4 min read

Seven Factors Of Success

Aug 4, 2017 6:30:00 AM

Today we’re sharing insight from guest blogger Ron Kitchens, Chief Executive Officer of the Southwest Michigan First Group of Companies. We hope you enjoy Ron’s wisdom and perspective.

Seven Factors - FB.jpgEach year, I get to welcome a group of local, future leaders to “my house,” our offices at Southwest Michigan First. Recently, I found myself being a bit overwhelmed at the opportunities each of these kids has in front of them. The generosity of the Monroe Brown Foundation has arranged for each of these dynamic young people to not only receive a tremendous internship with an innovative company, but also a college scholarship.

I consistently have great conversations with most of these young people but one that stands out was not the one that thanked me for the free food or for helping the Monroe Brown Foundation. It was the young lady who asked, “Other than education, what else should I do to succeed?”

I did not have a good answer for that great question, but after a little retrospect and asking some of my mentors that very question; I think I have an answer for her now. Education is without a doubt the great economic leveler but education is not the only key to the future. I believe that there are 7 additional factors to your success:

  1. Above all be true to yourself. That little voice in the back of your head is usually correct, listen to it.

  2. Give back. Repay the gifts you have been given for your entire life. You do not have to be able to afford to feed 1,000 people to have an impact, just ask the child who is not hungry because of the one meal you paid for. In whatever way you feel pulled, choose to use your blessings for greater impact. Generosity is a habit.

  3. Never aspire for average. Average is the best of the worst. You were not put on this planet to be in the bottom 50%. Find your talents and then don’t stop working for growth.

  4. Never quit learning. Ignorance is your enemy and your learning does not stop when you walk across the graduation stage. Futurist Tom Peters states that just a few years ago, one-third of everything you knew was obsolete in 7 seven years, that number is now down to 18 months. If Tom is correct, and I believe he is, your future is highly dependent to your commitment to being a lifelong learner.

  5. Surround yourself with people who make you better. I am blessed to work for a Board of Directors but most people do not have this advantage. So go out and find your own board of directors. Find those people who understand you and where your opportunities are who can help coach you to success.

  6. Bad things happen. Be prepared. Keep your financial and personal affairs in order to allow you to sustain yourself financially and emotionally when the ill winds blow.

  7. Live gratefully. As you have been told your entire life, you are what you eat, it is also true that you become what you value. It is important that each day you evaluate the day’s blessings, give thanks and then use it to set the course for the next day.

What’s The Risk?

As I previously said, education is without a doubt the great economic leveler, but education is not the only key to the future. You can be incredibly educated but lack generosity. You can be a genius but miss out on personal and professional relationships. I fear that by placing all of your focus on education, which isn’t a bad thing, you may miss out on some of the other valuable gifts life and leadership hold. Shatter the traditional mindset and keep your mind open wide to a “different” road to success.

Always Forward
Ron


This content was written and shared by guest blogger, Ron Kitchens.

Ron_Kitchens_2014_2.jpgRon’s focus is to lift up leaders by accelerating their impact, influence and well-being in career, family and community.

Ron is the senior partner and chief executive officer of Southwest Michigan First, an economic consulting firm, which has grown 20% annually under his leadership. In addition, Ron leads Consultant Connect, is the publisher of 269 MAGAZINE™, board member of Impact Athletic, chairman of the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts and a Trustee of Western Michigan University.

Ron is the founder of the leadership conference Catalyst University and the co-founder of NEXT, an invitation-only leadership symposium for global economic development leaders.

Ron and his teams have been extensively featured in over 100 national and international media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, CBS, NBC, Fox, USA Today, Forbes, Fortune, The Economist and National Public Radio.

Southwest Michigan First is recognized as one of the Top 5 Best Places to Work in America by Outside Magazine, as well as a National Best & Brightest Company.

Ron is author/co-author of 3 books, including the bestseller Community Capitalism, and speaks globally on leadership, creating thriving multi-generational teams and community capitalism. He blogs and podcasts at ronkitchens.com and can be found on Twitter @ronkitchens.

Topics: Executive
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Written by Gibson

Gibson is a team of risk management and employee benefits professionals with a passion for helping leaders look beyond what others see and get to the proactive side of insurance. As an employee-owned company, Gibson is driven by close relationships with their clients, employees, and the communities they serve. The first Gibson office opened in 1933 in Northern Indiana, and as the company’s reach grew, so did their team. Today, Gibson serves clients across the country from offices in Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Utah.