The Success Blog

Failing Forward

 

 This is a collection of quotes from one of my all time favorite books, "Failing Forward" by John C. Maxwell.  I highly recommend this book to anyone who has dealt with failure or disappointment in their life. You will gain a new perspective on failure and learn how to turn failure into a stepping stone for success.  Through this book you will learn that the difference between average people and achieving people is their perception of and response to failure. Maxwell will  provide straightforward principles for overcoming failure and solid steps to help you become the achiever you've always wanted to be.  Pick up a copy of this book and stop failing backward and start failing forward.

Enjoy,

    Kevin Richardson

   www.JoinTeamSynergy.com 

Quotes from Failing Forward

Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes into Stepping Stones for Success.  

"Failure is an inside job.  So is success.  If you want to achieve, you have to win the war in your thinking first.  You can't let the failure outside you get inside you." -John Maxwell

"Ninety percent of all those who fail are not actually defeated.   They simply quit." -Paul J. Meyer

"One of the greatest problems people have with failure is that they are too quick to judge isolated situations in their lives and label them as failures.  Instead, they need to keep the bigger picture in mind."

"The better a man is, the more mistakes he will make, for the more new things he will try.  I would never promote to a top-level job a man who was not making mistakes... otherwise he is sure to be mediocre."  -Peter Drucker

"The fight to take responsibility occurs within.  And rarely does talent, intelligence, or opportunity make the difference in whether a person wins that battle.  It calls for character." -John C. Maxwell

"Our business in life is not to get ahead of others, but to get ahead of ourselves-to break our own records, to outstrip our yesterday by our today."  Stewart B. Johnson.

"Sooner or later we get just what we expect."

"It is easy to dodge our responsibilities, but we cannot dodge the consequences of our responsibilities." -Sir Josiah Stamp

"If you always do what you've always done, then you will always get what you've always gotten."

"The Question is not if you will have problems, but how you are going to deal with your problems." - John C. Maxwell

"There is no achievement wihout failure." - John C. Maxwell

 "The Average for entrepreneurs is 3.8 failures before they finally make it in business." - Lisa Amos 

"People who fail forward are able to see errors or negative experiences as a regular part of life, learn from them, and then move on.  They persevere in order to achieve their purpose in life." - John C. Maxwell

"Each of us has to make a choice.  Are we going to sleep life away, avoiding failure at all costs?  Or are we going to wake up and realize this:  Failure is simply a price we pay to achieve success." - John C. Maxwell

"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up." - Thomas Edison

 "What distinguishes winners from losers is that winners concentrate at all times on what they can do, not on what they can't do." - Bob Butera

"Don't waste energy trying to cover up failure.  Learn from your failures and go on to the next challenge.  It's okay to fail.  If you're not failing, your not growing. - H. Stanley Judd

"Every failure you experience is a fork in the road.  It's an opportunity to take action, learn from your mistakes, and begin again." - John C. Maxwell

"A man is not defeated by his opponents but by himself." - Jan Christiaan Smuts

"Why worry about things you can't control when you can keep yourself busy controlling the things that depend on you?" - John C. Maxwell

"Change yourself, and your world changes." - John C. Maxwell

  "Grasp the positive benefits of negative experiences." - John C. Maxwell

"To achieve your dreams, you must embrace adversity and make failure a regular part of your life.  If you're not failing, you're probably not moving forward." - John C. Maxwell

"While one person hesitates because he feels inferior, the other is busy making mistakes and becoming superior." - Henry C. Link

"Risk must be evaluated not by the fear it generates in you or the probability of your success, but by the value of the goal." - John C. Maxwell

"The less you venture out, the greater your risk of failure.  Ironically the more you risk failure-and actually fail-the greater your chances of success." - John C. Maxwell

"Little progress is better than no progress at all". - John C. Maxwell

"Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable." - Sydney J. Harris  -  If you take risks and fail, you'll have fewer regrets than if you "do nothing and fail.

"You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great."

"When you get an insight or inspiration, do something about it in twenty-four hours - or the odds are against you ever acting on it." - Bill Glass

"Your attitude toward failure determines your altitude after failure." - John C. Maxwell

"The most important thing in life is not to capitalize on our gains.  Any fool can do that.  The really important thing is to profit from your losses.  That requires intelligence; and it makes the difference between a man of sense and a fool." - Sydney Harris

 "I Learned more from the one restaurant that didn't work than from all the ones that were successes." - Wolfgang Puck

"Learning is defined as a change in behavior.  You haven't learned a thing until you can take action and use it." - Ken Blanchard

"The common denominator of success lies in forming the habit of doing things that failures don't like to do." - Albert Gray

"More than anything else, what keeps a person going in the midst of adversity is having a sense of purpose.  It is the fuel that powers persistence." - John C. Maxwell

 "Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races, one after another." - Walter Elliot

"Never say die.  Never be satisfied.  Be stubborn.  Be persistent.  Integrity is a must.  Anything worth having is worth striving for with all your might." - Orville Redenbacher

 "Experience is not what happens to you.  Experience is what you do with what happens to you." - Aldous Huxley

"He who makes no mistakes never makes anything" - Old English Proverb

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What a great book to change your outlook on failure.  Do not let failure keep you from reaching your potential.  Learn from the failure and use it to propel you toward success.

Expect Success,

    Kevin Richardson

    Get Paid Daily

 

14 Qualities of Being a Successful Parent

14 Qualities of Being a Successful Parent

	1.  Enjoy being a parent. They enjoy parenting not because it’s easy or instantly rewarding, but because of the sheer joy and privilege of cooperating with God in shaping another unique and precious life. Any parent of grown children will tell you "they grow up so quickly." Successful parents remind themselves of that and try to savor every day with their children. They immerse themselves in their children as much as possible and just enjoy them – even the days of dirty diapers, illness and disappointments. They don’t just LOVE their children, they LIKE them and look forward to spending time with them. 2.  Identify good qualities in your children. Telling your children about their good qualities is the quickest way to help them build self confidence. Make a conscious effort to identify and compliment your children for their good qualities. Sometimes it is necessary to take a pause from the rush of life and enjoy the wonderful qualities that your children possess. Don’t think for a moment that a mental note is enough. Point out your children’s good qualities and let them build upon them.
	3. Make time daily to spend with your kids. Life has a way of consuming all of your time. It is easy to become “too busy” to do anything with your kids. If you can’t find the time, make the time. No matter how busy you are, or how tired you may be; there is no reason to deny your children of 30 minutes of your daily time. Give your kids thirty minutes every day for whatever they wish to do.
	4.  Communicate positively with your children. Talk to your kids in a positive way. Talk to them in a friendly manner about whatever subject they wish to discuss. Avoid falling into the trap of speaking to your kids only when you need to discipline them. Kids get your attention most easily when they are getting into trouble, but don’t make this the only time you talk to them because your speech will be less than pleasant. Give your children the benefit of positive communication and they will be more likely to talk to you in good times and bad.
	5.  Involve children in household activities and family trips. Don’t allow children to become isolated in some remote corner of the house. It is important to allow your children a reasonable amount of privacy, but don’t encourage them to become reclusive in their rooms. Although this will be a subject of controversy, I would suggest keeping as many electronic “toys” in common family areas. Keep televisions, computers, and phones out of children’s rooms whenever possible. Additionally the daily time allowed to use these attention demanding items should be regulated. Encourage family time and whenever possible do the unthinkable…talk to each other. In addition to household activities, plan fun events outside of the house in which the kids can be involved. Plan simple, but exciting activities that everyone can enjoy. Also plan vacations and trips together when possible. Allow your children to contribute their ideas for your times together. Make a habit of giving the children something to look forward to with the family.
	6.  Listen attentively to your children. Be aware of the way you listen to your children—especially when you are busy. Take care to assure your children that you think that what they say is important. At times when you are preoccupied, it is easy to make the mistake of answering your children without paying full attention to what they are saying. When you find yourself answering your children by saying, “uh huh,” “yeah,” or a similar manner of thoughtless speech, take note of it and pay closer attention to your children. As a parent, you would surely take offense if your children answered you in this way. Be sure to look at them when they are talking to you. This may take a little extra effort, but it will make you give them the attention they deserve, and your children will see that you believe that what they say is important.
	7.  Be willing to change. Part of being a successful parent is knowing when to change something about yourself. Don’t allow your determination to be a good parent prevent you from being one. Everyone wants to be a perfect parent, but there truly is no such thing. Parents do make mistakes from time to time. There is nothing wrong with making mistakes as a parent, as long as you can admit it to yourself and make changes for the better.
	8.  Protect your children’s safety. Caring for the safety of your children may seem to be so obvious that it does not need mention. It is amazing how many parents fail to care for even basic elements of their children’s safety. From parents who call upon their young children to cross a busy street after school while they sit in their cars, to others who let their children roam the streets without any knowledge of where they are, it can be disturbing to see how some parents deprive their children of basic safety. Never gamble on the safety of your children.
	9.  Do not allow your children to disrespect you or your spouse. Being a good parent does not mean you must allow your children to disrespect you or your spouse(or partner). Be certain that your children understand what you expect of them in regard to respect.
	10.  Don’t argue with your spouse in front of the children. In heated moments, this may seem difficult to avoid; but there is nothing that can be gained from arguing in front of your children. When something becomes a big enough issue that an argument is unavoidable, be aware that the children are watching and find a way to bottle it up and discuss it in private. There is nothing wrong with your children knowing that you have disagreements with your spouse (or partner), but unless you want your children to be a part of the argument, it is best to take care of the disagreement privately. Don’t put children in a position where they will take sides or hear utterances that will be apologized for later. Whatever it takes keep your children out of your arguments.
	11.  Tell your children you love them. Never refrain from telling your children you love them. Ignore any thoughts in your head that tell you not to do so. It is difficult to tell your children you love them too much, but it is easy to tell them too little. Don’t let such a simple thing be a cause of regret. Tell your children you love them. 12.   Be the person you want your children to be There are no formulas for parents. You can’t just "program" children like a computer and be guaranteed of the result. But children are great observers and imitators. They watch, listen and absorb values and habits from the people who have the greatest influence on them – their parents. So successful parents resolve that they will set the best example they can for their children. 13.  Pray with your children I believe praying for your children and with your children is one of the most important things you can do as a parent. The most important thing in life is a relationship with God.  What better way to point your children to that relationship then by praying with them.  Not only will this help your children learn how to pray, but it will also help strengthen their relationship with our heavely father and bring you closer to your children as well.   14. Get Support Successful parenting means trusting yourself, but not being a Lone Ranger. No one has the experience or answers to every parenting challenge. But each of us has some of the answers and, together, we’ve got them all. So successful parents aren’t reluctant to seek out the wisdom of others. They know that, at the end of the day, the decision is theirs, but before they get there, there is plenty of wisdom along the way waiting to help them.

 

The Successful Dad

The Successful Dad

I may never be as clever as my
neighbor down the street,
I may never be as wealthy as some
other men I meet.
I may never have the glory that some
other men have had,
But I've just got to be successful as
that little fellow's dad.

There are certain dreams I cherish,
that I'd like to see come true,
There are things I would like to do.
There are things I would like to
accomplish before my earthly life is through.
But the task I've set my heart on is
to guide a little lad,
To make myself successful as that
little fellow's dad.

Oh, I may never come to glory, I may
never gather gold,
And when my business life is over,
I may be considered a failure as told.
But the task I've set my heart on is
to guide a little lad,
To make myself successful as that
little fellow's dad.

It's the one job that I dream of,
The task I think of most,
For if I fail that little fellow,
I have nothing else to boast.
For the wealth and fame I'd gather,
all my fortune would be sad,
If I fail to be successful as that little
fellow's dad.

- Author Unknown

What do other people think about Success?

 

What do other people think about success?

“To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children,
To earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate the beauty, to find the best in others,
To leave the world a bit better
whether by a healthy child, a garden patch,
or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier
because you lived.   This is to have succeeded.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

“True success is knowing God.  Priorities – God first, family second, and business third – must be in order.  If people seek wealth and success, then they will be bitterly disappointed.  If they seek God and His kingdom, Jesus said that “all these other things will be added unto you.”  I have sought to serve God and do what he wants, and also sought to give money away.  People who seek success are making a big mistake, but if they are seeking to be a servant and serve God, then they are on the right track.”

– Pat Robertson

 

“To find your purpose is to find your success.”

– Kevin Richardson

 

“Success is a science.  If you have the conditions, you get the results.”

- Oscar Wilde

 

“Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best everyday to become the best you are capable of being.”

- John Wooden

 

I will say this over and over again. In order to achieve success you must first define what success means to you. You have to find your purpose in life; you must find what you are created to do in order to find true happiness. I believe you must find the purpose God has for you and follow His plan in order to be fulfilled in your life. If you do not have a clear mental picture of what success is you will find yourself just going though the daily motions of life and getting lost time and time again.  You can be successful if you understand what your life’s calling is and have a systematic plan on how to achieve it.

Again, I am not talking about the dictionary’s definition of success or someone else’s definition of success, but yours and only yours.   To find your God given purpose is to find your success.

 

 

Action point

Take time right now to begin writing your definition of success. Taking the time to define success in your terms is one of the most important exercises you can do.  Start investing time now to develop your definition of success.  Your definition may not form overnight, but keep working on it until the picture is vivid in your mind.

Let me know what you think about success.  Leave a comment and it could be included in my new book.

Expect Success,

Kevin Richardson  - The Success Blog

Follow me on twitter @FKevRichardson   @TheSuccessBlog

 

It’s not enough to live up to someone else’s definition of success

If you are constantly trying to live up to others people’s definitions of success you will find yourself losing your own identity and will never be completely satisfied.

Some people will consider you a success if you are making a large salary or by being a CEO of a large company. But if by working long hours you never see or spend time with your family, even though you may be a success at your job are you still a role model for success?

If you are an attorney and in a constant state of stress that takes the joy out of life are you a success?  Are you successful if you are living out your parent’s definition of success even though you are miserable?  Are you successful if you live in the nicest home in your neighborhood, but the stress of the mortgage is too much to handle? Are you a success if you meet other people’s expectations, but do not live up to your own?  It is possible for you to live out someone else’s definition of success and be unhappy.

We may be a success in other people’s eyes, but feel like a failure inside. Is that true success?  In order to be happy you must live out your definition of success and live a life that is fulfilling to you.  You cannot take someone else’s definition of success, make it your own and expect to be happy.  You have to decide what success means to you and go after it.

Expect Success,

Kevin Richardson
Follow me on twitter @FKevRichardson and @TheSuccessBlog

 

Personal Development is the Key to your Success

What is personal development?  What does it mean to grow and succeed?  Personal development is simply a process of improving yourself in order to achieve your goals and dreams.  Without a personal growth plan, can you reach your full potential?    

Anything is possible if you are willing to do the work to achieve it.  To achieve something you have never achieved before, you must become a person you have never been before. The way to do this is through personal development.

Eddie T. Cromartie Jackson said, “A person cannot travel everywhere, meet people of all types, converse with men of all minds, unless he reads.”

Ask yourself where do I need to enhance my knowledge the most?  Once you answer this question then find the material you need in order to become a better you. Listen to audio lessons, read a minimum of one book per month, but preferably more.  Don’t roll your eyes, and say you don’t have time. You do have it, you just have to find it.  It is possible. Take a book with you everywhere you go.  You can take a physical book, an electronic book or even download a full book to your phone. When you find those free moments waiting in the car pick up line at your child’s school, then read.  When you are waiting at the doctor, dentist or getting an oil change, then read. If you are in that long line at the grocery store then open your phone and begin to read.  You can read anywhere and if you audit your minutes of your day, you will find time to improve yourself.  No excuses.  You can also listen to an audio book while driving from point A to point B and then listen to more all the way over to point C.

Earl Nightingale proclaimed, “If you will spend an extra hour each day in study of your chosen field, you will be a national expert in that field in five years or less.”

You must make the decision to seek and experience growth daily.  No one can make this decision for you.  Develop a personal growth plan, set growth goals and intentionally decide to make a change.  It has been said that your income is a direct reflection of your own personal development.  It’s when you work on yourself and improve yourself that your skills get better and everything in general improves.

We must remember that we all have strengths, but no one is perfect. Every one of us can improve and be more effective.  Those who succeed the most are those who always improve themselves and apply what they learn.

Personal development is a journey, not a destination. Most people learn by doing. It takes time and practice to achieve specific goals.  Don’t expect instant perfection when trying to apply or learn new skills.  It’s unfair to be too hard on yourself the first time you attempt something new.  It’s not necessary to do everything exactly right the first time.

Each day you can become a little bit better than you were yesterday.  All highly successful people continually search for ways to keep learning, growing, and improving. The day you stop growing is the beginning of the end of your success. 

John Maxwell says it best, “Hoping for a good future without investing in today is like a farmer waiting for a crop without ever planting any seed.”

Never stop growing!

Kevin Richardson

 

 

What does success mean to you?

Define what success is to you

What does success look like?  Do you know a successful person? Do you feel like a success? Are you happy?  Do you have a purpose? What is your definition of success? Before you can become a success, you must define what success really means to you.  Unless you have a clear definition of what success is to you, you will never be able to achieve it. There are many examples of success and they come in different shapes and sizes. Success means different things to different people, and instead of borrowing someone else’s definition of success, you must define success on your terms.  Your definition of success must produce a vivid mental picture you can see clearly. When we process thoughts, we see pictures in our mind. If you can see your picture of success clearly, it will create a desire within you and your definition of success will be easier to obtain.  You simply cannot obtain success if you cannot envision it. How will you be able to obtain success or know when you have obtained it, if you do not know what it looks like? You must find what drives you; you must find your purpose.

Expect success,

Kevin Richardson

 

Welcome to The Success Blog

 Welcome to The Success Blog with Kevin Richardson.  It is my goal to encourage and to facilitate personal growth and leadership in your life.  I am not an expert on everything success, but I am confident I will achieve the goals I have set for myself.  I also know one of the best ways to learn is to teach others what you already know about the particular subject you are learning about.  I hope you will check back often and will gain an understanding of what success is and how you can achieve it for your life.  

Expect Success,

Kevin Richardson - The Success Blog

Why another blog about success?

Why another blog about success?   This blog is about finding out what success means to you and how you can find and keep the success you are looking for.  This blog does not define success as making a certain salary or by being CEO of a large corporation, but by what your definition of success is for your life.  You must believe in and have confidence in yourself and not base your definition of success on what others think.

For me success is defined as peace of mind, which is the direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your very best everyday to become the very best God has called you to be.  If you are constantly trying to live up to others people’s definitions of success you will find yourself losing your own identity and will not be completely satisfied. 

In your road to success it is important to know how to spend your energy.  It is better to spend your energy on how to become successful and not on what it takes to only look successful.  Success is not about luck or receiving all the breaks.  Success takes planning and vision and is about mastering the basic techniques to attain the goal you have set for yourself.  It is easy to blame your lack of success on circumstances and to make excuses; you must dig deep and find success despite your circumstances.  I am convinced you can take a successful person, put them in any circumstance and they will again succeed. 

In order to achieve success you must first define what success means to you.  If you do not have a clear mental picture of what success is you will find yourself getting lost time and time again.  You can be successful if you understand what success is and have a systematic plan on how to get there. Develop a vision of what you want and hold on to it until you achieve it.  You must see yourself achieving your goal in your mind on a daily basis and when times get tough rely on your vision to carry you through.  I will leave you with a verse from my favorite book of the Bible.  Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people will perish.”

Expect Success,

Kevin Richardson