261 – Success Language

There is a language that some people speak and it is only known by other people who speak that language. It is a language of “success”, built on a set of presuppositions about what it takes to succeed.

This is not superstitiously-defined “success”, presuming that “success” is a certain lifestyle or amount of money or fame. This kind of “success” is literal, only meaning that one achieves whatever one attempts.

People who speak this “success” language say what they mean and mean what they say. Their “yes” means “yes” and their “no” means “no”. So, they are not fond of needing to say things twice.

They never enter a situation without knowing what they want to do and being absolutely determined to “succeed” in getting it. Their goal may not be what you think. They might enter a sales conversation with the goal to understand someone, not to make a sale. Even if they don’t make a sale, they will understand that person—as was their goal—and it will benefit them because all of their goals will help them to “succeed” with other goals.

As customers, they know what they want or they know what things they don’t know about what they want. They may not know what they need to purchase, but once the salesman answers their questions, they might instantly make a purchase. This can surprise salesmen because most customers don’t speak the language of “success”. For many, “sales” is about manipulating people who are “success” illiterate.

As Christians, “success” presumes obeying the Bible—living by Biblical morals, loving others, being responsible, worshiping Jesus above all—the usual Christian values. When they meet another person who claims to be Christian, they will interact with that person under Christian assumptions unless they doubt whether that person is a reliable, genuine Christian. The same applies to political, economic, and any other ideals.

The secret of “success” language is to maintain the presumptions. If you speak the language of “success”, when you encounter people who don’t, they will try to “teach” you, presuming that you don’t understand something. Actually, they are the ones learning. The best thing you can do is maintain your “success” presuppositions.