If you are a penguin, you more than likely will excel in a colder climate. Placed in the Caribbean, you would probably acquiesce to a less than fruitful existence. Life's daily processes would, at the very least, change: acquiring food, escaping predation, and procreation. Needless to say, environment is important.

As an achiever, being placed in an environment (or mistakenly selecting one) that does not foster successful outcomes, creates tension. Studies have shown that some tension is vital to life. However, some environments tend to place undue stress upon us and keep us outside of our comfort zones (those areas where we are most effective/productive). Depending upon our character and our solution-solving abilities, we either respond positively or negatively. Simply stated, we do nothing, speak at the situation/circumstance, or define and implement the steps necessary to change our environment. When we do nothing, we accept the situation as it is believing that we can do nothing to change it, or that the timing isn't quite right. When we speak at the circumstance, it is usually in the form of a complaint or a comment that is less than edifying. When we define and implement the steps necessary to change a difficult or stressful environment, we appropriate inner and outer resources that at least have a chance of positively effecting the situation.

Critical to anyone's success, is knowing what you want. In business, success can be determined by how effectively……What You Want……is communicated to others. This is most critical in two areas: choice of individual vocation (and subsequent organization), and, corporate leadership/management selections. For individuals, it is not enough to specify broad fields of interest (e.g. healthcare, business, etc.). One must specifically define, down to the minute-by-minute tasks, that which is most interesting to them. Innate talent and developed skills are certainly important. But, passion is key. Doing what you love will ensure that you have a fulfilling and successful career, a cornerstone in developing the life you want.

For organizations, stating their Mission and Values is not enough. You must understand not only what type of culture exists in your organization, but, what culture you seek to maintain. The only way to facilitate and perpetuate that core is to delineate for your H.R. department, those leadership/management character qualities which most clearly exemplify excellence. This translates into being tough-minded when selecting new leaders. You cannot settle for second best. If you do, you'll compromise the integrity of your company and jeopardize your future. To quote former President of the USA, Ronald Reagan, "Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority, and don't interfere as long as the policy you've decided upon is being carried out." Strategic development is formulated and executed best when organizational leaders are guided and driven by the same fundamental principles/precepts.