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Success Advice

The Number 1 Tool You Need To Succeed. Hint: You Learned it as a Child

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If you’re exploring Addicted2success.com, I’m sure that you’ve read, heard, and experienced a wide variety of tools and perspectives on what it takes to be successful.  Gurus, coaches, and thought leaders from all over the world have their own idea of what it takes to be successful.

After reviewing a number of these and breaking down the messages to their most basic level, I believe I’ve discovered  the number one tool you need in order to succeed.

But first, I’m going to frame this quickly.  As Les Brown says “you have greatness within you”, meaning that the things you need in order to be ‘great’ come from within.  With that in mind, I want you to imagine yourself as a toolbox.  Inside you have things such as work ethic, observation skills, willpower, a sense of adventure, gratitude, etc.

All of the characteristics and qualities that many deem necessary in order to be successful.  But as you begin on this journey, I believe that the first ‘tool’ you take from the toolbox of your soul is imagination.

 

Imagination is the number one tool you need to succeed

It’s a quality that we all share, and has unlimited potential. Imagination is that thing we were all told to use as kids all the time, before we “grew out of it” as we slowly became adults.  The thing that we used to fly to Saturn on a spaceship made of marshmallows and Lincoln Logs driven by a team of monkeys.  That thing that made us want to become firefighters, policemen, or superheroes.  That thing that allowed us to build skyscrapers out of multicolored blocks.  That thing that encouraged us to follow our dreams no matter how ridiculous or crazy it sounded.  That ONE thing every human being has on this earth in some form or another.

We all have it, but we don’t USE it. Every great person began with a vision.  Every athlete, every inventor, every great leader, every legend.  All of them had a VISION for what they wanted. And where did that vision come from?  Their imagination!

Arnold Schwarzenegger didn’t just become a world famous body builder, actor, and politician by letting that sort of success fall into his lap.  He knew it was coming because he had a vision for himself.  And while it seemed that the odds were against him, he kept believing in that vision and made it happen time and time again.  He knew that no dream was too big, as long as he kept working on becoming the greatest and the feeling of achievement.

 

Muhammad ali quote

 

Using your imagination the right way

How you use your imagination depends on what exactly it is you want.  If your team wants to be the best in the league, then imagine that moment when your team’s name gets announced as the winner.  Imagine you making that winning touchdown or scoring that final three-pointer as the buzzer sounds.  Imagine, and make it so.

Don’t use your imagination to create material goals, try to imagine the FEELING that comes with achieving your goals and overcoming struggles.  Addicted2Success founder Joel Brown spoke about how vision boards aren’t worth attracting what you want in life.  He argues that we ought to focus on the emotions that come with success, rather than the material goods.  And I agree.

“Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it, we go nowhere.” – Carl Sagan

If you want to become successful, you have to imagine it first. After that, the steps you take are crucial.  And I can’t tell you what to do with the vision created by your imagination.  I’ve witnessed hundreds of leaders and entrepreneurs take different steps to become who they are known today.  But they were all driven by the vision of success they developed within their imagination. 

How have you used imagination to find success?  What is your vision for life?  How do you find success? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below!

Joe Kleckner has a passion for all things motivation & self-development.  From blogs such as Addicted2Success, to the videos of Eric Thomas and Elliott Hulse, to the lectures of legends such as Tony Robbins.  This passion has landed him an internship with Addicted2Success. Follow him on Twitter & Snapchat as he journeys towards greatness, one day at a time.

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Success Advice

Why One-Size-Fits-All Leadership Will Always Fail (and What Works Instead)

The surprising truth about leadership styles that can make or break your team’s success.

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Leadership has always been as much about people as it is about performance. Ken Blanchard, in his influential book, “The One Minute Manager”, put it simply: different strokes for different folks. (more…)

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Success Advice

What Every New CEO Must Do in Their First 100 Days (or Risk Failure)

Your first 100 days as CEO could define your entire legacy, here’s how to make every move count

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When Tim Cook took over from Steve Jobs at Apple, the world watched with bated breath. Jobs wasn’t just a CEO; he was a visionary, an icon, and a legend of innovative leadership. (more…)

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Entrepreneurs

The Leadership Shift Every Company Needs in 2025

Struggling to keep your team engaged? Here’s how leaders can turn frustrated employees into loyal advocates.

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In workplaces around the world, there’s a growing gap between employers and employees and between superiors and their teams. It’s a common refrain: “People don’t leave companies, they leave bad bosses.”

While there are, of course, cases where management could do better, this isn’t just a “bad boss” problem. The relationship between leaders and employees is complex. Instead of assigning blame, we should explore practical solutions to build stronger, healthier workplaces where everyone thrives.

Why This Gap Exists

Every workplace needs someone to guide, supervise, and provide feedback. That’s essential for productivity and performance. But because there are usually far more employees than managers, dissatisfaction, fair or not, spreads quickly.

What if, instead of focusing on blame, we focused on building trust, empathy, and communication? This is where modern leadership and human-centered management can make a difference.

Tools and Techniques to Bridge the Gap

Here are proven strategies leaders and employees can use to foster stronger relationships and create a workplace where people actually want to stay.

1. Practice Mutual Empathy

Both managers and employees need to recognize they are ultimately on the same team. Leaders have to balance people and performance, and often face intense pressure to hit targets. Employees who understand this reality are more likely to cooperate and problem-solve collaboratively.

2. Maintain Professional Boundaries

Superiors should separate personal issues from professional decision-making. Consistency, fairness, and integrity build trust, and trust is the foundation of a motivated team.

3. Follow the Golden Rule

Treat people how you would like to be treated. This simple principle encourages compassion and respect, two qualities every effective leader must demonstrate.

4. Avoid Micromanagement

Micromanaging stifles creativity and damages morale. Great leaders see themselves as partners, not just bosses, and treat their teams as collaborators working toward a shared goal.

5. Empower Employees to Grow

Empowerment means giving employees responsibility that matches their capacity, and then trusting them to deliver. Encourage them to take calculated risks, learn from mistakes, and problem-solve independently. If something goes wrong, turn it into a learning opportunity, not a reprimand.

6. Communicate in All Directions

Communication shouldn’t just be top-down. Invite feedback, create open channels for suggestions, and genuinely listen to what your people have to say. Healthy upward communication closes gaps before they become conflicts.

7. Overcome Insecurities

Many leaders secretly fear being outshone by younger, more tech-savvy employees. Instead of resisting, embrace the chance to learn from them. Humility earns respect and helps the team innovate faster.

8. Invest in Coaching and Mentorship

True leaders grow other leaders. Provide mentorship, career guidance, and stretch opportunities so employees can develop new skills. Leadership is learned through experience, but guided experience is even more powerful.

9. Eliminate Favoritism

Avoid cliques and office politics. Decisions should be based on facts and fairness, not gossip. Objective, transparent decision-making builds credibility.

10. Recognize Efforts Promptly

Recognition often matters more than rewards. Publicly appreciate employees’ contributions and do so consistently and fairly. A timely “thank you” can be more motivating than a quarterly bonus.

11. Conduct Thoughtful Exit Interviews

When employees leave, treat it as an opportunity to learn. Keep interviews confidential and use the insights to improve management practices and culture.

12. Provide Leadership Development

Train managers to lead, not just supervise. Leadership development programs help shift mindsets from “command and control” to “coach and empower.” This transformation has a direct impact on morale and retention.

13. Adopt Soft Leadership Principles

Today’s workforce, largely millennials and Gen Z, value collaboration over hierarchy. Soft leadership focuses on partnership, mutual respect, and shared purpose, rather than rigid top-down control.

The Bigger Picture: HR’s Role

Mercer’s global research highlights five key priorities for organizations:

  • Build diverse talent pipelines

  • Embrace flexible work models

  • Design compelling career paths

  • Simplify HR processes

  • Redefine the value HR brings

The challenge? Employers and employees often view these priorities differently. Bridging that perception gap is just as important as bridging the relational gap between leaders and staff.

Treat Employees Like Associates, Not Just Staff

When you treat employees like partners, they bring their best selves to work. HR leaders must develop strategies to keep talent engaged, empowered, and prepared for the future.

Organizational success starts with people, always. Build the relationship with your team first, and the results will follow.

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Entrepreneurs

What Makes an Entrepreneurial Leader? Traits of the World’s Best Innovators

Inside the mindset of entrepreneurial leaders who transform risk, passion, and vision into world-changing results.

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When you think of Richard Branson (Virgin Group), Bill Gates (Microsoft), Steve Jobs (Apple), Rupert Murdoch (News Corporation), and Ted Turner (CNN), one thing becomes clear: they are not just entrepreneurs, they are entrepreneurial leaders. (more…)

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