SBTM May 2015 Anthony Ford | Page 19

more clearly when witnessing and analyzing the failures of others they know or have followed. History teaches us about cycles, trends, misapplications of resources, wrong approaches, and vacuums of thought. People must apply history to their own lives and situations. If we document our own successes, then these case studies will make us more successful in the future. There comes a point when the pieces fit. One becomes fully actualized and is able to approach their life’s body of work. That moment comes after years of trial and error, experiences, insights, successes, and failures. As one matures, life becomes a giant reflection. We appreciate the journey because we understand it much better. We know where we’ve gone because we know the twists and turns in the road. Nobody, including ourselves, could have predicted every curve along the way. Success and failure, it’s a matter of perspectives. Out of every ten transactions in our lives, five will be unqualified successes. One will be a failure. Two will depend upon the circumstances. If approached responsibly, they will become successful. If approached irresponsibly, they will turn into failures. Two will either be successful or will fail based strictly upon the person’s attitude. A 90 percent success rate for a person with a good attitude and responsible behavior is unbeatable. There is no such thing as perfection. Continuous quality improvement means that we benchmark accomplishments and set the next reach a little further. Professionals who succeed the most are the products of mentoring. The mentor is a resource for business trends, societal issues, and opportunities. The mentor becomes a role model, offering insights about their own life/career. This reflection shows the mentee levels of thinking and perception which were not previously available. The mentor is an advocate for progress and change. Such work empowers the mentee to hear, accept, believe, and get results. The sharing of trust and ideas leads to developing business philosophies. Visioning is the process where good ideas become something more. It is a catalyst toward long-term evaluation, planning, and implementation. It is a vantage point by which forward-thinking organizations ask, “What will we look like in the future? What do we want to become? How will we evolve?” Vision is a realistic picture of what is possible. SBT Hank Moore has advised over 5,000 client organizations including public sector agencies, small businesses, non-profit organizations, and 100 of the Fortune 500. Contact Hank by phone at 713-668-0664, by email at [email protected], or visit his website at www.hankmoore.com. Hank’s new book “Houston Legends” can be ordered at www.houstonlegends.net.