Learning their way to success

By Jim Mynard
CASEY team leader for youth services Mark Biggs told 50 male secondary school students that a list of 10 indisputable points in success and happiness were learned.
He said people were not born with the talent or knowledge.
He said also that the young people present could expect to have three different careers in their working life.
Mr Biggs was guest speaker at the City of Casey/Rotary men’s mentor breakfast in the civic centre on Friday, 11 August.
He said the students were starting on that journey.
“The thought of having three careers is exciting, but scary.”
Mr Biggs warned that many motivational speakers would say that all you had to do was focus on your target and you would achieve it.
“That’s a myth because we can only have one prime minister, 12 cricketers in the Australian test team and only one champion rally car driver.
“I focussed one time on becoming the champion driver and pushed myself and cars to the limit.
“I was just beaten by a few points by others so I wasn’t the champion, but I did my best.”
He told of successful business people such as Sir Richard Branson whom he said was known to be a slow learner.
“He had a learning difficulty, but got there; he was brilliant and successful.
“You learn on the job, but you can’t learn inner strength.
“You need to focus on your strengths, but not necessarily forget your weaknesses,” he said.
Mr Biggs said a determined person might come home from work tired and worn out, but had a commitment to sport or training in something.
“You go out and do it and you feel rejuvenated.
“So it is that successful people are doers,” he said.
Mr Biggs said there was a need to plan and that 60 per cent of new businesses went broke because they failed to plan their businesses.
You must set tasks and objectives and monitor the progress.
“I can’t be bothered or I am too tired is not an excuse.
“Write it in your diary.
“Even your homework plan should be set.
“Successful people put plans in place and they follow them through.”
He said that most successful people had a mentor and that if they did not have one they should find one.