All of us who went to middle or high school had to learn the intricate trick of gaining access to your lockers with the left, right, left combination lock. You remember those? You had to first be given a series of numbers and then dial those numbers up in the right order to open your private world. Goals are kinda like that, so are the key elements of any success plan or program that aim to propel a person’s life or career to the edge of their dreams. The numbers in the sequence represent the time-honored virtues that have built successful careers, families, and organizations since the beginning of time. The process of dialing in the numbers represent a person’s desire to unlock the full potential of their life and career and reap the rewards of effective goal setting, hard work, and ethical living. The door itself tells us that barriers exist in all of our lives and only through the process of the burning desire to dream and achieve do we find a way to break through the obstacles of our lives.
This all sounds so simple; just give me the numbers and I will succeed! The good news is there is a correct combination. The bad news is that there are literally thousands of people in the world who say they have the right answers to our burning questions. Dr. Stephen Covey told us there were 7 Habits, Dr. Henry Cloud says there are 9 Things You Simply Must Do, and Andy Andrews believes that there are 7 Decisions that will lead us on a successful path of life and career. Who’s right? Well, in my opinion, all of them! These are outstanding books and principles that were written by geniuses’ who have helped thousands of people. The main advice from this article is to encourage you to read as much as you possibly can and see what works for you. In doing so, you will be enlightened to a world of possibilities and endless dreams.
There are many habits and traits that make up a successful career and life journey. As stated above, the numbers vary when it comes to the right amount of them to adhere to and refine in your overall makeup. The Kudzu Principle is built upon six axioms that, if orchestrated correctly, can dramatically improve a person’s ability to climb the ladder of success and feel more secure in their job. In the Intrinsic Motivators, you will be encouraged to tackle two attributes that you can do alone to get a jump start on your journey. Personal Branding is a way to position yourself for great things by proclaiming to the world that they should invest in your brand and choose you over the pack. The difference between self-promotion and branding is staggering, and the effective use of establishing your brand is a sure-fire career ignitor. The other Intrinsic Motivator is setting Visual Goals. Nobody denies the age-old virtue of setting goals. Written goals have been a mainstay for eons and have propelled individuals and organizations who habitually use them to set, measure, and manage their sales, weight loss, and altruistic ambitions. Visions boards have become the latest craze in realizing our dreams as they scientifically reinforce our ambitions with beautiful visual images of the life we truly want.
The Extrinsic Accomplishments are where things get tricky for some because they involve other people. Let’s face it, some people are not people people! When given a choice of doing things alone or with or in front of a group, they would rather drive solo. Networking is tough for some people because it takes courage to work a room or walk up and introduce yourself to strangers and let them into your private circle. However, in this life, it is who you know and the bigger the network the better the chances of succeeding. Another dreaded Extrinsic Accomplishment is Public Speaking. Jerry Seinfeld once said, that “when giving a eulogy, most people would rather be the one in the casket than the one speaking.” It’s true. Most people hate public speaking and it is often one of the biggest detriments to advancing in your career. A person with good public speaking skills can set themselves apart from the crowd and rise to heights unimaginable.
The Career Milestones separate the mid-level achiever from the executive. These skills are where greatness is formed and organizations are led to epic achievements. Getting Published, like public speaking, is a rare skill to develop and master. However, picking a few trade journals or magazines and getting published makes you an expert in your field and garners credibility that is immeasurable. Finally, becoming a Workplace Superstar is more than being the ‘dandy’ of the organization. It’s a status that makes the rising star absolutely irreplaceable and, in some cases, the face of the organization. These are the ones who write grants, represent the organization in the public, and organize the charitable and community projects that solidifies the company’s ethical commitment to service and good will.
Like my contemporaries who have taught us their own unique paths to success, I feel that the combination of the six Kudzu Principles can dramatically enhance a career and reveal to the practitioner of them a new path of discovery and solitude in their work.