Past successes build to future successes most of the time. Like you said there are ways to improve things to death by constantly tweaking and testing. At some point it is best stick with what works and then rinse/repeat. Time usually determines knowledge and expertises on subjects, but speeding that up doesn't usually hurt.

I agree that modeling successful people is important. However, I think that one major problem that even more people suffer from, is Not modeling/duplicating their Own success.

I've been guilty of this myself in the past. We're all in such a frenzy to find the "next best thing", that sometimes we totally overlook the fact that what we're already doing might be working. Instead of simply duplicating techniques that have proven to work, we tinker and tweak, trying to make it "better" and "more" … and often in the process, stop doing the actions that were producing positive results.

So basically, I'd caveat your suggestion in this way …

Find a mentor. Discover whether or not You are capable of modeling their success (ie, do you have the skills, temperament, resources, etc,.) Then, when you find something that works for you, Stick With It until you have Mastered it!

That's the time proven formula for success.

lol, now if could just learn to take my own advice as freely as I give it

Todd

Things totally build over time, the more time spent working for others and helping people out the big and better one's own foundation will be built. Networking is huge and the more you interact with others the cooler things get. Thanks for stopping by.

Another great post with excellent points. I like the idea of building the foundation with actions and developing a reputation/brand by doing so. It also emphasizes the importance of networking with others. Those connections being made can be valuable to both parties in the end.

Thanks!

hanji

In business I always try to drive home the fact that even though you can code whatever to do whatever, it is far better pay for a program that works than to reinvent it. 95% of the time someone has already done what you have done and blogged about it, wrote about it, built it you name it. Besides I love skipping the pain part in the learning curve. Business and life is hard enough already no need to bring unwarranted hardship. I always recommend finding people who have been there done that and use them as a mentor or litmus test.

Awesome point! Its easy to forget that we're not always breaking new ground… its very likely that others have done the same thing we're doing. Finding them and learning from them is one of the easiest ways to avoid some (probably not all) of the mistakes they made. It can encourage you along the way and let you know that you're not alone in your efforts!

Great great great! Thanks for the reminder!

@jtrigsby

I say keep shooting video, you are good at it! Makes for a nice post, people love having the option of watching instead of reading.

Can you imagine what would happen if Griz started shooting vids?

Video rocks….