Success in business is no accident. When I look back on my career, I used to think that I achieved success because I was just too stubborn to give up. But as I look back on my career, I realize it's more than that.

I realize that I succeed because I take total responsibility for the outcome of my business. If my business partners are doing less than admirable work, it's my job to improve their performance rather than looking at them and thinking they are the wrong people for the job. I did invite them, after all. The question on me is how to develop the skills in my business partners that I must have for my company to grow.

One thing I've found that works like a charm is gratitude. I learned that while I was attending Junior College. I was in the Honors Society and my title was publicist. One of my tasks was to get people to paint and hang those marquee-type banners across the walkways around the college advertising Honor Society activites. What I noticed was that there was quite a lot of "hard sell" in trying to get these hard-working students to volunteer for one-more-thing. Most of the efforts at securing volunteer hours went something like this: "I need 10 of you to help with this and you made a commitment to service when you joined this club!" The usual response was the sound of crickets chirping!

I decided to use a different strategy. When it was my turn to campaign for volunteers, I said: "First of all, I want to appreciate and recognize you for all you do. You are working really hard, or you wouldn't be here. And, I want to thank you, in advance, for your willingness to help me on this project." Then I described what I needed. Three hands went up. After the meeting, when I met with my volunteers to coordinate our efforts, one girl had her boyfriend at her side (he had not voluteered). I began our discussion with another expression of gratitude for their willingness. The boyfriend piped up, "I want to help, too!"

The key . . . . who was responsible??? I was responsible for motivating volunteers. I could have pushed hard and used guilt to get people to do their duties and walked away with a bad attitude and calling them slackers! But instead, I walked away grateful that people are willing to help if they know they will be appreciated!

Remember, any success you achieve depends on YOU taking responsibility, no matter what is happening around you!

Tags: Business_leader Ship Obstacles Responsibility Mlm Direct_sales Profit

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