5 Critical Strategies to Create an Extraordinary Life & Business

If you’ve been on the leadership path to success and high achievement for any longer than just a few months you’ve probably recognized there’s going to be significant detours and distractions on the journey.

After experiencing my own ups and downs in business & entrepreneurship, and then comparing war stories to other high achievers, I’ve identified five strategies that seem to be common with most who have secured enduring success in life and business. Those who find the most reward, balance, and peace seem to be those who fully integrate their personal, business and spiritual life, rather than compartmentalizing; so here are my 5-Star Strategies to get you on the road to success and harmony.

How to Create an Extraordinary Life & Business

1. Remove Negative Chatter From Your Life And Mind. Sadly, some of us have way too many naysayers and detractors in our lives who suck our energy and lifeblood. Most of us have enough negative chatter spinning around our own minds about insecurities and inadequacies that we don’t need them to be reinforced by family and “friends.” Shed the negative people from your life, and replace the negative self-talk with affirmations of love and reassurance.

2. Focus On Your Strengths. Too often we waste time “improving our weaknesses” rather than making our strengths stronger. Leadership opportunities & business ownership is your chance to build an elite team of diverse ideas and talents who, while working towards a common goal or vision, can impact the business landscape and change the world. An elite team around you will boost your competency and confidence. The fatal flaw of many leaders is the fear of surrounding themselves with people who are bolder and brighter than they are.

3. Take Rapid Action—Because Action Is Power! Don’t confuse being a visionary with the ability to bring forth a vision—and don’t settle for being a dreamer rather than a doer. Remember General Patton’s famous quote, “A good plan violently executed today is better than a perfect plan next week.”

4. Expect & Embrace Failure. The truth is, everyone who has experienced success has experienced mistakes, missteps and failure. The Founder of the Honda Motor Company is known for saying “success is 99% failure.” Failure is not the issue; but how we respond to it is. Sometimes we simply need to quickly evaluate our circumstance, make a five to ten degree course correction, and move out towards our goal, again.

5. Never Give Up. Sir Winston Churchill was quoted as saying, “success is the ability to move from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm.” I see it over and over again…people give up when success is just around the corner. This is most common with folks who’ve been chasing success in a field or industry in which they have little or no passion. Once you find your passion, and build a business plan around it, the thought of giving up becomes a vapor (you may, at times, become exasperated, but quitting is not an option).

Have any of these tips resonated with you about your journey? What tips would you offer a colleague who desires an extraordinary life? I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments below.