What's the single most important ingredient in success? It's a huge question, isn't it? Let's break it down, piece by piece, starting with something that often gets confused with success: happiness.
Happiness: An Internal Journey
Happiness is an emotion, a fleeting sensation, not a permanent state. While some may experience it more consistently, emotions are inherently fluid – they come and go, shift and change. What's crucial to understand is that happiness is an internal process. It originates within us, and therefore, it is under our sole responsibility. Just like anger, or any other internal state, we can learn to manage, control, or redirect its energy. Our inner world is our domain.
Success: An External Game of Cooperation
Unlike happiness, which is deeply internal, success is fundamentally external. If you truly think about it, success is arguably the only goal inherently associated with cooperation. To achieve anything significant, you must learn to create space for and engage in cooperation.
Consider even the modern-day "solopreneur." They need vendors, partners, customers who buy their products, friends to brainstorm with, even YouTube videos to learn from. Cooperation is woven into the very fabric of achievement. Without it, success remains an elusive dream.
The Master Key to Success: Communication
So, if success is an external game of cooperation, what then is the most important skill to master? Is it discipline? Persistence? Hard work? While these are undoubtedly important virtues, they aren't the most important.
The most important skill, by far, when it comes to fostering cooperation and achieving success, is human communication.
Think about the most successful and powerful individuals on the planet. They are extraordinary communicators. Whether they are singers captivating audiences, actors conveying complex emotions, politicians swaying nations, masterful salespeople, innovative solopreneurs, influential LinkedIn gurus, or Instagram sensations—they all excel at communication. Even figures like Warren Buffett, often perceived as solely numbers-focused, are incredibly articulate communicators. Steve Jobs, Elon Musk – each in their unique way, wielded communication as their most potent tool.
Their unparalleled communication skills enabled them to:
- Build formidable teams.
- Sell and market their visions.
- Transform audacious ideas into tangible realities.
- Achieve vast, impactful cooperation.
And it is through large-scale cooperation that monumental achievements, what we label as "success," become possible.
Mastering the Art of Communication
You're on a journey, perhaps in real estate, investing, or building your own venture. How do you elevate your communication skills to the next level? Like anything else, you learn. You learn by doing, by observing others, and by refining your approach.
Here's my recommended hierarchy for mastering communication:
- Voice (The Absolute Priority)
In the 21st century, voice is paramount. It influences everything, even your physical posture. While the words we say account for only about 30% of communication, tonality is a staggering 40% (and even more potent on the phone!).Mastering tonality is not about what you say, but how you say it: the pace, the pauses, the inflection, the underlying tone. This skill will serve you in any endeavor. That first conversation with a realtor, a client, or a potential partner hinges entirely on your tonality. Every successful student I've mentored possessed incredible communication skills, while those who struggled often had poor ones. This is teachable, and it's the number one thing you should prioritize. I, even as an international speaker and investor with a wide following, continue to dedicate energy to mastering my voice. It's a non-negotiable part of my knowledge consumption routine. - Body Language (Following the Voice)
Once you've mastered your voice, your body language often naturally aligns. However, for those who tend to be more reserved, consciously working on open and confident body language is incredibly beneficial. This is about your presence, your gestures, your eye contact. - Words (The Final Polish)
Only after mastering voice and body language should you focus intensely on the actual words, phrasing, and pacing. While important, the impact of your words is amplified exponentially by your tonality and presence. You can speak slowly or quickly, high or low – it's the tone that changes everything.
To recap: master voice, then body language, then the actual words. And once you've conquered those, circle back to refine your voice even further.
This isn't about numbers or deal analysis today. It's about the fundamental skill that underpins all success. Master your voice, and you will unlock doors you never knew existed.
This has been Dan Shimoni, sharing a quick tip for your journey to success. Take care, and bye for now.