Success Information

Signs Along the Road to Achievement


One of the first things most of us remember hearing when learning to drive an automobile was "Keep your hands on the wheel." Then there were other precautions like, "Keep your eyes on the road, drive defensively, buckle up for safety, and watch the road signs!"

These basic precautions would keep us moving along safely and help us arrive at our intended destinations on time. Remembering these simple golden rules of safe driving can also help with the achievement of other important objectives.

1. Keep Your Hands on the Wheel

Winners spend the majority of their time doing things that bring them closer to their goals. They stay on the intended path because their "hands are on the wheel." They make the most of each minute by staying engaged in actions of high priority. They accept help from others. However, they take ultimate responsibility for guiding themselves to their destination.

2. Keep Your Eyes on the Road

Winners hold a clear view of what they want to achieve. By having a plan and keeping the outcome clearly in mind, they are less likely to become sidetracked and lured into actions that waste precious time. They rest occasionally, enjoying the scenery and excitement of the journey. Yet when in motion, they keep their eyes on the path ahead, focusing on the outcome they want to achieve.

3. Drive Defensively

Winners never ignore problems. They are flexible and know that they may have to apply the brakes, speed up, slow down, or take a detour now and then. They know that there will be obstacles at some point, "bumps and pot holes" to cross, and other moving vehicles to consider. They are prepared to act accordingly when unforeseen difficulties appear.

4. Buckle up for Safety

Even the safest drivers will occasionally have a fender bender or get side-swiped. However, winners won't let occasional accidents or setbacks deter them from moving ahead. When difficulties appear, they focus on finding creative solutions. They consider setbacks to be learning experiences. They wear a mental "seat belt" by having plans for these circumstances. They also take adequate measures to insure and protect the things they've worked to build. They assure future security for themselves and their loved ones.

5. Watch the Road Signs

"Load limit, falling rocks, go, stop, yield, curve ahead, caution, speed limit," or similar signs are familiar to almost everyone. Road signs also tell how close we are to our destination, when we need to change lanes, or make a turn. They tell when other vehicles may be merging into our lane. Winners pay attention to similar signs as they work to fulfill projects and goals.

Winners are not simply dreamers. They stay in touch with the reality of current circumstances to stay flexible and measure progress. By watching the signs, they can change course at the earliest possible moment if they have made a wrong turn. They use signs along the road to achievement as tools for life-long learning and improvement.

Before leaving the driveway, we always know our intended destination and reasons for going there. However, trouble can occur in other areas when trying to move toward a vague notion of "success" without knowing exactly where that is. Defining a clear destination and remembering these familiar driving precautions can help provide a safe and fulfilling journey to exciting new achievements.

© Copyright by Steve Brunkhorst. Reprinted form Achieve! 60-Second Nuggets of Inspiration, a popular mini-zine bringing great stories, motivational nuggets, and inspiring thoughts to help you achieve more in your career and personal life. Get the next issue by visiting http://www.AchieveEzine.com


MORE RESOURCES:

New York Daily News

McNabb Benching Propels Eagles Toward Matching Giants’ Success
Bloomberg - 18 hours ago
By Erik Matuszewski Jan. 9 (Bloomberg) -- The Philadelphia Eagles turned their season around after the benching of quarterback Donovan McNabb and are trying ...
Rich Hofmann: Success hasn't changed Giants QB Eli Manning Philadelphia Daily News
Low-key Eli Manning key to success of New York Giants' offence The Canadian Press
Eagles Notes: Success exists from red zone to the end zone Philadelphia Inquirer
Reading Eagle - Philadelphia Inquirer
all 1,371 news articles


Canada.com

Rubinstein Feels Palm Needs Developers for Pre to be a Success
TreoCentral, FL - 5 hours ago
Rubinstein talked about how important the application developers are to the success of the Palm Pre. Palm's competition such as Apple and RIM have many ...
Voices of the Web Smartphone business news
Palm introduces touch-screen phone San Francisco Chronicle
Palm unveils smartphone at show BBC News
Wireless Week - GigaOm
all 764 news articles


Utes aim to take home success on the road
Salt Lake Tribune, United States - 21 hours ago
Do the things that each individual on the team can do well and just keep playing hard and not let the success get to our heads." That success not only ...


Great white shark dissection deemed a success
Los Angeles Times, CA - 8 minutes ago
The necropsy of a great white shark conducted by the Auckland Museum and the New Zealand Department of Conservation is being described as a huge success. ...


BBC News

Arabs’ UN success tempered by internal rifts
Financial Times, UK - 5 hours ago
By Roula Khalaf in London When Arab foreign ministers set off for New York last Sunday in search of a United Nations’ ceasefire resolution to the Gaza war, ...
Video: Gaza Violence Continues Despite UN Resolution AssociatedPress
Analysis: Iran's stake in the success of Hamas's 'resistance' Jerusalem Post
Pro-Israel bridge event a rallying success Jewish Herald-Voice
World Tribune - New America Media
all 11,952 news articles


The Week Magazine

Story of success that isn't
Business Standard, India - 10 hours ago
Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell’s new book, sets out to prove that success is not the outcome of one’s talent or intelligence, but circumstance and luck. ...
What Makes for Success? National Review Online
We play role in success of others Myrtle Beach Sun News
America the "Outlier" Seattle Times
The Week Magazine - Inquirer.net
all 31 news articles


SkySports

Column: Ravens must consider year a success
The Evening Sun, PA - 5 hours ago
By SAM LATTER Win or lose on Saturday at Tennessee, the Baltimore Ravens must consider this season an overwhelming success. Preseason publications tabbed ...
NFL Playoffs - AFC Divisional Roundup - Baltimore Ravens vs ... JOCKlife.com
BATTLE PLANS: Ravens @ Titans ~ Divisional Playoff ~ January 9, 2009 Baltimore Ravens
Ravens-Titans: Position Comparison Baltimore Beat Down
The Queensberry Rules - The Associated Press
all 1,630 news articles


Washington Post

Faith still at core of Warner's success
Arizona Republic, AZ - 17 hours ago
There is dishonesty in telling his story if you ignore what drives him, especially if you accept its role in one of the NFL's great success stories. ...
Warner, Delhomme span a continental divide National Post
all 66 news articles


New team to focus on student success
SW Iowa News, IA - 8 hours ago
Recently, a group of teachers, counselors and administrators got together and created a Student Success Committee. The committee of 12, which includes: ...


Rolling out the red carpet for success
Pasadena Star-News, CA - 1 hour ago
The years of such grandiose projects, and contracting with the big retailers have given way to success that allows J&M to tap customers through word of ...

Success - Google News

home | site map
© 2006