Steven Spielberg said, "I tell stories." Steve Jobs said, "I am in the bicycle business. I build tools to help people go where they want when they want to go there." Walt Disney said, "I create entertainment for the whole family."

Top Performers define themselves. They are extraordinarily clear about who they are and what they do. They don't let other people define them. Within their definition, they are able to perform at a phenomenally high level.

I encourage you to define some key terms for yourself and to operate within those definitions. In particular, I suggest that you define what success means to you personally and professionally, what your boundaries are, and what you believe is right and wrong in the different areas of your life. Fairly easy to explain, but quite difficult to do.

1. SUCCESS
2. BOUNDARIES
3. RIGHT AND WRONG

SUCCESS

If you were ultimately successful in your personal life, what would that success look like? Take some time to consider that question and then write down your answer. It's not about perfection, it's about gaining clarity. So what if it takes an entire lifetime to answer it? If you were ultimately successful in your relationships with family members and friends, what would that success look like? Define what it means to you. This will greatly increase the chances that you will ultimately be successful. If you were ultimately successful in your career in either the short-term or the long-term, what would that success look like? Consider it and then write it down. It doesn't have to include numbers and titles, but it can. What does professional success look like for you?

The moment you decide what success truly means to you, then you have dramatically reduced the amount of time it will take to get there. Many people put off this decision because they think it's too hard. No one is grading you. Just write down your thoughts on the matter. Clarify what it means to be successful. Then take a few steps toward becoming more successful by your definition.

BOUNDARIES

The number one issue that comes up in my individual Executive Coaching sessions is that people do not define their boundaries. They never say no to anyone. Consequently, the pile of responsibilities becomes overwhelming, and they become less and less effective in more and more areas of their life. I've been accused of being a fairly simple person, but I take that as a compliment. Keep it simple. Decide where you are going to invest your time and energy and how much of it you're going to give to the different areas of your life. Then operate within those clearly defined boundaries. If you will do that, I can come very close to guaranteeing you that you will achieve significantly better results in the areas selected. Narrow your focus, define your boundaries and become more effective. It's a fairly simple philosophy, but I like it that way.

RIGHT AND WRONG

You've probably have been encouraged to do this exercise since you were a child. I know I have been. Decide what is right and what is wrong. Select an area of your life and then make a list of what you think is right and wrong. It's your list. You can't be wrong. It's your opinion. Then go to the other areas of your life and repeat the exercise. It does not have to be a perfect or complete list. Just define where you stand on these issues. When you operate within your own (as opposed to someone else's) definition of right and wrong, you will always have a strong sense of self-confidence and character. That will lay the groundwork for extraordinary achievement.

You are welcome to reprint my articles, but please list me as the author." Then you can leave the paragraph below that just the way it is.

Several folks asked if they could copy my e-newsletter and my articles on my website into their company or association periodicals. The answer is, "Yes, you can use any of my newsletters or articles off my website and reprint them in your organization's newsletters or magazines, and they are free of charge. The only thing I ask is that you list me as the author and include this tagline, "Dan Coughlin can be reached at (636)825-6611 or dan@thecoughlincompany.com. Also, Dan has more than 100 free articles on business acceleration at www.businessacceleration.com."

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