Mastering the Art of Success
FOSTER
The word that always comes to me when I’m asked that question is
commitment. That’s a very strong word for me and it’s very important
in mastering success because, for me, it encompasses a range of
characteristics including motivation, determination, and perseverance.
Another important piece that I believe is often forgotten is around
contracting. Contracting is a contract that you make with yourself, as
well as those around you, about doing what you say you’ll d o. I think of
my uncle often, who is a very wise, smart businessman. When we
started out on our adventures, he said, “It’s nothing to start and
everything to finish,” and he’s absolutely right!
When we don’t follow through on our promises we let those around
us down, we let our businesses, our organizations, our communities,
our families, and much more than that, we let ourselves down. I think
that’s what people forget and it ’s that piece that will haunt us as w e
move forward. It’s about being true to ourselves and to our word.
WRIGHT
In your experience, what do you think holds people back from
moving ahead in their lives?
FOSTER
I think there are three things: First is lack of vision. As I said before,
many people don’t know what they want or where they’re going, and
that’s huge. If you were going on holiday and you were planning a trip
you might have some sense of where you were going. If you didn’t, you
could end up anywher e, right? So I think that’s a big piece—people
don’t have a vision or have never stopped to think about what that they
want.
The other major element is fear. I think there are a lot of people who
are afraid. They’re afraid of two things: first of being successful and on
the other side of the coin, of not being successful.
Third are the conversations we have with ourselves—a major issue
for many p eople I work with. I know it certainly is true for me. It’s
something I have to work constantly with. I love what the author Susan
Scott has written in her wonderful book called Fierce Conversations:
“All