It has been said that one thing more difficult than becoming a champion is to remain one. This is true for many reasons. One of them is complacency. It frequently shows up when we attain a desired milestone.  

In the business world, complacency can hinder our success both in the short and long-term. It can cause a business owner’s failure to continuously improve product quality, level of customer service, strategic planning, marketing, and operations. It is a primary reason why corporations become challenged. Complacency may cause the corporate employee to do just enough, just what is expected, simply because they are employed.

The moment that we attain a milestone, we need to celebrate. We deserve to celebrate. But this is also the moment when we should plan and strive for our next milestone. It is the moment when we need to be aware of complacency, and avoid it at all costs.

To Your Unconditional Success!

Andrew Carnegie said that successful people are the ones that go the extra mile. In my opinion, he was referring to one of the fundamental principles of success: “added value.”

As business professionals living in a fast-paced, ever-changing business world, adopting an “added value” mindset gives us a competitive edge; it helps us distinguish ourselves in the eyes and minds of our clients, prospects, associates and employers. 

What is the definition of “added value”? This depends on your type of business. In simple terms, it is under-promising and over-delivering; going beyond what is expected of us. It is making the entire business experience consistently better for our clients and the people that we serve.

Once we clearly understand what is expected of us, it is imperative to adopt the “added value” philosophy. Strategies of success may evolve; principles, however, never do.

To your success!