The difference between the super successful and the not-so-successful

Samira, my 9-year-old daughter lives in the world of heroes with supernatural powers. The other day, she asked me what super power I would love to have. “The power to see the future,” I retorted. On reflection, I realized that I had already seen the future and how it works. Many young people ask me what it takes to be successful.

I have seen the answer so many times. I have been blessed that I have been a junior employee, then moved up into senior management, became a Chief Executive and ran large organizations and finally became chairman and a business owner. The journey has humbled me. I have the opportunity of having worked with, and for, some of the smartest people – and I have collided with some seriously stupid dunderheads. I have seen some people became successful and others who became super successful. What separates the two?

Power of information

The difference is in the power of information. We live in a world driven by information and ideas and it is people who have the latest information and ideas that lead.

There are four levels of information. The first are those who have no idea of what is happening. They suddenly see things happening. You would be surprised to know how many people fall in this category. The second category find out what is happening from the newspapers and magazines. They read in The Standard that government is launching a new initiative or business has come up with some new ideas.

The problem of getting your information from the newspaper is that the writers are forced to summarize so much that what you finally read is a deeply summarized version of ideas. If you are reading about success for the first time then realize that I am forced to discuss this critical issue in 850 words. You fall under level two in the information world.

The third level are people who make an effort to read serious studies on issues that are critical in their work. These studies are widely available in World Bank studies and various other academic journals. It is not easy reading and requires discipline to labour through volumes of pages and data. But the effort yields results and they are always way ahead of the competition in ideas and strategy.

For example, low cost housing is the flavour of the year in Kenya. The one who bothers to research this subject will find voluminous studies on how such projects have been done from Brazil, Malaysia, India, South Africa and many other counties. Very quickly, the reader will know what worked and what failed.

Who will drive? He who reads from the newspapers or the one who has studied various models. Reading is the equivalent of going to the mental gym and those who read are definitely in better intellectual shape than those who don’t.

The fourth level use research and reading and convert it into action and policy. Invariably, they are way ahead of the pack. They drive how decisions are made simply because they are more knowledgeable. Guess who gets promoted faster? Now ask yourself honestly, which level of information class do you belong to? You want to be super successful then make sure you move into level three information and it will automatically take you to the top. I have seen it work all over the world. If you insist that you cannot read,  then at least read Stephen Covey’s The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.

The second is what I call ‘’Personal Branding’’. All successful people develop a personal brand. Have you ever seen a successful executive who looks shabby?

Whether your suit is an Armani or from Toy market, wear it well, clean, pressed and smell good. Not like something you forgot to change from last night’s walk of shame. Branding requires more than style, the following should be part of your brand.

Keep time and respect other people’s time.  Traffic is not an excuse for being late. If you are late you are wasting my time. That is not a career enhancing move. Time relates to delivering assignments in time otherwise people cannot depend on you. Learn to differentiate issues from noise.

Rarely will any subject have more than four key issues. Focus on these and don’t over talk. This will force discussions to stay focused – that’s thought leadership.

Leaders are confident and positive. Even when you are nervous force yourself to look confident and you will overcome your nervousness. Deliver value.

You are already paid to do your work, but it is when you do over and above your daily job requirements that you start to deliver value. Be a problem-solver. Many junior employees rush all minor problems to management. Why can’t you solve that problem or do you think that management will give you a star for bringing them more problems?

Above all, respect all is critical. Respect those below you, at your level and those above you. The more respect you give the more you will get. Only respected people rise up.

Develop an action plan on how to implement. If you do that then I can see your future and you will definitely be successful. Please prove me right as I need to go back and tell Samira that I do indeed have super natural power to see the future. Good luck.

Mr Shahbal is Chairman of Gulf Group of Companies. [email protected]