John Simcox knows something about success.
For as long as he can remember, he's been a student of it -- how it happens, what it takes, who it affects, and why. And throughout his life he's experienced his share of it as an entrepreneur (he's the founder of the Keepsake Diamond Center chain), as a husband and father and as a leader in his church.Come to think of it, maybe he's had more than his share of success.
Through all of his hard work and experiences in the work place, at home and at church, Simcox has developed a philosophy for success that has proven to be . . . well, successful.
"I believe that there are three core skills that you have to have if you're going to be successful in anything," he said. "First, you've got to have people skills -- you've got to be able to get along with others, and you've got to know how to influence them to do the things you want them to do.
"Second, you've got to have some communication skills, so that others can understand you and you can understand them.
"And third, you've got to know how to manage your time -- otherwise, it gets away from you and you never accomplish everything you want to accomplish."
With those skills, almost anyone can become successful. Of course, it also helps if you can cultivate a few -- or all -- of the personality traits Simcox says he sees most consistently among successful business owners. That list includes:
1. Compatibility ("They can get along with people");
2. Honesty, sincerity, reliability ("You can count on them and trust them");
3. Humility ("Which gives them the ability to supervise and be supervised");
4. Hard work ("Eventually, it always comes back to that, doesn't it?");
5. Thrift ("The dollars you save will always come in handy");
6. Personality ("I've never seen a successful business owner who didn't have a personality");
7. Professional skills ("As important as a pleasing personality can be, it isn't enough");
8. Creativity ("You can overcome a lot of deficiencies with a really
good idea");
9. Pride ("If you take pride in what you do, you'll never accept shoddy work").
"These are things that I've observed in successful men and women," Simcox said. "I'm still learning all of these things, and trying to integrate them more fully into my life. I'm working on it. Working hard."
Which is just what he's done throughout his life.
Along with being successful.
Joseph Walker and John Simcox are both associated with the BYU Center for Entrepreneurship. They can be reached via e-mail at cfe@byu.edu.