The Secret Recipe for Success

Today’s is a microwave society where most expect to get what they want instantly, or at least in less than a minute. People are tricked into believing that fame and success can be achieved overnight, if they only work harder, longer and faster, adopting an all-or-nothing attitude that says you must either succeed or fail, there is no in-between.

But there is an in-between—the period between success and failure that, for some, lasts for years.

There once was a 6-year-old boy who, having lost his father, was left to take on the brunt of the household responsibilities while his mother returned to work full-time. He would go on to hold several jobs during the course of his adulthood, and would experience devastating setbacks throughout his life, but there was one constant: He loved to cook and loved sharing his cooking with others. That boy was Harland Sanders, the man behind Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), which didn’t become recognized as being successful until Sanders was in his 60s.

So, how does his success translate to your spa team? It is so important to help your team members identify their passions and follow the secrets of success employed by Sanders. Have individual conversations with each team member to identify their drivers and help bring out the best in each of them by sharing the following four secret ingredients.

1. Passion

Do you have a passion? What is it and how can you express it more fully in your life? If you consider yourself to be passion-less, then spend some time looking back on your life to see what used to excite you. Your passion may be lying in wait, hoping you’ll see it. Take time to clarify your passion; only then can you begin to produce the behavior that will turn your vision into reality.

2. Positive perspective

What is your perspective? If circumstances are not exactly as you had hoped, are you tapping into your passion to turn it around or wallowing in negativity? Although external factors may not be ideal, your internal perspective can be just what you need to make it better—you just have to choose to think differently.

The journey to success is not always easy; there may be roadblocks along the way. But remember, in life everyone has choices. Your mind is a powerful tool that can work for or against you. No one else is responsible for how you choose to react to your circumstances.

You are the person with the most power to affect your life. You are the one who decides how to feel about what you are experiencing. You are the one who gets to choose differently. Do you choose success?

3. Perseverance

Don’t give up; success could be just around the corner. Keep in mind that slow and steady wins the race. If you’ve ever heard how runners train for a marathon, you know that their preparation didn’t occur easily. It takes time and baby steps to build the endurance and fitness needed to run 26.2 miles, but perseverance will make it happen.

4. Philanthropy

Successful people know that you help yourself when you invest in others. There is nothing more emotionally satisfying than when you give much and expect little in return. Being willing to support others and help them along in their journey is reflected in the attitudes and actions of most successful people.

Reach out to others who may be in need. Such acts of human kindness become self-reinforcing because they answer an innate need to connect with others in a meaningful way. Such actions give value to and help clarify your life’s purpose.

The important in-between

Share these success ingredients with your team members and teach them that popping these ingredients into a microwave doesn’t mean instant, ready-in-a-minute success. Show them that the in-between is just as important as the achievement.

Danita Johnson Hughes, PhD, is a health care industry executive, public speaker and author. Through her work, she inspires people to dream big and understand the role of personal responsibility in personal and professional success. In her first book, Power From Within (The Johnson Hughes Group, 2001), she shares the Power Principles for Success that helped her overcome meager beginnings and achieve professional, community and personal success.

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