Spiritual Secrets of Success – The Big Secret
The big secret behind the life-changing phenomenon “The Secret” is that its principles have been known for thousands of years by millions of people, but used and applied by a relatively few. Called by many names, these ageless, timeless, treasured truths of wisdom and inspiration have massively changed lives and even the world in which we live. Authentic principles of power and causes of action, the foundation for many of them is found in the inspired writings that have been preserved and handed down for centuries. Those who have studied them understand they have multiple levels of interpretation and application and that they readily fulfill the declaration that “when the student is ready, the teacher will appear.”
This series focuses on one such principle in each issue and provides a brief business and/or personal success application that may act as a “teacher” with a personal message for you. As you are “ready,” may you be inspired and prosper abundantly, as you define that. Most especially, I urge you to commit to take action to develop and apply these spiritual secrets of success in your own life and business to enjoy greater success – starting today.
The Principle of Success
Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?
—Proverbs 27:23 – 24
Application
You may be scratching your head and wondering if this could possibly have any application or relevance to you. In ancient times, flocks and herds represented someone’s livelihood, much of their accumulated wealth, and their security for the future. Accordingly, the shepherds were careful to note the size, status and condition of their animals. Of necessity, they would anticipate the maturing of their animals and the effect of the upcoming seasons upon them so they could best prepare to nurture and increase the size of their fold and help them weather the storms. These treasured assets received deliberate, specific and consistent focus, care and attention.
How about your financial “flocks and herds”? Do you take stock of them regularly? Do you take stock of how you’re doing with regard to needed skills and leadership needed to maximize your circumstances and opportunities? How do you know and how do you measure – both your own performance and the performance of these assets? Here are some questions for self-examination along your journey to growing your business, and your capacity to achieve your business goals:
- What assets are you employing in your business and are you taking deliberate care to note their “state” and condition?
- Have you considered your customers, employees and strategic partners – and do you have a program in place to reward and reinforce their relationship, behavior and desired actions with regard to you and your business?
- Does your marketing program generate real-time feedback from your target prospects and customers and give you the ability to respond swiftly to changes in the economy and marketplace?
- What about your products, services and offerings in the marketplace? Are you regularly evaluating them in light of customers’ changing needs and wants, or the impact of conditions on your customers, so you can position yourself to be relevant and endure “to every generation” and weather the storms and seasons of change?
- What revenue streams are key to your continuing success and are you “shepherding” them sufficiently?
- Not to be overlooked, is your plan/program of personal development serving you well, or do you need to make additions or changes there?
It should be understandable that these principles have equal application in our personal lives. Make sure not to ignore the “state of” your personal relationships, abilities and resources and their impact on your overall happiness and success.
Hope is great, it really is. But hoping things will change is not a strategy for success, improvement or growth. It is unpredictable, unreliable and unfulfilling. While it is a very passive course of action, it should not be confused with taking action.
Diligent, disciplined and honest assessment of the “state of thy flocks” and responding by tending “well to thy herds” will let you be prepared for the changes that inevitably occur, and are coming at a faster pace all the time – and that’s The Winner’s Edge.
Action Steps
Here are several simple but significant action steps you can take starting today to improve your results and putting yourself in a position to optimize.
First, schedule and set aside some time to take stock of your “flocks and herds”. Don’t just “think” about them – write them down and make notations of your observations. Get it out of your head and onto paper so it’s real and usable.
Next, note changing conditions in the economy and the marketplace and re-evaluate the “integrity” and “utility” of your position and offerings in light of these. As I’ve said to numerous audiences, “you can’t control the marketplace, but you can control your place in the market.”
Third, identify changes needed in what you offer and the way it’s delivered in order to continually offer greater value and make sure you retain relevance and “front of mind” presence with your clients so you’ll keep feeding those flocks.
Until next time, here’s to your success,
Larry H. Gassin
