Inspiration - July 2010

Learning From Success

Whether you are embarking on a new adventure in your life, building your own business or transitioning to a new role or industry in your career, one powerful tool/resource for success is learning from the success of others first hand.  Last month I shared some of my personal examples of success in building a new life and new business.  This month I will be sharing steps you can take to learn from the success of those you know and those you have yet to meet.

What do you want to learn?

Before reaching out to people, take some time to decide what you want to learn from them.  Come up with specific questions to get you started and into a conversation with them.  Some ideas?  Ask questions about their story, their path and their learning.  What they wished they knew before they began and what they were glad they didn’t know.    Choose a few burning questions of yours that relate to their experience, their journey, their initial idea, bumps in the road, impact they have, learning moments or anything else you truly want to learn about.

Where can you begin?

Begin by seeking people in your community, network, and industry.  People you see as having achieved success.  Success is measured in different ways – including accumulations of wealth, paving your own way, achieving maximum visibility, strong expertise, and much more.  Be sure to understand your definition of success before you start out.

How do you approach people?

Reach out to these people personally; include how you heard about them, why you are interested in talking with them and a little about you.  I find e-mail to be a great first step.  Be sure to include exactly what you want and how much time you are asking for.

Ask for a few minutes of their time – maybe a 30 minute phone call, a meeting over coffee… Ask them to share their path to success.

Thank them for their time within a day of your meeting/conversation.  E-mail or hand written note are both acceptable.  Include what you most appreciated that they shared.

Reciprocate by offering to help them in any way you can, now or in the future.  Some ways you can help?   Connecting them to someone you think they need to meet, offering your expertise to help them in some way, recommending a related resource, referring business to them or writing a recommendation for them on LinkedIn.

Relate and use what you learn from them toward your own wants, values and needs, your definition of success, and your passions.  Decide how you will use that you learned to move your goals forward.

Follow up with them to share with them how their information, advice or story helped you.

Stay Connected through LinkedIn, Twitter and/or Facebook.

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