"Vision without action is a dream. Action without vision is simply passing the time. Action with Vision is making a positive difference." – Joel Barker Ever thought about what makes some people so successful? You think it is because they are excessively more intelligent than the rest? Do you honestly believe it is because they have been bestowed with some special superpower that elevates them above the remainder of humanity? You think that it is because every idea they have is brilliant?

Forget it.

The Easy Lesson of Success

What they do have, however, is an understanding of a particular fact. As they say, "knowledge is power." What is this key fact or insight? It is the concept that good ideas by themselves accomplish but little. Those who have gone the distance understand that to enjoy success, you have to work. There is no easy way, no shortcut. If you aren’t willing to work, you might as well stop reading here.

Another related truth is, "knowing is half the battle." Well, what is the other half? Before you jump in, eager to prove that you’ve learned your lesson from the previous paragraph and shout "work!", let’s move onto the second lesson. A good idea and lots of work won’t do it, either. The idea is like a vehicle. The work is like a big engine. But without systematic assessment of where you are headed and appropriate course changes, you have nothing to gauge progress. You have no direction. Like Alice in Wonderland, if you don’t know where you are going, how will you know when you get there?

Now, we have a nice formula for success:

idea + direction + work = success

One mistaken belief held by many is that the idea has to be some earth-shattering innovation never before seen by humanity. They think they have to come up with something brilliant. Again, this is way off. The least important element of this formula is how good of an idea it is. Many people do things that have been done for millenia. Think of people who open restaurants or clothing stores. You think these are new and innovative ideas? Do you really think that has anything to do with how new and innovative your idea is? Please, get this out of your head now. It is the organized direction, ability to gauge your progress, and the amount of all-out work you are willing to put in.

Of the formula mentioned above, the principle of hard work is a very simple one to grasp. You just work hard and be as honest as you possibly can. Do everything to the best of your ability. Do correctly what you can do now. Jump in and get going. "Do it. Do it right. Do it right now." Please tell me if this requires more explanation.

It is the concept of "direction" that deserves some explanation and insight.

Direction and Measuring Progress

How, then, can we define our ability to monitor our direction? What tells us whether we are getting nearer to "success"? How will we know when we’ve become successful? You have to come up with a road map, define check points, anticipate possible problems that may arise, consider the resources you will have along the way, and define what your "success" will be so you know when you get there. No one jumps in a car and drives in a straight line to their destination. This would be hugely dangerous. You would be jumping curbs and driving through peoples’ living rooms in short order. You have to outline a path. Consider the one that is the most promising (notice I didn’t say "easiest"), most direct, and has the least life-threatening obstacles.

What I would like to discuss with you is a tried-and-true methodical approach to outlining your road map to success. This secret has been in our family and businesses for years.

You can remember this method with the acronym APROPOS. This method can be applied to personal growth, projects at work, an exercise plan, or any other type of accomplishment upon which you may embark. Let’s take a look at each step.

Aim

What is your final goal? Where are you headed? Where do you want to be when you are done? What is your objective? How will you know when you have arrived at this destination? Write out a statement in clear, specific details, including measurable behaviors and dates. This gives you a general direction and clear endpoint.

Position Audit

Where am I now in relationship to this final goal? In relationship to where I want to be, what is a clear, specific analysis of my current situation? Be honest and open in your definitions here. Acknowledging weaknesses and areas of mediocrity in this step will be in your best interest in the end. Don’t be afraid to call a spade a spade here.

Resources

What is needed in terms of time, people, money, behavior, and/or other tools that are available to help close the gap? Specific description of those resources is most effective. In other words, what resources do you have available to you right now that will help you accomplish your Aim?

Obstacles and Opportunities

As you set out to close the gap, what will lie in your way and what may be able to help you? Give specific details. How can you recognize any roadblocks or detours? How will you know what is on the main highway? What are the consequences of not overcoming the obstacles and what are the benefits of taking advantage of the opportunities?

Program

What is the long-term plan to close the gap or achieve your aims? This is a broad outline of a three to five year plan. Define specific, measurable long-term goals that will get you from where you are now, to the aim you wish to accomplish.

Objective

These are mid-term tactics that are a more structured plan for the one to three year range. Make sure to state your goals in specific, measurable terms so that you will know when you have reached them.

Steps

What are the action steps needed from now through one year out that clearly outline the path that you should take? This will spell out dates to be calendared (schedules), how any money is to be spent (budget), and answers the questions: Who? What? Where? How? Why? When? The action steps also include a review section which reports the results, your thoughts, and feelings. This is called a journal. There is a review of the action steps at the beginning of each day, at the beginning of each week, and at the beginning of each month.

Goals

Goal setting is the basis of each of the steps of APROPOS outlined above. We have all outlined goals for ourselves before. It is worth mentioning that there are effective and less-effective ways to set goals. If you set general, vague goals that are hard to measure, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Make goals specific, clear, and easy to measure.

Bad Goal: Get in shape.

Good Goal: By January 1, 2008, I will be able to run a mile in 6 minutes and 30 seconds. I will accomplish this goal by running no less than 1 mile every day for 6 days a week. I will measure the time it takes to run a mile once a week to monitor my progress.

Conclusion

Good ideas are nice, but they don’t get you there. Hard work, even when paired with a good idea can’t do it, either. It is only when you have a decent idea that is clearly defined, and have a detailed structure of measurable goals in place that you will find yourself gravitating towards the success that you seek. Find yourself an idea, decide you will work hard, and then set up a structure using APROPOS. You can’t help but achieve success.