In talking to a prospective client the other day, and explaining the emphasis we place on balance and
personal success in our programs, he interjected and made an interesting comment. He said to me, “I
know I have some things I need to improve on personally, but for now I really want to focus only on
improving my business.” What a revelation! In one sentence he revealed a powerful paradigm that
more than anything else was holding him back from being as successful as he could be. There is one
key principle that he was not recognizing and applying: Personal Success Precedes Business Success!
Here’s what it all boils down to. The fastest car in the world doesn’t win the race without a highly skilled
driver; the finest paint and brushes have no meaningful impact on the canvas without the hand of a
talented artist; and successful, effective businesses are run by successful, effective human beings. It is a
PRE-requisite. Being an effective, successful person does not come after building a successful business
or career. IT COMES FIRST! If business success is the chicken, and personal success is the egg, then the
answer to the age-old question is most definitely and emphatically “The Egg!” and if you will take the
time to nurture the egg (your personal effectiveness) you will find it results in a more robust and healthy
chicken (a successful business/career).
Think of it this way, if I try my hand at creating a successful business and fail, I can reason that it was due
to any number of circumstances outside my control. However, if I work on being an effective person and
fail… well, you can see how this pill might prove a little harder to swallow if we let such fears get the best
of us. As a result, most focus their efforts in either the wrong place, or in the right place but prematurely
(in other words, without working on personal effectiveness first).
My Challenge to You:
1. Focus your efforts on becoming an effective person first, making and keeping commitments to yourself,
with a high degree of personal integrity and follow through.
2. Be an excellent manager of your time. It’s not about scheduling every minute, but rather doing the
right things at the right time.
3. Take 100% responsibility for your life, regardless of what happens to you. Only those who are 100%
responsible, and response-able, are truly effective and successful.
To Your Success!
Troie Battles
Managing Partner
YL Wisdom
troieb@ylwisdom.com
www.ylwisdom.com
