The 5 Whos of Success
In plotting our course for success, we never go it alone. Success does not happen in a vacuum, and there is no such thing as a self made man. Listed below are the starting 5 of your own personal success basketball team; They are the 5 whos of success.
1) Who do you need to make your plan for success happen?
This is a vertical relationship. It is a mentoring relationship where you are the humble student and someone else is the master. Even though you may be branching off into a new and undiscovered field, there are people who have gone before that can mentor you in a variety of ways. The principles of business, though significantly altered in the last twenty years, at the core are still the same. Leadership, customer service, marketing and the list goes on.
This person will also be a good sounding board for ideas. I am fortunate in that my father fills such a role for me. I used to call him my “swiss cheese maker”. I would present ideas to him and he would poke them full of holes. It made me smarter and more analytical in my planning, as well as a better presenter. I will admit, I hated these sessions as I felt my ideas were being attacked; however, he was making sure my idea boat would float and not fall apart at the first sign of trouble.
Some people are tempted to say a financial angel. Capital is important to all businesses. There are a variety of sources for obtaining funds. Unless your banker or VC is also going to be an objective mentor, I would not put them in my starting five.
2) Who do you want working by your side?
This is a collaborative relationship. This person is your peer. They bring gifting and tools to the table that are necessary enhancements to your sphere of competence. They are the details to your dream, or maybe they are the sales rep for your ingenuity.
This can sometimes be done through strategic alliances on a project basis. I have a few friends in particular that I can call on for event planning and detail work on projects. They fill in the gaps. They look out for me and I for them.
3) Who do you want in your cheering section?
This is a community relationship. These people are essential for making the dream happen. They champion your cause. Your immediate family is the first people you need in this category. If you are married, have kids, or just have a significant other; they need to be on board. They are the ones who hear about the dream, the vision, and the goal
from the time it is just a seed freshly planted in the fertile soil of your mind.
Next are your mentors and peers. There are also your network contacts, real and virtual. If you want to find out who is in your cheering section, start a fan page for your dream on FaceBook and see who signs up. Your cheering section is bigger than you thought, and it includes people you never would have thought would be part of it.
4) Who are you going to raise up with you?
This also is a vertical relationship. This is a person (or people) that you are going to mentor in your business. They will become disciples of your process and product. They will buy into your vision for success and make it their own.
This is crucial in developing strength in the core of your dream, as well as a legacy for it. Your protégé will eventually fill key roles as your dream grows. They will take over management functions and allow you to plot and plan for the future.
There is one caveat with this. Someday they may move on and be a competitor; and that is a good thing. It means that you have created a market that you cannot fulfill on your own. This is also where integrity comes in. Your protégé will pick up all habits good and bad. How you run your business will be reflected in their lives. Your integrity will be mirrored back to you in their business practices. So train them well.
5) Who are you going to champion outside your business?
This is a community relationship. You will be a cheerleader for someone else. The key hear is that you have no vested stake in their business other than the personal relationship you have with the owner. You will promote their business within your network; you will be a friend and encourager to them. You may even end up being a coach or mentor to them.
The main idea here is key. That you give without looking for return. You will be sowing into the life of another’s dream. If you cannot pursue success and be selfless in your generosity, your success will be hollow.
