Success Advice
4 Ingredients Everyone Needs to be Successful

Having spent 30 years turning around failing projects, under performing departments and low performers, I have learned a lot about what causes us to fail, and this has helped me develop what I believe is a recipe for success.
There is nothing that I will tell you that is revolutionary. Most people would probably come up with most of these ingredients, but the secret to success is applying all 4 of them together, that is when the magic happens. The ingredients in the recipe for success are Focus, accountability, simplicity and transparency.
Here are the 4 ingredients you need to be successful:
1. Focus
Focus is about the what; what is your objective? What does success look like to you? Too often I work with people who are not clear about what their goals are, and if you don’t know what the target is, your chances of hitting them are low. You need to have clarity around the objective and you need to be able to share it with your teams so that they understand it. Then you can all be pulling in the same direction. To improve focus keep goals to a minimum, define them clearly and communicate them repeatedly.

2. Accountability
Accountability is about the who; who is doing the work, do they know what there role is, are the expectations clear, and do you have a process for holding them accountable? Too often initiatives fail because people were unaware of their role and without a way to hold them accountable, by the time you find out they haven’t done what you expected, it’s too late. To improve accountability clearly define the roles and expectations of that role, communicate them and have review meetings to check progress.
3. Simplicity
Simplicity is about the how; how are you going to achieve your goal, have you chosen the simplest approach, have you explained it simply and clearly so everyone understands? We have a natural tendency to complicate things, and complexity is much easier to create than simplicity so we really need to ensure we keep things as simple as possible. Simplicity leads to understanding, understanding increases belief and belief is a big determinant in whether we will be successful or not. To improve simplicity eliminate any unnecessary tasks. Communicate clearly and eliminate any unnecessary technical jargon. You can also ask your team to confirm their understanding.
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”. – Leonardo da Vinci
4. Transparency
Transparency is about how far; how much you need to know, how much effort is needed to complete a task and how far you still need to go in order to be successful. Too often, people fail because they lack visibility into what’s needed to be successful and their actual performance. When you have transparency it allows you to be able to track and monitor progress, hold people accountable and to be able to make data based decisions on what you need to do in order to be successful. Transparency into performance is also a great motivator as you start to see progress being made towards the goal. To improve transparency you need to make sure you have done enough due diligence to fully understand what’s involved. You need to create a progress plan and then track and monitor progress against it.
When you have these four ingredients, when you are clear about what, who, how and how far, this will help ensure that you’re on the road to success and that you will reap the benefits of your efforts.
Thank you for reading my article! Which of these four things is your biggest challenge?
Startups
Unlock Your Potential: 3 Microlearning Apps You Need in 2025
These apps are designed for modern life: short attention spans, jam-packed schedules, and the need for results that actually stick

Raise Your Hand If:
- You’re guilty of doomscrolling at least once a day, consuming random news and social media content on a loop.
- You’ve bookmarked more learning resources than you’ve actually completed.
- You use your packed schedule as an excuse, convincing yourself that upskilling or personal growth is just another item on your endless to-do list.
Startups
The Secret Weapon Smart Businesses Use to Stay Ahead
Streamline workflows, cut costs, and boost efficiency with BPM

The business world is cruel and brutal — but you know this, of course! So, you understand that staying ahead requires more than just great, Forbes-worthy ideas and solid business sense. You have to stay on your toes — we suggest employing top business process management software solutions to help you with that! What does this technology do? Or better yet, what if you simply don’t care about all the fuss? (more…)
Success Advice
The 5 Ingredients of Success: A Pathway to Achievement
Unlock success with passion, vision, mission, execution, and feedback

Success—a seven-letter word that excites and inspires us all. Yet, not everyone reaches it. Why is it that only a select few manage to achieve success? Is there a magic formula or secret ingredient that sets them apart? (more…)
Success Advice
Why Leaders Get Feedback All Wrong and How to Fix It
Transform feedback into confidence and unlock your leadership potential

What’s feedback for? How about coworker feedback? To fix weaknesses, right? (more…)
-
Success Advice4 weeks ago
How Embracing the Divine Feminine Can Transform Your Business
-
Success Advice4 weeks ago
7 Life Lessons From My Dad to Help Young Men Become More Successful
-
Success Advice3 weeks ago
Mediocre or Master? The Levels of Preparation That Define Success
-
Success Advice3 weeks ago
Why Leaders Get Feedback All Wrong and How to Fix It
-
Entrepreneurs4 weeks ago
How Smart Investors Turn Visa Delays into Golden Opportunities
-
Success Advice3 weeks ago
7 Powerful Reasons Young Men Should Read Personal Development Books
-
Success Advice2 weeks ago
The 5 Ingredients of Success: A Pathway to Achievement
-
Entrepreneurs2 weeks ago
Is Your Data Strategy Holding You Back? Here’s How Consulting Options Can Propel You Forward
8 Comments