Issue #102: On a Surprising Way You Block Your Success, the 85% Rule for Optimal Learning, and More

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INSIGHTS (on leadership/self-leadership)

As I discuss in my new course, “Eight Ways You Block Your Success,” unleashing success starts with, surprisingly, realizing how successful you already are. All too often, people miss this.

Success goes beyond your salary, job title, or goals achieved. Nothing wrong with any of that – of course. But success has a broader definition than you might realize. In fact, if you can answer “yes” to any of the following 6 questions, you’re more successful than you think.

1. Do you consistently live your values? Your values influence how you act, exemplifying who you are. Are your daily actions consistent with your values, and the kind of person you want to be?

2. Are you working on your life versus just in it? Nothing wrong with working IN your life; navigating the daily routine. But greater success comes from working ON your life, too. For example, take the time to envision what you really want to do with your life and spot unhelpful patterns and habits you’ve fallen into. It’s about stepping back, making changes, and taking action, to get to a better place. 

3. Do you feel abundance even in the “absence of”? Meaning, even when you don’t have everything you want, focus on what you DO have. It’s easy to get caught up feeling like enough is never enough, always looking to the next thing, the next rung of the ladder to climb. But the ability to consistently show gratitude for all you have and have accomplished (versus always needing more) is a key trait of the most successful people. (I talked about this as the Finnish secret to success a few issues ago).

4. Do you have a continuous improvement mindset? Success isn’t just achieving that desired end-state. It’s also making progress along the way, learning from mistakes and adapting, changing, and growing. Success is attracted to forward movement, and repelled by status-quo.

5. Are you doing the hard work so you’re ready when opportunities arise? You stay motivated to put in the work it takes to succeed by falling in love with the process of doing that work. Not easy, as the work can be boring or repetitive at times and feel far removed from success. But it’s that little stuff that pays off in big moments.

6. Are you achieving your definition of success, not someone else’s? One of life’s tragedies is when people say they don’t feel successful, relative to someone else’s definition of success, not their own. When you define what success means to you, you might discover how successful you already are.

So, consider these 6 questions, and reveal a more successful you. And check out my new course, “Eight Ways You Block Your Success,” via the link below:

IMPERFECTIONS (a mistake many make)

Most of us intuitively know that some level of failure is required for us to succeed, to learn and grow. But what’s the right amount of failure? Too much and you’re thoroughly demotivated. Not enough, and you don’t feel challenged to continue pushing yourself to get better.  

Good news is, research from the University of Arizona gives us the answer. It highlights the 85% Rule for optimal learning. Turns out, to maximize learning and growth, an 85% success rate to a 15% failure rate, is ideal. That’s the sweet spot for a portfolio of experiences that nets optimum learning. Putting a number to it like this is helpful for reframing failure, by the way. The next time something doesn’t go your way, chalk it up to the 15% required to keep you on the path to personal improvement.

IMPLEMENTATION (one research-backed strategy, tip, or tool)

CEO of Helen of Troy, Julien Mininberg (and a friend of mine), recently gave a talk at Yale on how the power of culture can transform a business. One of the tools he highlighted (used at his company) was, “The Mood Elevator.” Imagine a range of moods (shown below), starting with the “bottom floor,” depressed, going up to the "top floor," grateful.

Mininberg and his team encourage you to ask each day – what floor will you get off on? How will you show up? The top floors have a top-notch impact on the “smell of the place” (the culture).  And you have a choice.

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Share this publication with a friend, and check out my 5 NEW COURSES on LinkedIn Learning (via the menu below): Happiness Habits, 8 Ways You Block Your Success, How to Think Big, How to Get People to Like You, and, The Best Leadership Lessons from the Worst Bosses.

And get my "Soundview 2021 Best Business Book" and "Bulk Books bestseller," Leading from the Middle: a Playbook for Managers to Influence Up, Down, and Across the Organization.