits that gave me more time with my family. 

S, you thought it was about my life. Well, it was about my life. Family is number one. I was not acting that...