Success Depends More On Your State Than Your Expertise

by Ravi Raman on July 2, 2008

It’s rarely the smartest person that gets the highest grades, the most physically gifted that wins the race or the  most capable person that gets a promotion.

What you have done has little impact on your outcome unless you are able to manage your state effectively.

By “state” I am referring to your ability to control your emotions, physiology, language and focus in positive manner. The most highly training swimmer, without proper emotional control, could false-start or go out too fast, and lose a race.

The most capable employee could get locked into a “why me” attitude where they blame others for their lack of progress, instead of focusing on their strengths and delivering great work…thereby damaging their reputation and losing any chance for promotion.

The most gifted student could get super nervous before the SAT’s and not come away with a great score.

In many cases, once you have a minimum level of competence in a subject, it is your state, that is…your ability to control your inner environment, that is the true determination of success.

{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }

Brent Naseath 07.20.08 at 7:00 pm

Been reading your blog. I like all your entries, but this one especially resonates with me and my current undertaking. Thanks for taking the time to post it. I agree wholeheartedly.

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