Success Process adapted from the book,

Teens Can Make It Happen, by Stedman Graham.

I use these steps with the teens I mentor. We go over them at least once every quarter.

Step 1: Who are you?

            Do you know what makes you happy? What are the things that energize you? Do you spend time doing the things that make you feel valued?

            God created each one of us with unique passions and gifts. When you are using those gifts to satisfy your passions you are on the road to becoming all you were created to be. Spend some serious time figuring out if the way you are spending your day drains you or energizes you. If what you do doesn’t fit what you want to be doing—let’s see if we can change that.

Step 2 Create your vision.

            Sit down with pencils, crayons, markers, magazines, or whatever inspires you and create a written or visual vision for your life. What difference do you want to make during your stay here on earth? How do you want to touch people or the environment so that it is a better world than the one you found? Dream BIG!!!

Step 3 Look at your daily activities.

            What are you doing right now towards making the difference you want to make? Which activities current activities need to be cut from your daily, weekly or monthly schedule to make room for your vision? What new activities need to take their place?

            If you are having trouble making these changes, you need to rethink your goals and vision because if it is something you truly want the changes are not that difficult to make. Always check and recheck your daily actions against your values and priorities.

Step 4 Master your distractions.

            Identify those things that distract you from your course. Why are they distractions? Be honest with yourself at all times. Use your imagination to aid you in staying on task. Find your balance of work and play; distractions are not always bad. Sometimes during play we find the answers we were searching endless for during our work time. Be careful not to go chasing White Rabbits though—find balance by setting good priorities and a good work ethic.

Step 5 Risk failure.

            Thomas Edison didn’t fail; he succeeded in finding 10,000 different ways the light bulb would not work. Failure is a state of mind; don’t give in to it. Every time you hit a roadblock reassess your plan and use your imagination to get through it, around it, over it, or under it. Success story after success story illustrates that success comes just after the “average” person would have given up, but the successful person gets up and gives it one more try.

Step 6 Change is necessary.

            Unless you are exactly where you want to be, doing what you were created to do, making the changes you want to be making in the world…. Change is necessary. Most people don’t make changes because they are afraid. Make a list of what you are afraid of, compare that list to your vision. Do you really want to give up your vision because of those fears? Use prayer and your imagination to master those fears. Imagine the worst-case scenarios and make a plan for dealing with them. Trust that your vision comes from God and that you can do it.

Step 7 Build your Dream Team.

            Surround yourself with people who love and support your vision. Ask yourself if the people you spend your time with are helping you or hindering you from your goals. Open up and share your vision with one or two people you really trust. When you feel stuck ask them to use their creativity and imagination to help you.

Step 8 Find a mentor.

Find someone who is doing what you want to do and get to know them. If they have written books, read them. Study the choices they have made. Study how they spend their day. Write them a letter that shares your vision and ask for guidance. If possible spend time with them. Ask them what books they have read, what people they admire, and where they get their ideas from.

Step 9 Make a decision.

            After all this work it sounds silly to say make a decision, but this is the most important step! You must decide to act and learn from those decisions. Good decisions: open opportunities; make you feel good about yourself; allow you to express your talents; silence your critics; move you forward; reduce frustration; attract dynamic people to your cause. Bad decisions: put you on a dead end street; result in second thoughts; cause you to look over your shoulder; make you regret; are food for your critics; bring trouble; attract predators who hope to capitalize on more bad decisions. Don’t fear making bad decisions; just take the time to learn from them!

Step 10 Commit to your vision.

            You have to decide with every fiber of your being that this is what you are going to do. No room to be wishy-washy. There is room for changes, adjustment and revisions, but there is no room to say, “Maybe I want to do this.” When you have a vision and a solid plan in mind and you are committed to that vision and plan, nothing can stop you.