Earl Nightingale in his recording, The Strangest Secret, talks about how only 5 out of 100 people are successful. I listen to this recording at least once a week. Every time I get something new out of it because I really listen to the lessons and apply them to life. What Mr. Nightingale states is that only one in 100 people become rich. Four out of 100 are not dependant upon others for financial support. That means that only 5% of the population succeeds. Scary, isn't it!?!

I actually look at this via the broader bell curve. If 5% are very successful, the bottom 5% don't even try. However, it is the other 90% that waver in the middle. Forty-five percent work themselves up the curve while 45% go down the bell curve towards success.

You can see this in the world of Information Technologists. So many people don't even try to change. That's about 5%; the bottom 5%. They are the nay-sayers. These individuals do the minimum at work (and in life). They do nothing to advance themselves.

Then you have the 45% that may try a little but are really stuck in their jobs. They are the "don't rock the boat" type of individuals. They fear change and will act under the radar so as not to be noticed. They, according to Earl Nightingale, are conformists. Unfortunately, they are conforming to the wrong percentage group.

Who are the 5% of ultra successful individuals? They strive to be the best at what they love to do. They could be CIOs or they could be the best technical architect in the company. The point is they decided to be the best at what they love. They decided to expand their skill sets to include all the soft skills that help them to engage with others to do what they do best. They have a goal and they continually work towards that goal. They have a strategy and a tactical plan. However, they are flexible enough to change the strategy when new information or climate (business or political environment) changes. They act out on a plan knowing that they may learn that was a bad way to execute. They learn from their mistakes. They take risks. They don't act like the 95% of those that are not successful. They learn the technical skills but also soft skills. Why, the returns are much greater!

The 45% working towards success, the top in the field of IT, are the ones that are going on the positive side of the bell curve. If they make the top 5% is questionable. It takes time, continual effort, desire, and differing skill sets. It takes an individual to view any low-point (lay off, expiring technical skills) as an opportunity to stretch.

Information Technologists have become a commodity. Once you are a commodity, you are judged by price and not the quality of your qualifications. That represents the 60% of the bell curve. It's the 30% on the positive side and 30% on the negative side of the curve. The difference between the positive and negative is the drive. The positive side stays focused and takes steps to keep moving towards the ultra-successful. How hard they work at it results in where they sit on the positive side.

My question to you is, Do you want to be part of the successful? The 5% that are ultra successful? 5%? Sure you do. After all, the 5% is where the money is. It is where the exposure to new opportunity appears. You must work through the bell-curve to become part of the 5% highly successful individuals. Are you willing to put in the effort? If so, where are you now?

Earl Nightingale reiterates one of my favorite quotes by George Bernard Shaw: The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want and if they can't find them, make them. The 5% of ultra-successful make their own circumstances no matter in which country they reside!

What do you want to be the best in? What is your goal? How will you know that you reached your goal? What plans (notice I have it plural), do you have to reach that goal? What risks could occur? How will you counteract them? What soft-skills do you need to achieve your goal (your own set of priorities as to the importance of excelling in soft-skills defines which side of the bell curve you are on). How often do you remind yourself of your goals and review your tactics to achieving them?

Interacting well with the business community is the key to being successful in Information Technology. The only way to successfully interact with business is with your soft skills. They are the Rules of Engagement.

Identify your goals. Determine on which side of the bell curve you are presently. Take inventory of the technical skills you will need to be the best. I'm sure that is easy for you. You can identify training, books, and associations that will get you the technical knowledge. If you can't, rest assured you are on the lower half of the bell curve towards the 5% that don't get anywhere.

Now, add the soft-skills to your inventory. These include: selling, negotiating, listening, presenting, and giving value before asking. These are not in priority order. They are just some of the skills you must have to reach any goal (work related and personal). Do you know where you can learn about these skills? Do you know how to tactically practice them? On a scale of 1 to 10, how good are you at each of these skills? The 5% that are extremely successful continually learn and practice new skills. These soft skills are a higher priority than technical skills.

Be the 5% best.

SBDi speaks both Business and IT languages. Bring SBDi in to help communication between both organizations. Let us help you find the right flexible solution that will help business increase revenue.

Pat Ferdinandi, Chief Thought Translator