How to Get What You Want: Your Way to Success

An image of a wood sign saying good practice referring to good habits making a good year.

Gretel DeRuiter

Excerpt

The best negotiators don't focus on winning—they focus on understanding. When you listen carefully, stay flexible, and look for common ground, you're far more likely to achieve the outcome you want while strengthening relationships along the way.

Successful Habits Begin with Work

Successful habits are the foundation of long-term achievement. Whether you’re advancing your career, strengthening donor relationships, or pursuing personal goals, successful habits help you make consistent progress. While talent and opportunity matter, productive habits often determine who succeeds over time. Many people focus on outcomes while ignoring the behaviors that create them. However, daily success habits shape your decisions, influence your relationships, and ultimately determine your results. The good news is that successful habits can be learned, practiced, and improved.

Why Successful Habits Matter

Successful habits create consistency. Instead of relying on motivation alone, positive habits allow you to make progress even when challenges arise. Therefore, developing strong habits can improve productivity, communication, leadership, and personal growth. Professionals in fundraising often understand this principle well. Building meaningful donor relationships requires consistent actions over time rather than occasional bursts of effort.

1. Successful Habits Begin with Preparation

Preparation is one of the most valuable habits for success. Before tackling a project or making an important decision, take time to understand the situation and gather the necessary information. The more prepared you are, the more confident and effective you become.

2. Productive Habits Require an Open Mind

People who achieve long-term success remain open to new ideas and perspectives. By listening carefully and considering alternative viewpoints, you often discover better solutions and opportunities. Learning never stops, and successful habits include a commitment to continuous improvement.

3. Focus on Areas of Agreement

Strong relationships are built on common ground. Whether you are working with colleagues, donors, or community members, identifying shared goals creates momentum and trust. In fundraising, this approach is essential when developing major gift relationships that benefit both donors and organizations.

4. Understand the Challenge Before Seeking Solutions

Successful habits include thoughtful problem-solving. Rather than rushing toward an answer, take time to understand the root issue first. When you accurately define the problem, finding the right solution becomes much easier.

5. Positive Habits Include Emotional Discipline

Successful people do not allow emotions to dictate every decision. Instead, they learn to remain calm, objective, and professional during difficult situations. This habit leads to better judgment and stronger long-term outcomes.

6. Build Trust Through Integrity

Trust is one of the most valuable assets you can develop. Therefore, honesty, accountability, and reliability should be central to your personal development habits. People are far more likely to support those they trust and respect.

7. Ask Questions and Learn from Others

One of the most effective habits for success is curiosity. Successful individuals actively seek feedback, ask thoughtful questions, and remain willing to learn from others. As a result, they continue growing while building stronger professional relationships.

8. Remember That Success Is a Team Effort

Few accomplishments happen entirely alone. Whether you’re leading a team, working with donors, or managing a project, collaboration is often essential. Professionals who understand the value of partnership frequently achieve greater long-term success.

9. Communicate Your Ideas Clearly

Clear communication is one of the most important successful habits. People are more likely to support your ideas when they understand the reasoning behind them. This skill is especially important when discussing complex topics such as planned giving and long-term philanthropic strategies.

10. Stay Flexible and Adaptable

Successful habits do not mean rigid thinking. In fact, adaptability is often a defining characteristic of high performers. Challenges, opportunities, and circumstances change. Therefore, flexibility allows you to adjust while continuing to move forward.

11. Invest in Continuous Growth

People who achieve lasting success rarely stop learning. They seek new skills, pursue professional development, and look for opportunities to expand their knowledge. For example, fundraising professionals often strengthen their expertise through programs such as the Planned Giving Boot Camp for Major Gifts Officers.

Final Thoughts on Successful Habits

Successful habits are built through consistent effort and intentional action. By preparing thoroughly, remaining open-minded, communicating effectively, and investing in continuous improvement, you create a foundation for long-term achievement. Success rarely happens overnight. However, when you develop productive habits and commit to practicing them daily, you place yourself in a stronger position to achieve your goals and create meaningful results. For additional insights into personal and professional development, consider exploring resources from organizations such as Forbes, which regularly publishes research and perspectives on leadership, productivity, and success.