Approaching Success Can Come from more than One Direction | By Dr. John Hogan CHE CHA CMHS
Lessons From the Field 
My background is what academia refers to as "clinical" in nature and several years ago, I addressed several classes at the Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality & Resort Management at the University of Memphis in Tennessee. Having taught as an adjunct professor for 20 years at three different colleges, I have always been comfortable as both an academic and corporate educator. I estimate that I have taught an estimated 3,400 classes and programs to date and always enjoy interacting with people from around the world in those venues.
The classes were interesting and as I was leaving, I spent a few minutes in the small museum type setting that includes some of Wilson's memorabilia. I was never employed at Holiday Inns, but living in Tennessee (then global headquarters for the brand) for more than 15 years certainly brought me into substantial contact with many people who had been. While Wilson was not a traditional hotelier by schooling or experience, he definitely influenced many business practices in franchising, brand support, standards and values.
Displayed in the lobby of the Wilson School of Hospitality & Resort Management at the University of Memphis are what he called his
Steps for Success.
The first ten are below and the rest will follow later in the week:
Kemmons Wilson (founder of Holiday Inns)
20 Steps for Success
- Work only a half a day; it makes no difference which half - it can either be the first 12 hours or the last 12 hours.
- Work is the master key that opens the door to all opportunities.
- Mental attitude plays a far more important role in a person's success or failure than mental capacity.
- Remember that we all climb the ladder of success one-step at a time.
- There are two ways to get to the top of an oak tree. One way is to sit on an acorn and wait; the other way is to climb it.
- Do not be afraid of taking a chance. Remember that a broken watch is right at least twice a day.
- The secret of happiness is not in doing what one likes, but in liking what one does.
- Eliminate from your vocabulary the words, "I don't think I can" and substitute, "I know I can."
- In evaluating a career, put opportunity ahead of security.
- Remember that success requires half luck and half brains.
#11-20 to follow ...
Keys to Success Hospitality Tip of the Week:
Hotel Common Sense Philosophy #7"The only thing constant in our business today is change. If you do not improve on today's service delivery, someone else will"
Dr. John Hogan CHE CHA CMHS Part of the Fifteen Timeless Philosophies in HospitalityA 2011 Keynote Address and Workshop
Displayed in the lobby of the Wilson School of Hospitality & Resort Management at the University of Memphis are what the FOUNDER OF HOLIDAY INNS called his Steps for Success.
