Its often useful to have some sort of memory key to help recall important things. In thinking about what it takes for a person to be successful, think about the three A's: Aptitude, Attitude, and Action.

Aptitude means having sufficient knowledge of the field in which one wants to be a higher performer. The knowledge required, whether in accounting, gardening, or communications, can be broken down into content knowledge -- understanding the typologies (logical structure) of the subject matter, and process knowledge -- how to apply (temporal structure) the content. Another useful piece of knowledge irrespective of ones field is how human beings develop during their life-span, as this can help one in evaluating ones own progress as well as better understand where others are coming from.

Attitude means dealing with self, situations, and others in a positive manner. It's true that things don't always go as we'd hoped, and some people are difficult to deal with. It's easy to be caught up in a series of bad events and end up with a negative view about oneself, others, and life in general. However, it almost for sure won't help. Although a touch of skepticism may be a good defense throughout ones life, a negative attitude often not only paralyzes the individual holding it, but also drives away others who don't want it to stick to them.

Action is just that. Having all the knowledge in the world and a good attitude doesn't make things happen. Action must eventually and continually be taken in the direction of the goal. This doesn't mean that some delays or detours won't happen, whether intentionally or by accident. But without movement there cannot be progress.

So, how does one get the aptitude? In today's world, gaining content expertise is probably the easiest -- information is everywhere. Learning from experts is a good start, whether through seminars, books, college courses, articles, or personal discussion. With the hypertext feature of the Internet, key sources on any topic can quickly be found.

Gaining process expertise is more difficult. Although it can sometimes be learned from experts, actual application of content knowledge is usually required if one is to fully understand how to integrate and evaluate it. This means searching out opportunities to apply new knowledge, such as through volunteer organizations, special projects, or lateral transfers. Simulations and case studies can also be of help.

Life knowledge, although obtained free every day, is perhaps the more difficult to really understand. Many people simply don't or won't take the time to reflect on and study life principles, so they keep making the same bad decisions over and over. However, there are many good books, workshops, and other sources for learning about human development. Seeing a psychologist can also be a good calibrating process, helping to identify new knowledge about human development and/or self that one may want to learn.

Attitude often seems built in at an early age and difficult to change, since it requires people to explore the way they think. This is often done in conjunction with a facilitator who helps the individual identify patterns in their thinking. Another way is to find a role model that one respects, and study their approach to life.

Action can be even more difficult, as it's where success and failure are ultimately determined. Fear of failure or of how success may impact one's life can have a paralyzing effect. However, remembering that each of us can create our own definition of success and failure, and that we control much of our path to success, means we can elect to shape the path and our interpretation of progress at a pace for which we're prepared.

For people in positions of leadership, these concepts can also be applied from an organizational perspective. In order for your organization to be successful, what aptitudes will be necessary in the future? What attitudes does your corporate culture demonstrate, and does it fit with your business needs? How effective is the organization at identifying and taking actions that move you in the right direction? Do your employees feel successful?

Copyright 2006 Duke Okes