A Sweet Success

by Megan Mackoway
(This piece reports on our April meeting, as seen through the eyes of a student attendee.)

What is the true secret to success? The answer to that question is probably different for every person. Donna Drury, founder and president of LifeQuests Coaching and Seminars, tackled that topic at the STC meeting on April 25, with an interactive presentation entitled "Finding the Shoes That Fit!"

Donna began her presentation by having each attendee write out a list of the ways s/he was successful in life. The group discussion that followed this exercise made it clear that each of us has different criteria for success. Some define success based on the quality of their home lives. Others find success in their careers. Still others look for success in their life relationships.

The next step in our search for "comfortable shoes" was an exploration of the "wheel of life," a graphical represntation of the mental and spiritual components that make up our lives. Each person's personal life wheel showed the areas where s/he needed to be more successful, based on a personal definition of success.

Then Donna had us describe one significant characteristic of the comfortable shoes we were looking for by writing a goal we wished to achieve and outlining feasible steps to get there.

Donna concluded the presentation with four major life rules designed to help everyone achieve success in life:

1. Find your passion and make it your job.
2. State your dream and ways you can achieve it feasibly.
3. Learn at least five new things a day.
4. Network.

These simple rules can apply to any age. As a recent college graduate, I found Donna's life rules to be some of the best advice I have every had about making life decisions. Based on the overall reaction to Donna's presentation, I wasn't the only one who benefitted.

Great presentation! And, with a little ice cream, the night was a sweet success in itself.