Conrad Hees’ Blog

No, this is not an article on how to quickly become America’s Next Top Model.  All of you search-engine visitors hoping for modeling tips, please click ‘Back’ right now. 

Now that we have gotten that out of the way, I want to talk to you about the other type of modeling; the type of modeling that can realistically allow you to perform up to or more than 1000% better than you would have without it.

Duplicating Success

Modeling is the act of looking at things that others before you have done to become successful in a specific area, and then using the same techniques that they used to create similar success.

All people who are successful at something have used modeling in one form or fashion, whether they did it consciously or not.  The great thing about success is that all that you must do to become successful is look at things that others have done to create success, and then do those same things in order to achieve the same results.

Modeling can help us to speed up the results that we want to create in several ways, such as:

- Allowing you to avoid the trial and error of figuring things out for yourself, and allowing us to learn from the mistakes of others without the time investment

- Allows us to figure out the specific actions that are necessary for success in a particular area

- Allows us to take advantage of innovations in thinking and ways of doing things that others before us did not have the luxury of knowing

- Basically allows us to know exactly what to do and what NOT to do, before we even begin, giving us a huge upper hand

These points prove that if you want to work smart, and not just hard, you must model the success of others who have come before you.

How to Model Effectively

Modeling is very easy to do, and will allow you to become successful many times faster than a competitor who has not modeled effectively.  Generally, if you follow the actions of other successful people exactly, you will achieve exactly the same level of success. 

Before I undertake any new task or project, I make it a point to figure out who the most successful people in that field are.  I then look at the techniques that they used to reach their success, what actions they had to take or habits they had to develop, and what mistakes they made which cost them valuable time in achieving their current level of dominance in their field.

Doing this has always allowed me to dramatically increase the speed at which I created positive results, by allowing me to bypass the mistakes I might have otherwise made.

Here is the process that I use to model the success of others.  If done effectively, you can use modeling to reach the current status of your model in at least half the time it took them.

1) First, pick out a few role models for yourself.  These should be people who are excelling or have excelled in the field you are interested in.  Look for people who you feel are very effective at what they do, and whose techniques you feel you can duplicate.

2) Read and study the stories of these people.  If possible, obtain a timeline of their rise to success.  Study them thoroughly, paying close attention to the details of their story.

3) Now that you have studied your subjects extensively, take out the trusty pen and paper. 

First, make a list of the five habits, techniques, beliefs, decisions, etc. that you feel contributed the most to this person’s success.

Next, make a list of the top five mistakes, beliefs, attitudes, or lapses in judgment that delayed their success.

Finally, analyze your list.  What lessons can be applied to what you have learned?  What things did they do that created the biggest results for them?  What mistakes did they make that should be avoided like the Plague?

4) Take note of the biggest turning point in your model’s career.  Was there one specific point when they really crossed over into the uber-successful category?  If so, what do you feel was the single biggest catalyst for their big turning point?

5) Look at the strong points that you have listed for your model.  How can you apply them to your own situation?  Is there a way for you to put your own twist on the techniques that your model used to become successful? 

6) Brainstorm and write down a basic list to refer to in order to model this successful person’s actions.  The ‘master model list’ should include:

-What things you have determined from your research must you do in order to become a success in your field

- What mistakes must you avoid at all costs

- A plan for using what you have learned to your advantage

- Any other important points you can think of that may help you in duplicating your model’s success

This method of modeling yourself after a successful person should only take a few short hours, but it can save you weeks, months, or even years of hard work and foolish mistakes. 

Final Lessons in Modeling

Whenever we begin to undertake a new task or project, especially a new business or professional undertaking, we should get in the habit of doing some modeling work before hand. 

Success fascinates me; I love to read stories about wildly successful people.  You, too, should make a point of becoming a student of success.  Take notice of the common attributes that all successful people possess.  Learn from these people, because they are the only examples we have to look to in order to figure out what we need to be doing!

Before you know it, you will be achieving the same success as those that you have studied.  Pretty soon, you will become the model yourself!