By Dale Avery
I recently had the opportunity to teach a class on the Habits of Success to GED/ESL students at Heartland Community College. It was a joy to share with this class and also interact with the students. I would like to thank Colleen Reynolds for asking me and my fellow 100 Black Men of Central Illinois member Billy Taylor to speak to this group.
I of course shared about my upbringing, the values my parents taught us about making things better than you found them and always looking for the silver lining in every cloud. It was the foundation my parents built for me that gave me the platform to put myself through college and land a job that became a lifelong career.
After talking a bit about my life I asked the students in my class to break up into groups and come up with what they thought were the top five habits of a successful person. I was not surprised yet still amazed that these thirty-six students, who came from cultures and countries all around the world, came up with a great list of habits or qualities of success. None of them said big houses, fat checking accounts, or nice cars. Instead they listed words like planning, humble, be on time, be creative, value your family, be positive, listen, be brave, help others, show love, be confident, and responsible.
No matter your culture, your background, or your language – there is no “secret” to success. It starts with what we model for our children or for others around us. Do you say one thing and act another way, tell people what to do but do the opposite yourself? If my parents had not modeled for me a successful life, I would not be where I am today. My mother didn’t finish high school and my father’s school closed when he was in third grade. They didn’t have ivy league college diplomas – but they were hard working, they asked when they didn’t understand, and they took great care of what they had.
We also cannot build on success without first taking care of ourselves. Take care of your bodies – I turn fifty-six years old today and am thankful for my health and recognize I have to make the effort to eat well, get rest, and exercise. To take care of your mind, no matter how small the margin in your day, take a few moments to just breathe and live in today.
Pick a successful habit or two and make them a part of your every day life – be better about being on time, take time to listen to your co-workers and family, learn something new, read. Define your own success, what it means for you, and do the work each new day. I wish you much success.
Dale Avery, CPCU, is the assistant vice president – Enterprise Services at State Farm® Corporate Headquarters in Bloomington, Ill.
Avery began his career with State Farm in 1982 as a personal lines underwriter in Lincoln, Nebraska and assumed his current position in 2006. Avery, a native of Missouri, received his bachelor’s degree from Central Missouri State University. He earned his CPCU in 1991.
Dale resides in Bloomington with his wife, Laura and their two daughters; Megan and Jenna.
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