The 3 O’s of Success

The 3 O’s of Success is the fifteenth in a series of articles to help you reach your goal. What are your goals? I know you thought about it! You know, it is your dream, wish or resolution you made! Before you can get to where you want to be, you need to know where you are going. You wouldn’t get on a bus, train or plane without knowing where it was going.

Background

I love words!  In fact, I would characterize my sense of humor as playing with words.  It may be the reason I started this series!  I think I was always fascinated with words, I love to ask questions which I think came from my curious mind.  I am curious about everything including how things work, people and why things happen.  Perhaps that is why I went into a profession where asking questions was just part of the job.  It lead to investments, businesses and teaching.  I use questions to get what I want. it is a form of negotiation.  If you listen to the replies, you can use the information to your advantage.  Some may say you outwit your opponent.

Life is competition!  Do you have goals? Do you think you are the only one with goals?  Many people want to be successful and want the same things you want.  We are all competing for some of the same goals. It starts very early between siblings, school for grades, entrance to college and finally a career.  If it would only stop there!  We compete for the next promotion or a raise.  I was always very competitive!  I love winning and hate losing.  My personality would come out when I played games.  I learned strategy and started to be pretty good at games, school or work.  I had to outplay my competition.

Did you ever hear of the last man standing syndrome?  I was not the best, but I could outlast anyone.  I remember playing monopoly for hours, practicing sports for hours or working longer and harder than anyone else.  I was never the smartest, so I used my skills differently to reach my goals or outlast everyone else.  Hard work is not unusual, but working harder than anyone else is.  Are you willing to outwork everyone else?  If your goals are important to you, you should be willing to work to achieve them.  Last man standing says it all!

Outwit

Outwit means to get the better of by cunning or ingenuity.  If faced with a bigger, stronger and smarter adversary, surprise them!  If you cannot beat your competition, use them to make yourself better.  Often, you can use their strengths or weaknesses to make your business better.  If your competition is using price to destroy you, you use value.  Use your differences to market your product or service.  Let your customers know how you are different and better.

Outplay

Outplay is surpass (an opponent) in skill or technique or in scoring points. Being competitive, I strive to outscore in position, earnings or accomplishments.  Do I always win?  No, but it is still my goal.  There are more ways to outplay someone other than scoring points.  There is a very long book called The Art of War which goes into strategy and tactics of war.  It is much more than that, it chronicles successful leadership that is applicable to contemporary business.  Like I said there are many ways to outscore your opponent!

Outlast

Outlast is last longer to overcome an opponent.  Become successful and stay successful longer than someone or something else.  Sometimes this is referred to as deep pockets.  You have the resources to outlast your opponents or you just outlive them.  Does this spell victory?  It depends.  What was the goal or expected outcome?  Outlasting your competition may mean winning or not.  Keep your goal in mind when you measure success.  I am willing and able to outlast my competition, but only if it achieves my goals.  What are you willing to do to achieve your goals?

Final Thoughts

This is the fifteenth article in the series about success; I expect to publish throughout 2012. There will be twenty-six (26) of them, one for each letter of the alphabet. The 3 O’s of success are outwit, outplay and outlast. I think everyone wants success in life; business and career; however it takes a concerted effort to reach success. The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man’s determination.” Tommy Lasorda sums it up much better than I can!

I started this series because I run into so many people who have difficulty reaching success. They want to know my secrets! So I thought I would share them in a format that will be most helpful. I also think this format may make it more interesting and easier to use. My goal in these articles to provide useful and interesting information that will help you succeed. The 3 O’s of Success is now a series.

Photo by:  A. K. Azad

Disclaimer:  I borrowed outwit, outplay and outlast from the show  Survivor just because it fits!

The 3 O’s of Success is now a series.