Four Cornerstones of Success

Jack Bennett, retired Head Basketball Coach of the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Pt. recently made several insightful remarks regarding success at the ETI ToolTech in Carefree, AZ.

In business, as in sports and life, we deal with two things:
Prosperity, success, good times. This is when we need to remember where we came from and stay level-headed. If you win, stay humble.
But we must also deal with failure and disappointment. Then you must maintain your ability to stay focused and confident. It is character that is most important and the values you choose to live by. If you lose, don't lose heart.

His four cornerstones of success are:
1 - Humility: know who you are, know what your are good at and what you're not so good at. Remember Paul's words in his letter to the Corinthians, "when I am weak, then I am strong". Learn from mistakes.
2 - Passion - Someone who genuinely loves what they are doing will stick with it through good and bad. Passion is in short supply in some instances around this business.
3 - Perseverance - This is a close cousin to Passion. Perseverance is the ability to be resilient, to be knocked down 7 times and get up 8. Success is not always about pure ability and talent. Sometimes it's about being good from the neck up. Don't quit when the going gets tough.
4 - Courage: Do what's right, not necessarily what's popular. Leaders inspire because of their principles. Do what's right and what's best. Make everyone around you better.

His presentation was brief, but his words are long-lasting. Hope they inspire you to be a better person, and a greater success in whatever you endeavor.