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Health & Fitness

Be Your Own "Accidental" Success Story - Tips from a Pro

Pay attention to your life and what comes easily to you. Enjoy what you do, be passionate and the success will follow. Just wait and see.

How many times (if ever!) have your heard of the phrase, "accidental success?"

Better yet, do any of you know of anyone who has become their own “accidental success story?”

We all should be so lucky.

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My fiance, Steve Scanlon, is a landscaper in the the Two River Area, as many of you may know. By trade, he owns a very successful business designing landscapes and cultivating the best lawns in the area. Steve loves his job, the staff that works for him and his clients. It isn’t uncommon for us to see him chatting with a friend standing on their front porch or giving the token “Scanlon Wave” from one of his trucks as he merrily cruises through town, lawn supplies and trailer in tow.

But I hate to say it, his secret is out.

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Steve loves to take pictures. Whether it is a picture of a Navesink River sunrise, Sandy Hook beaches or capturing the stillness of the Shrewsbury River, his shots are fantastic. There is no doubt about it, as I am sure many of you would agree.

Lucky for me, I have been witness to this “accidental success” and have experienced his love and passion for his art spill over, literally, to the world of the internet and as with our local friends, family and community. He is an artist. But most of all,  Steve is passionate about what he does, which is the real secret to his “accidental success”.

I have to say,  I am in awe as to how genuine Steve is with his efforts to simply share his pictures day after day for his friends to enjoy them.  There is no fee, no hidden agenda, no notes attached to his posts with a price tag, nothing.  I have watched his little hobby grow purely and strictly from his love to what he does – plain and simple.

Little did Steve know he was poster child for the success principles that I often read from (Chicken Soup for the Soul guy) Jack Canfield’isms, the agenda for Be Your Own Success Story workshop that I teach as well as the foundation to my work as a transition coach.

Poor thing.

One might think that accidental success is purely that, an “accidental success.” However, I believe that there are tips and tools you can cultivate your own success story.

Tips on How to Be Accidentally Successful:

1 – Love What You Do and Work At It

There is no doubt about it, when you are passionate about what you do, you are bound to be a success.  You will be more committed to put the hours in as far as building your business (if you so desire) to take it to the next level because, simply put, you enjoy it. Steve is testimony to this. It’s his love for his art that gets him out of bed in the morning pre-sunrise to go enjoy capturing the moment.

2 – Relish in Your Enthusiasm

If you love your job, you are excited to talk about it. If you love what you do, you will be enthusiastic to discuss it with colleagues and other professional connections. And, as we all know, enthusiasm breeds more enthusiasm.  As for Steve, his love for his home-town is what has cultivated his hobby. He wanted to capture the beauty of the area for the world to see, sharing with that his excitement in which he believes that this really is a wonderful area we live in.

3 – Be Genuine

No matter what kind of success you achieve by taking your passion/hobby to the next level, stay true to its roots. Take note in the effort that got you to this next level – most likely a big part of that was your authenticity and your desire to stay true to you being genuine to what you love to do.  

I think this lesson could go for just about anything. When you peel back that proverbial onion and get to the reason why you do what you do, you are more likely to be authentic and real with yourself and your success. Steve maintains his authenticity, in my book, due to his desire to show the nature of the area, instead of focusing on the material aspects of life. His love of the outdoors mixed with his keen eye really display his authentic view of the Two River area. He is not caught up in what is the trend, so to speak. He is dedicated to his art and what keeps him passionate as to why he started taking pictures in the first place. 

4 – Appreciate How You Got There

Steve is great at this. Almost each day he thanks his Facebook fans for their “likes” and comments – and he really means it.  Don’t forget that for every step you take up the ladder of success, there was, most likely, people helping you move forward.

Don’t forget about those people who had a belief in your abilities, even before you did! I have to say, through my own professional journey, Steve was my biggest cheerleader. And, without getting too mushy on all of you, I don’t really know where I would be without him, my parents, friends, colleagues and last but not least, my wonderful kids.

We all doubt ourselves at one time or another, the key is to not let those self-doubts seep in and take over. By showing gratitude for your world at the present moment and the people that helped you get there. will breed more of the same positivity. Plus, who doesn’ t like to be told “thank you” a time or two?” 

5 – Do More of the Same

Know what works and do more of the same.  On the flip side, know what doesn’t work when it comes to wanting to grow your passion into a career. Identify key traits as to what has helped you get this far and go from there.  Constant assessment is the key to continual progression, focus, and clarity when looking towards your goals.

It’s been fun being a bystander to this “accidental success” of someone to whom I love very much.  Steve’s charm and ability to remain humble and in awe of his success is, to say the least, entertaining and touching.

As for me, I will sit idly by with my pom-pom in  hand cheering Steve on from the sidelines. And no matter what, I believe that his secret is out.

Accidentally successful? Nah, I beg to differ. I think Steve knew was he doing all along.  (wink wink)

Whether it is Be Your Own Success Story or Be Your Own “Accidental” Success Story - it really doesn’t matter, the outcome is still the same.

Maybe it’s time for Steve to teach me a thing or two?

Stay-tuned!

Keep the faith,

Patti

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