Gerry Reid's

Personal and Professional Development Newsletter

Volume 3 - - - Subscribe to this FREE newsletter! - - -  Number 1

SIX (OR MORE) C'S OF SUCCESS

Competence
Courage
Commitment
Communication
Change
Creativity

I believe that the ability to communicate, change and be creative are the hallmarks of people who are successful, no matter what criteria is used to measure success. In addition, many years ago while teaching a class in Seoul, Korea I saw a U.S. military television program. Its premise was that competence, courage and commitment are the hallmarks of a leader.

For the last ten years, those six "C" words have been woven into all that I do, personally and professionally. Whether researching a subject for a client event, delivering a motivational speech, leading a workshop, teaching adult Sunday school or facilitating a teambuilding session, I want those six elements to be part of all I do.

It is not necessary for others to be aware of the presence of the first three factors, competence, courage and commitment. These three factors should be used in a humble way, being most useful if they are not obviously displayed. None of them should be so over used or flaunted as to glare above the rest. Neither should they be so noticeably absent that one would notice their absence.

I hope that if asked, the people I associate with and work with would be able to say that they sense the presence of those factors within all that I do. At the same time I would hope they never thought of any of them in particular until directly asked.

The last three, communication, change and creativity again should not be glaring in their use. It would be nice if, from time to time, people actually noticed those factors at play. However, such acknowledgement many times occurs as a result their use, giving a satisfying, indirect endorsement of their presence.

I am sure you have other "C" words that you feel are crucial to success and leadership. Please let me know your thoughts and ideas along these lines. Meanwhile, I am going to elaborate on each of the six words in my current list. I will cover one topic per issue of this newsletter and will include your contributions as well. (Hmmm, "Contribution" - maybe that is C-word number seven!)

"A FRIEND IS . . .

Some of you may have attended one of my creativity classes or sessions and will remember the fun we had learning the idiosyncrasies of how to best use acrostics.

(To bring you all up to speed, I promise to write an article about acrostics for this newsletter, soon.)

The following was sent to me by Steven Neoh, one of my Internet friends. I found it most interesting and thought provoking. It also demonstrates a very powerful creativity skill called "Acrostics."

A Friend....

(A)ccepts you as you are
(B)elieves in "you"
(C)alls you just to say "HI"
(D)oesn't give up on you
(E)nvisions the whole of you (even the unfinished parts)
(F)orgives your mistakes
(G)ives unconditionally
(H)elps you
(I)nvites you over
(J)ust "be" with you
(K)eeps you close at heart
(L)oves you for who you are
(M)akes a difference in your life
(N)ever Judges
(O)ffers support
(P)icks you up
(Q)uiets your fears
(R)aises your spirits
(S)ays nice things about you
(T)ells you the truth when you need to hear it
(U)nderstands you
(V)alues you
(W)alks beside you
(X)-plain things you don't understand
(Y)ells when you won't listen and
(Z)aps you back to reality

Comments? Seems to me there are many articles to be written as a result of that
list. How about you? I would love to have you be a "Guest Contributor" to a
future issue of the PPDN.