Seven Secrets To Stratoshperic Success: Secret Two

You're standing on a riverbank, with the water lapping at your toes. The morning dew blankets your surroundings, and the fog on the river is so thick, a rock thrown disappears from view before it leaves your hand.

On the ground behind you are the following:

• Pair of running shoes
• Pair of hiking boots
• Snorkel and fins
• Pole vault pole
• Canoe and paddle
• Car with engine running and GPS mapping software loaded and active

Using any, all or none of these tools, what is the fastest way to cross the river? (Remember, the fog on the river is so thick you can't see the hand at the end of your arm.)

What is the safest way to cross the river?

How about the most enjoyable way to cross?

In this scenario, the only correct answer to this question is some form of "I have no earthly idea," because you know only your starting point and not your destination.

Do you know why even a blind hog finds an acorn every once in a while?

Because the hog is looking for acorns.

Sage Secret Two: The Law Of The Objective Bull's Eye
You can’t reach the stratosphere, unless you can describe it objectively.

Stratospheric success is never an accident. Sure, the people who reach it often seem to stumble their way to greatness, but that's only because they know what the stratosphere is for them, and when its smell wafts past, they change directions.

Here's a simple-yet-effective exercise for describing and reaching your personal version of stratospheric success:

1. Write down your vision for stratospheric success. (If you included any subjective words, change each to an objective description that others will understand.)
2. Describe the stepping-stone achievements you must meet to reach the stratosphere -- write a book, launch a website, prepare and give 30 speeches, etc.
3. Describe every achievement objectively as though it were it's own goal. (Turn "write a book" into "Write a book that reaches number 1 on the Amazon best sellers list, stays there for five weeks and sells 150,000 copies.")
4. Arrange your stepping-stone achievements into a logical, linear order. (Don't be so rigid as to miss an opportunity to meet an achievement out of order.)
5. Describe the tasks to meeting your first stepping-stone achievement.
6. Schedule time to complete the tasks.

Keep it simple, but keep it objective, and you'll be well on your way to reaching your stratosphere.

Gill E. Wagner, Sage of Selling
President of Honest Selling
Founder of the Yellow-Tie International Business Development Association