The Secret Sauce to Success

Is there a secret sauce to success? If you are in the business of helping others realize their potential, as I am, you should expect to hear that question week in and week out. The good news is that there is a book to answer that question. In fact, there are thousands of books on the topic. But I am in no mood for paraphrasing here. Rather, my intention is to share the 7 ingredients of a secret sauce that has helped me consistently achieve my personal and professional objectives. And the best part? It’s vegan and nut-free.

1. Develop a T-shaped skillset. Broken down, a T is made up of a horizontal bar and a vertical bar. The horizontal bar represents a generalist skillset, broad but skin deep. Research shows that being a generalist makes one resilient in the face of disruption and adversity. It also better enables one to anticipate future events. Generalists, however, typically operate far from the cutting edge of their trade. The vertical bar of the T represents deep expertise in a specific area. This comes at the expense of a broad peripheral vision and exposes one to extinction. By being a T, or a well-rounded specialist, you get to be a generalist who is also specialized in a specific area. In other words, you get the best of both worlds and get to hedge the respective downsides.

2. Stay true to your values. At all costs, may I add. Doing so helps you follow through on your objectives in times of doubt. It is said that we each take over 30,000 decisions each day. While most may be trivial, it is the sum of them that dictates whether we succeed or fail in our endeavors. Our values are what primarily drive our decision-making process. Being true to our values serves to promote self-assuredness and consistent decision-making.

3. Think and act like a pioneer. Being adventurous is a mindset and a habit. It drives one to ask questions and explore the unbeaten path. This often yields answers and unlocks blue oceans respectively. Thinking and acting like a pioneer becomes a prerequisite to innovation, with the latter being a precursor to success. The end-product is greater visibility in what would otherwise be a foggy enterprise

4. Draw the line…on the line. When dealing with others, it is important to mark your territory. Draw the line too close, and you invite others to step on your toes. Draw the line too far out, and you step on other people’s toes. Draw the line where it should be drawn, at the intersection of where your rights end and where other people’s rights begin. In other words, draw the line on the line. Doing so successfully makes you an assertive communicator who gets what is rightfully theirs without the burden of interpersonal struggle.

5. Triangulate with those who share your values. Great success requires partnering with other leaders who are more skilled that you are in certain critical areas. When choosing who to partner with, it is vital to engage only those individuals who share your core values, and not those with whom you share common interests. Why? Values are for life, interests change overnight. Success favors the longer-term view.

6. Enjoy the journey, not the finish line. The journey is where we live most of our lives. Crossing the finish line, be it a marathon or a night shift, occurs over one fleeting moment. Which should we enjoy, the journey or the finish line? The answer is a matter of elementary calculus.

7. Bake the pie first, worry about the size of your slice later. I have already mentioned that a precursor for success is the ability to recruit talent to join your cause. When setting out to achieve an objective, such as building a business venture, focus on bringing people on board first and worry about how the spoils will be shared later. Being focused on your share of the pie too early creates a big enough distraction to risk the whole pie. Listening to your stomach will tell you it is many times wiser to end up with a small slice of pie than a big slice of no pie. This principle still applies even when the show on the road is yours.

There you have it, the secret sauce to success. Now let’s get cooking!