What’s Your Recipe for Success?

November 23, 2015

rp_j0422850-300x240.jpgPreviously I wrote a post about how my mom’s potato pie got me thinking about success.

No, really. It did. You see, she’s the kind of cook who usually doesn’t use recipes.

Unless it’s something she usually doesn’t make, like my Aunt Emma’s fruitcake recipe. That’s a big one. Takes a couple of days for prepping and baking.

But with her sweet potato recipe, it’s something she does instinctively. No measuring. She does it by feel and experience.

A while back I watched her and I wrote down the ingredients and instructions. I still haven’t given it a try yet. But other people in my family have, and their pies all taste differently than my mom’s.

The original recipe came from my grandmother, and her pies didn’t taste like my mom’s either. Each person added her own twist, her own thing that changed how the pie tasted in each case.

That’s the thing. It doesn’t matter if everyone follows the same blueprint, takes the same course, follows the same roadmap – no two people will have the same experience.

Something will be different in the end result. Each person will put something of themselves into it.

For me, that’s why I’ve pretty much given up on following the steps that others say I must follow in order to be successful. Sure if you want an exact copy their business, following their map will most likely work. You’ll do what they did, and arrive where they are.

Or maybe not.

I’ve yet to meet an entrepreneur who followed a straight line to success. There are usually lots of twists and turns. So, I’m not sure how one straight path can lead you to what you’re looking for.

That’s why I compare success to following a recipe. You can have all the right ingredients and the instructions, and still come out with something that does not taste the same. And that’s good.

You can follow the recipe, but somewhere in there you’re going to add your own thing. You’re going to change it up to make it your own. And isn’t that really the point? To create something that reflects you?

There’s nothing wrong with following a recipe. But don’t be afraid to experiment and make your creation uniquely your own.

Copyright © 2015 Deborah A. Bailey

Deborah A Bailey

Deborah is a writer, writing workshop presenter and published author. She's host of the Women Entrepreneurs Radio podcast.

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