8 To Be Great - What really leads to success?

SUCCESS. For some it’s elusive, for others it seems to come easily. We all want it. But whatever your own definition of success is, why do people succeed? Is it because they’re smart? Or are they just lucky? Neither. Marketer, Success Analyst Richard St. John condenses years of interviews into this unmissable 3-minute TED TALK.

“Richard St. John was on his way to the TED conference when a girl on the plane asked him, “What really leads to success?” Even though he had achieved some success, he couldn’t explain how he did it. So he spent the next ten years researching success and asking over 500 extraordinarily successful people in many fields what helped them succeed — and distilled them into 8 words, 3 minutes and one successful book.”

8 Words, 3 Minutes and One Successful Book

After analyzing, sorting, and correlating millions of words of research, and building one of the most organized databases on the subject of success, he discovered “The 8 Traits Successful People Have in Common” and wrote the bestseller 8 To Be Great.

Here are his 8 words, and some of the world’s most successful people that inspired them. Check out the 3-minute TED Video (above) for knowledge, insight, great humor, and spot on conclusions!

PASSION. Freeman Thomas, Car Designer, Daimler Chrysler
WORK. Rupert Murdoch, Publishing
GOOD. Alex Gardner, Game Designer
FOCUS. Norman Jewison, Filmmaker
PUSH. David Gallo, Marine Scientist; Frank Geary, Architect; Goldie Hawn, Actor
SERVE. Sherwin Nuland, Professor of Surgery, Yale
IDEAS. Bill Gates, Microsoft
PERSIST. Joe Kraus, Co-Founder of Excite

St. John’s work and knowledge can help others succeed in their own way, whether it’s escaping poverty, building a business, raising a family, or changing the world.

Are any of these words in your company culture? I think this is worth consideration at your next Leadership Team Meeting (you do have one, don’t you?).

Contact me to discuss how these “8 To Be Great” can apply to your business.

All the best
David