Young or old, amateur or veteran, know there are rocketships in your midst ready to be ridden. The rocketship is someone who is going places, and hopefully, through his or her shear power, you can hop aboard and increase your own success as well.
Look around the office and see if you can identify the rocketship. The person is likely a hard worker who is respected by almost everyone on the floor. If you were to view each person like a stock, you would buy the rocketship because there’s just something about them that tells you they’re going places. The higher they fly, the more likely they will promote you along the way.
The same thing goes with social media and the blogosphere community. Don’t count out the little guys. Instead interact with those with an unusual amount of dedication and creativity. Sincerely get to know them and help them out. One day they might be the next Pete Cashmore from Mashable, you never know. Expect nothing in return because if your relationship is sincere, things will just come.
A lot of folks talk a big game. Beware. The more one needs to talk about their successes, the less likely they are the rocketship. It’s likely they are insecure, craving constant reassurance to justify their own relevance. Remember to watch what they do, rather than what they say. There are too many empty promises that never get delivered.
Everybody likes to win. But first, you must identify the likely winners. Once you do, it’s only a matter of time before you’re surrounded and soaring towards the moon!
Related:
The Secret To Your Success: 10 Years Of Unwavering Commitment
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Sam @ Financial Samurai – “Slicing Through Money’s Mysteries”
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Hey Sam, outstanding post!
A side lesson would be to not be too quick to brush someone aside because they are of no current use to you. That person may just be the next rocketship who will soon be sailing past you.
.-= Mike @ Saving Money Today´s last blog ..The Movie Lover’s Guide to Saving Money =-.
Mike – Indeed, you are correct. Treat everybody with respect, as you never know!
For somebody who builds rocket ships for a living, I have to say you certainly have the right perspective, Sam!
You have definitely reached escape velocity!
All the best,
Len
Len Penzo dot Com
.-= Len Penzo´s last blog ..The Best of the Best in Money and Personal Finance #13 (Anniversary Edition) =-.
I’ve seen this happen to others. Unfortunately for me, all my rocketships went on to work at other companies. Perhaps I should have followed.
The bad thing is there are only so many seats on a rocketship, and if you don’t get seats on the right ones early, it might be to late. You may have options on your other rocketships if you are open to moving where they have moved.
.-= Money Reasons´s last blog ..MoneyReasons Weekly Cache 2010, April 04 =-.
Nice article Sam. I often try to take an objective look at myself, what I have going on and what my ambitions are. This post speaks to that mentality and I really like it. I like to think that the people I work with think that I am rocket ship with too much fuel, but If they don’t that’s ok, I’ll just be my humble self:)
The Yakezie challenge has been a truly excellent experience and I thank you for creating it. I have found to many great PF bloggers, read dozens of wonderful articles, and learned a LOT about wordpress haha..
Again, great article, very motivating!
.-= MyFinancialObjectives´s last blog ..Progress Report #2 =-.
Sam I agree with your views here. Especially the part where you say that those that need to talk about how successful they are, are generally insecure. If they look like they have made it, it is not because what they are doing is right.
My current boss is exactly that, always points out how successful he is, always points out the difference in our positions. On top of that he abuses his powers.
One of my colleagues just quit the company and left a letter with HR and the VP of the department.
In anycase, this experience has inspired a post that I wrote on –
Abusive Boss: 3 Things NEVER TO DO!
I always found it hard when starting a new job to figure out the basic procedures. Every place does things different and you can be very smart at your job without having a clue as to the cultural norms that apply in a new community. After I became established, I made it a point to seek out newcomers and ask if they needed help with anything and to invite them to ask me basic questions.
I think this is the sort of thing you are getting at here, Sam.
Rob
.-= Rob Bennett´s last blog ..“My Comments Stick Out Because There Are Not Enough People Today Making Such Comments” =-.
Sam,
You are right. And you are one of those rocketships! Thanks for sharing.
All the best,
Boris
.-= Boris´s last blog ..Four ways of sharpening your Brain =-.
It’s kind of hard for me to think in those terms as I used to work in education and no one was really intent on ‘going up.’ I’ve worked with some seriously creative and competent teachers and learned a ton from them . . . the thing is, I’ve also noticed that you tend to associate with other people who are serious about what they do if you are, in fact serious about what you do. I’m thinking that who you associate with has a lot to do with your interests, ethics etc–which in turn lead to success maybe. I don’t know that just hanging out with the right crowd leads to success in and of itself.
.-= Simple in France´s last blog ..Have you ever felt poor? =-.
Going to go out on a limb here and say I sense a disturbance within the force. But great analogy. I think there’s room for a number of rocketships, but at different levels of success. You can definitely springboard from one rocketship to another, as long as you help others along the way to your successes.
.-= RainyDaySaver´s last blog ..Fix-It Friday: Our Home Improvement Wish List =-.
Thnx Jeremy-san, but I am just a small fire cracker. Thank you for spending the time to help out and educate me about various technical matters. The great thing about groups is that everybody can contribute something, and together, we rumble forward and learn from each other!
I’m not sure if people exactly want to be identified as the rocketship. I think people just become the rocketship on through their normal way of doing things.
Time X Dedication X Consistency = Progress! And progress is one of the key words for happiness!
.-= admin´s last blog ..Insuring The Uninsured Is Worth It =-.
I tell you what, that rocket ship is going nowhere but UP!! :) Boy I would like to hop aboard that rocket ship I tell ya.
This is such an inspiring post it motivates me to keep pushing, keep striving, stay motivated. And just when I think I’m done, just when I get tired and say, “OK, I’ve done enough, work well done…” That is when I will put out my trump card and give it all I got.
Great post and thanks for the encouragement!!
.-= Jarrod@ Optimistic Journey´s last blog ..You Know You’re Favored by God When… =-.
Thanks. May we NEVER forget where we’ve come from. Good to have you aboard.
Taking a look at the Alexa scores of the Yakezie participants it would appear there are a barrage of Yakezie rockets all going up at the same time. I have a feeling that it may have been only one of many stages for a number of these rockets. Not all rockets are designed to fly at the same speed but or the same distance but if you are always making forward progress you are winning!
We have all benefited by someone’s success or initiative. If you have ever worked for someone else, that company exists thanks to the success of others; owners, employers and most importantly customers. If you have always worked for yourself, you still have your customers and your family to thank, they too play a role in our success.
.-= LeanLifeCoach´s last blog ..Combat the Closing Techniques – The Fear Close =-.
A barrage of Yakezie rocketships indeed. You are definitely one of them! Progress is definitely great, and so rewarding.
Great points about company and entreprenuership.
Cheers, Sam
.-= admin´s last blog ..The Ripples OF Giving =-.
In the blogging circle, I think you’re that rocketship. You started the Yakezie Challenge and I hopped aboard. It has greatly increased my readership. Thank you, Sam, for that.
Turning the question around, am I a rocketship? I’m not sure. If only FROG had taken off, I might have been the next Chad Hurley :) Not all ideas are Google-worthy….*sigh*
.-= Little House´s last blog ..Why Don’t I Qualify for a Roth IRA? =-.
I really like the FROG cap! It’s a niche product in a niche market, but all the same, it’s great you guys are inventing new stuff and getting it patented! That’s a good post right there about the process of invention and selling!
very good point. Totally agree that some people really stand out from the crowd. They work hard, have a great work ethic, and have an endless positive spirit and can-do attitude. Hang out with the glass half-fulls!
How do you stay with the rocketship through frequent re-orgs? I cultivate lots of working friendships because I like to anyway, but I can see the rocketships…
I can also see the springboards – people who are happy where they are but really good at helping one get momentum… :)
That’s a tough one, but hopefully there’s just not one rocketship you are aware of. And, if there goodness forbid are none, then you’ve got to fill up your tank and light that fire on your own. Once you start gaining traction, others will want to join, and together you will succeed.
Springboards aren’t bad either! Just make sure once you’ve landed, you keep on jumping!
.-= admin´s last blog ..Interviewing Is Like Dating – Hubba, Hubba! =-.
Great post! I think being the rocketship attracts more of the same kind of people. Like attracts like.
.-= Kristine´s last blog ..Term vs Whole Life Insurance – The Battle Begins =-.
For the blogging stuff – I hope to think I am jumping on your rocket ship…..wait a min that sounded horrible.
Offline – Right now I don’t feel like I have to jump on with, but I have drive to want to be that rocket ship for myself and my family.
How do you think a content mentor fits in with this rocket ship theory? If they are happy where they are?
AMAZING POST
.-= Evan´s last blog ..Using Dividend Stocks to Pay for Your Coffee =-.
Hey E-dog-san, thanks for your comments. It’s great you have that drive for yourself and your family. I often wonder if the bigger one’s family, the more drive one has because others are depending on them.
Do you mind clarifying what a “content mentor” is? Are you talking about someone who gives you constructive feedback on the content on your site?
Thnx
.-= admin´s last blog ..Punctuality Breeds Credibility – Stop Being Late! =-.
Nah, I meant more along the lines of whether the rocket ship guy HAS to be different than a content mentor who’s ship already landed at heights that you eventually want to be at?
.-= Evan´s last blog ..Is the Health Care Bill Constitutional? =-.
Hey Sam,
Yep, I’m at Singapore American School. You sound familiar with it–have you been here?
True, I think we can see who the conventionally successful kids are going to be. But what interests me more are the unconventionally successful. Success relates to the height on the corporate ladder, in the eyes of most people. But when a father doesn’t see his kid because he’s working so hard at his successful job–so he can teach his kid to be just like him (and work his own tail off) it makes me question the whole thing.
I’ve always questioned conventional success, but now more than ever. In November I got diagnosed with bone cancer (at 39). The doctors removed 3 ribs, part of my spine, shaved off part of my lung… And of course, there’s the roller coaster of, “Am I going to be OK and for how long?” Nothing gets you thinking more along the lines of what’s important than facing your own mortality.
Thinking of my own blog, I’ve lately been thinking, “what am I doing this for?” But then again, it’s fun. And as long as I’m having a good time, that’s what counts–that and time with my wife, of course. I went for a 4km run today too, which was tough, but rewarding.
I plan on being around a long time. Perhaps I should change me blogname to the Capitalistic Buddha. I have the hair for that.
Cheers Sam,
Andrew
.-= Andrew Hallam´s last blog ..Olympians vs The Biggest Losers =-.
Oh wow, sorry to hear about your bone cancer, but I’m happy to hear about your strength and spirit! Even though I can play tennis for hours, I can’t run 4km without keeling over if my life depended on it!
I’m familiar with SAS, and know many people who’ve been to that school come to Uni here in the States. Great school, and a lot of well to do families yes? Pressure must be immense for them to “succeed.”
I don’t define success as how far up the corporate ladder at all. Success depends on what you as the individual believes is successful. Maybe it’s being an artist and successfully throwing at artshow of your work at your favorite coffee shop or restaurant. Perhaps it’s giving up your job to be a ski instructor in Tahoe during winter, and a a surf instructor in Hawaii during the summer. That wold be awesome.
Without your blog, maybe you wouldn’t have stumbled across this one, or met a whole host of your readers. Who knows. But it’s better to put yourself out there, than to never try at all.
Cheers,
Sam
.-= admin´s last blog ..Punctuality Breeds Credibility – Stop Being Late! =-.
Hey Sam,
I think everyone from the Yakezie has benefited from the rocketships in the group. I know I have.
Great analogy.
.-= Mike´s last blog ..Want to Join the Personal Finance Ninja Team? We’re Hiring Mascots! =-.
There’s definitely going to be several folks in The Yakezie who are going to be rocketships. I wonder who they will be. Although no matter, we’re all in the family together, and hence I’m sure we will all benefit in some way. Best, Sam
Samurai Sam,
I hear what you’re saying, and I totally agree. The empty wagon makes the most noise. As a teacher at a relatively “high powered” private school in Singapore (where all the kids want to be Ivy League bound) I find myself wondering about success. “That kid’s going to be successful,” is something I often hear from others.
But I wonder if “success” is more about feeling good about the status quo. OK, it might not sound very ambitious, but maybe seeking ambitions too fervently puts us in a state of always wanting more, and then being dissatisfied with who we are.
I know my weaknesses (there are far too many of them)–and rather than surround myself with rocketships, I’m pretty keen to surround myself with loving people who emulate the kinds of qualities I want to be able to say (eventually) that I have as well. I’m hoping Osmosis works! On my deathbed, if there are going to be regrets, they won’t be about missing rocketships.
But perhaps, depending on how I interpret your post, the rocketships in my life could be the loving, quiet, Buddha-sorts. But it’s tough to imagine a Buddha as a rocket!
Andrew-san, do you happen to teach at Singapore American School or United World College?
As a teacher, it must be interesting wondering who among your class will be successful. But, don’t you just know sometimes? The kid who is always on time, participating in class, doing extracurricular etc?
Success is a state of mind. It’s not so much about money, but it can be if you wish to make it so.
Buddha rocket sounds good!
.-= admin´s last blog ..Why Are President Obama And The Democrats Against Charity? =-.