(Originally posted June 30, 2009)

1. What is your ambition for your business, career and life? Where do you want to be 5, 10, 20 years from now? Dare to dream big. Develop a clear vision of what success looks like for you.

2. How are you going to get there? The realization of your vision requires a sense of direction (plan). What are you going to do today that moves you toward your vision? What are you going to do tomorrow? This month? This year? Over the next 5 years?

3. Great ideas are everywhere but taking action and doing the hard work necessary to make them real is rare. No matter how big your vision, take the first step now. Then take the next step. And so on. Action is everything. Vision is in your head and planning is words on paper. Action is reality.

Vision, direction and action are the ingredients of authentic, sustainable success. Hitting it big without a vision, plan or hard work is called luck. Luck is not repeatable. You need confidence that you can repeat your successes so that you will have the courage to take the risks necessary to achieve your full potential.

This plan for success is simplistic as well as simple but success does not need to be complicated. Of the three steps, action is the most important. Do something every day that moves you closer to your goals.

Your comments are welcome.

Doug