There are people in every industry who have achieved “celebrity status” in their field. They are recognized by their peers as one of the very best in the world. An example is the famous motivational speaker, Tony Robbins.

At one time, every one of these people had not quite achieved their celebrity status. What did they do to make that final transition?

Here are a few tips I learned while facilitating a Tucson-based mastermind session on the topic:

You must have the self-awareness to know just how good you are. That confidence will attract people to you. Do not become arrogant, always possess an element of humility. You do not have all the answers and you cannot do it alone. You will need other people to help you. Find a good mentor as soon as you can.

You must be passionate about what you do. People will see your passion and they will trust you because of it. When they trust you, they will listen to you. This trust will create future opportunities.

When opportunity knocks, open the door and take full advantage of it. Sometimes the price of opportunity is sacrifice. It may mean you need to work longer hours or move to a new location. If you are not willing to make the necessary sacrifices, you do not want it badly enough.

It is OK to show that you are vulnerable. Tell a story about how you almost lost everything or almost gave up and quit. That vulnerability allows people to relate to you. It makes you more believable.

You must possess an insatiable appetite for success. Continue to learn everything you can. Surround yourself with quality people who build your confidence. Distance yourself from negative people who drain your energy.


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Bill Nordbrock is vice president of community relations for SCORE Southern Arizona, a nonprofit group that offers free small-business counseling and mentoring by appointment at several locations. For information, go to southernarizona.score.org, send an email to mentoring@scoresouthernaz.org or call 505-3636.