Set Your Priorities for Success in Business and Life

Have you ever climbed up a ladder which was over 25 ft. high? Then, when you are near the top, you have to stretch up and reach to unscrew a spot light, and then step and reach out again to replace the old bulb with a new one. As you climb up the ladder you look at each rung and step to make certain you keep your footing. Once you are near the top you realize you will need to stretch out a bit past the ladder to get to the light.

For success in business you have to set up a similar method of completing your projects and attaining the goals you set. You are not able to just go right to the top of the ladder. You must set reasonable goals to be achieved, similar to each rung you step up on the ladder. Once you achieve your goal you may find a bit more work needs to be done to really get the results you want in order to get to where you want to go.

This would be similar to stretching up to reach the light bulb. There are no shortcuts. You have to take an orderly path up the ladder, one rung at a time. You don’t skip up two or three rungs. You climb slowly and steady up the ladder. This is the same process for your business. It does not mean this process has to take years! For certain businesses with this orderly process may take a few months or even weeks. The point is you have to set your priorities.

Let’s consider the ladder again. As you are climbing up the ladder, you see one or two beautifully colored butterflies gliding nearby. Would you stop and go back down the ladder, find your camera or iPhone, and then go back up the ladder to take pictures? Once the pictures are taken, would you then post the photos and send them around to your friends? Would you climb down the ladder and print one or two of the photos out as you realize it would look perfect in your den in a frame? You now realize you don’t have the right frame so you get in your car and drive to the mall to purchase the perfect frame for your new butterfly picture. And this story goes on, as the picture has to be hung in the proper location… This story may seem ridiculous to you. Please ask yourself how it is any different than spending too much time on Twitter or Facebook? How is it any different than forgetting the birthday of your spouse or the anniversary of a special event to you both?

The ability to achieve success is directly related to your ability to prioritize. The next time you think you are falling off track think of this story of climbing the ladder to remind you to get to the light bulbs and stop chasing the butterflies. If you are ready to shine the light on your priorities .