I got together with my sister a few weeks back for a girls night out. This is something we do on a semi-regular basis. It gives us a chance to catch up with each other and inevitably leads to invaluable conversation. This night was no different; it did not disappoint.

As we sat down to dinner, I knew an interesting topic of conversation couldn't be far behind. Sure enough; like clockwork, there it was. The topic of conversation: how does someone actually achieve success? It seems to me, that success is treated like an unattainable state. It's something that is the pursuit of many, but the luxury given to few. People look at it as if it's shrouded in mystery – the mysterious cloak known as the "it" factor.

Truth be told, I don't see success as any of these things, but I found the question so intriguing that I wanted to share the answer with you as part of this installment of the Plastic Printers template of the week.

Learning to see the Silver Lining of Failure

There are multiple perceptions on what it takes to achieve success. For the purposes of this article, I will limit those perceptions to two. The first begins where success feels at its most absent and unattainable. It begins with where you have failed.

One of the best answers I ever heard to how someone achieves success came from the last place you would think to look for it. A once aspiring inventor-now-millionaire said the secret to success is to ask yourself, “What have I failed at today?"

At face value, this looks like a horrible place to start planning for success, but according to those that have gone before you, it is a promising path to an auspicious goal. Why? Think about what you gain by examining your failures:

• You learn what works and what doesn't
• You develop top-notch management and problem
  solving skills
• You always leave room for improvement and
  collaboration
• You reduce your fear of risk-taking
• You remain humble

And, most importantly, you keep trying. It's all part of what it takes to not only achieve success, but retain it once you attain it.

Practice Immunity with Impunity

Trying is really the linchpin of success. Don't believe me? Some of the world’s most successful people know exactly what to do if at first you don't succeed. Here are some inspiring examples:

• Award-winning director Steven Spielberg failed out of USC three times before dropping out to pursue directing independently.

• Colonel Sanders chicken recipe was turned down by local restaurants over 1000 times before he started what would become KFC.

• Sylvester Stallone suffered through 1500 rejections for a script he titled Rocky.

• Once upon a time, household names like Dyson and Virgin Records were virtual unknowns. James Dyson created over 5000 prototypes of the now famous cyclonic vacuum cleaner before he got it right. Richard Branson founded over 400 companies before he struck gold with Virgin Galactic.

• Out of everyone listed, Thomas Edison takes the cake. He failed to invent the electric light bulb over 10,000 times before finally succeeding.

To succeed, you have to keep trying, failing, learning from your failures, and trying again. Sometimes you must do this in the face of what seems like insurmountable odds and blatant disbelief from others.

Suspend Your Disbelief

That disbelief brings us to perspective number two. It comes from Bill Gates himself. When asked how he knew when he had landed on a successful idea, this is the formula he recommended using: draft several ideas and present them to a room full of people. The one that people like the least and doubt the most is usually your most successful idea. Pursue that one.

At the end of the day, I think it takes a little from perspective A and a little from perspective B to achieve the success you're after. You have to develop the traits of a successful person long before you become that successful person and you have to pursue that success doggedly; often in opposition of the outside world. Learn to do that, and success is yours for the taking.

Of course, there is also something to be said for the company you keep. Often, being in the presence of success breeds success. For instance, consider your relationship with Plastic Printers.

We have succeeded in the printing business for more than 20 years. We've established that we know what we’re doing, but it's about more than establishing a reputation. We want others to benefit from that reputation. It's part of the reason we offer free downloads of our clear business card templates.

The clear business card is part of our secret to success. Printing on plastic put us on the map and this template is a perfect example of why the clear business card can do the same for you. It is instantly attention-getting and memorable. People can't help but ask for more information about your business. Download the template from our website: www.plasticprinters.com and experience this promotional phenomenon for yourself.

It may not work right away, but that's OK. Simply contact us to find the right clear business card to fit your needs. One more thing: whether you succeed or fail; do so with a flourish.