Being successful is something many people strive for. It takes work, but just about everyone can achieve it.
People who know me use one word to describe me: passionate. I care about people, and it shows. In my opinion, it makes all the difference. No matter what you do in life, no matter what position you take in your career, how you treat people will make all the difference. Success is no accident, and nor is it luck.
My work ethic was formed at a young age. I was 8 and had my first job as a cashier in my father’s business. Yes, you read that right; I have been interacting with people and working for many years. It was never hard for me to imagine success. I knew it would take hard work, and I have never feared that hard work.
I have spent half of my career in health care, and it was not on accident; I was drawn to it. My maternal grandmother was diagnosed at a young age with rheumatoid arthritis. By the time she was 28, she was on crutches, and by age 31, she was confined to a wheelchair. She was in and out of hospitals and struggled to receive the quality of care most of us are accustomed to receiving. She received her care at a county hospital as part of the uninsured population. She struggled daily. Ultimately, she passed away at age 54 of an undiagnosed illness. It is stories like this that often ignite our engines.
When I entered the field of health care, I knew I would work hard to make a difference in people’s lives. Those who are close to me know I love and have a passion for working with people. So, after spending 20 years in corporate roles, it seemed natural to transition into building a business about people and where I could add value to companies, primarily those in health care, nationwide.
I took time to build the business, a business that would exceed expectations and whose staff would care about people. As a leader who has experienced hiring several hundred individuals throughout her career, building a business with experience makes a difference. But, taking it a step further, I have worked side-by-side with these colleagues for years, and it felt natural to now partner with these organizations to help them with their hiring needs.
How did I do it? Relationships are the key, and during the last 20 years, I have become a go-to person, a person whom others could trust. It’s these relationships that have helped me to become successful. Success is never an accident or for the lucky ones; remember that. You will hear that often. “It must be nice to be successful,” say those who envy you. But with hard work and dedication, you will find success. In my business, I consider each consulting assignment/project as one of the most important in my career. Why? Because we have an opportunity to partner with amazing companies and find “unfindable” talent, those people who are successful, happy, and have proven experience.
How did I make this happen? I live by 12 commitments and have never wavered from them. With these commitments, you can easily find success:
- Do the right things for the right reasons.
- Be transparent.
- Do what you say you are going to do.
- Exceed expectations; always under-promise and over-deliver.
- Listen to your audience.
- Invest in people.
- Be happy and stay positive in every situation.
- Dream more: Never stop dreaming and believing in yourself. Push yourself. Be your very best.
- Integrity is everything; never compromise your name.
- Let your passion fuel your work.
- Bless others; give back to your community. Make a difference.
- Wherever you go, go with all your heart—every single time.
Behind every project I take on, whether it’s in my corporate role or in my business, I think about what my grandmother would say about how I am making a difference. If we cannot make a difference, we should part ways. Doing the right things every time for the right reasons is my core belief. When you do the right things, you will easily become successful. When you take risks, you will find success because you have worked hard. Pushing yourself, taking yourself to the next level, and living by the 12 commitments can be a game-changer for us all.
Stacey McCreery is president of ROI Search Group LLC in Indianapolis.
