Reaching for the Stars: What Does it Take for Success?

What does it take to get your dream job? What does it take to be successful in any kind of endeavor? There may be many different answers to those questions. Everyone may have an opinion on the matter. However, opinions usually don't lead to success. Action leads to success.

In December of 2007, Rich Rodriguez, the head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineer football team, suddenly quit that post to take the head coaching job at the University of Michigan. Most West Virginia fans were left feeling betrayed, and deserted. However, one young Mountaineer fan saw an opportunity. According to the International Herald Tribune, Joshua Irizarry, a 12 year old boy from Connecticut, decided that he would apply for the open head coaching job at West Virginia University. The boy sent his application with a well written letter, stating logical reasons why the University should hire him. One well thought out reason included a marketing angle. He wrote, "Consider the publicity your campus would receive. I understand this would be a move more suited for a team like Temple, but I am just asking for your consideration. Don't think of this as hiring a 12-year-old kid from a nowhere town, but think of this as hiring a dedicated football mind trying to help a team. I would work for any conditions you would wish to provide."

In the end, Joshua didn't get the job, but he did get his secondary request. The President of West Virginia University sent him a personal letter, informing him that he was going to hire an "equally qualified candidate" in Bill Stewart, and an autographed photograph of Joshua's favorite player, Noel Devine.

Anyone who is paying attention can learn a lot from this young man. He has expressed the basis of success, and if he continues to show these characteristics, will probably be successful in his life. Consider the characteristics exhibited by young Joshua, and how applying the same principles can make anyone successful in their own endeavors.

1. Aim high. How many people don't succeed because they don't try? They convince themselves that they are not really qualified for a promotion, or for a new job. They are afraid of failure, so they will only go for an end that they are sure of. There is a good chance that most people have the fear of failure, but the key is to not allow that fear to control our actions. The truth is, most people fail more often than they succeed. Until a person aims high, and tries to push himself beyond his known limits, he will never succeed big.

2. Have confidence in yourself, and your abilities. A person that has no confidence in their own abilities will hold himself back from success. A person who has prepared himself for a particular job or activity should have confidence that they can succeed, and act on that confidence. Employers can tell when a person has enough confidence in their abilities to succeed. They can, as well, tell when a person has unfounded confidence. If you have prepared yourself for success, then you should be willing to act on it, but don't try to fake your way through interviews. Young Joshua certainly believed he could do just as good a job as any of the other candidates.

3. Act boldly on your instincts. How many people would have thought to apply for the head coaching job at West Virginia University? Being willing to go out on a limb might be just the thing that sways the hands fate in your favor. If you never act on opportunities, there is never an opportunity for success. Far too many people are too timid when it comes to going after something that they want. They wait to be noticed, and wait for good things to happen to them. Successful people make things happen for them. They are bold in their approach, presenting themselves as the best possible candidate for a new job or promotion.

4. Be creative in your tactics. Being creative can draw a lot of attention, especially when most people are not creative. Providing something different can certainly open up the door for you, especially in a tight competition for a job. When all other criteria are equal, your creative edge may be just what an employer is looking for. Expand your sights, and point to strengths you may have in areas not directly associated with the job you are trying to get.

5. Have a suitable backup plan. In the end, if you are going to go out on a limb, you have to be prepared for failure. But, even failure doesn't have to really be failure. Have a backup plan that is acceptable to you, something that you can fall back on if "plan A" doesn't pan out. Joshua had a secondary plan to get the University president to write him a personal letter, and an autographed picture of Noel Devine. He will probably be remembered in a few years when he applies to West Virginia University for admittance. He hopes to attend and learn about coaching and training. Surely, this creativity will earn him some points in the application process!

This young man has what it takes to be successful. The characteristics that he showed will make anyone successful. Use these steps as a foundation, and you can be successful in your own area of expertise!