 Reverse Engineering
Success: The Black Box
Subject: Success, motivation, Trial and Error,
Failure
By Victor Gonzalez
Most
of you know that I have a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the
Illinois Institute of Technology (the MIT of Illinois). And if you’ve read my
book, The Logic of Success (www.TheLogicOfSuccess.com),
you know that getting through engineering school was tough to say the least.
In our
engineering labs, I learned a phrase and methodology that has served me well in
the technology sector but also as an entrepreneur and speaker. The term
“reverse engineering” was first introduced to me when a professor gave us a
‘black box’ and we had to figure out what type of circuitry was inside. The
black box was literally a black box with wires running into it (labeled
‘inputs’) and wires running out of the other side (labeled ‘outputs’). The
whole class had a bewildered look as if to say in unison, “How the hell are we
supposed to figure that out?” Someone jokingly said, “I want to be an engineer,
not a psychic!” The class laughed.
The professor
went on to explain that you didn’t have to be psychic to figure out what was in
the black box, you just had to clever. He then told us to apply a sequence of
“input” voltages to the box and measure the “output” voltages. By applying
different combinations of inputs, while monitoring the respective outputs, we
were eventually able to figure out a “pattern” of what was going on. From there
we were able to derive a “model” for what was inside the box. To test our
accuracy, we were then asked to build the circuit model from scratch. Our grade
depended on how well we were able to reverse engineer the black box.
The method of
reverse engineering and figuring out what was in the black box has served as a
‘business model’ for going after my personal goals. Each of us has a personal
goal or dream of what we want our life to be like. I know that when I first
started out as a speaker, the only thing I knew was that I wanted to be a
speaker. My biggest question was, “How”?
The speaking
world to me was like a black box. I knew it existed, but I had no clue how it
worked from the inside. Using the black box experiment as a starting point, I
first had to define what I wanted my ‘outputs’ to be. The outputs in this case
were my desired results (i.e., my goals, my lifestyle choices).
Here were
the ‘outputs’ (results) I wanted:
1)
I wanted to write a book and create
a program I truly believe in.
2)
I wanted to make over $100,000 a
year speaking.
3)
In 3 years, I wanted to get paid
$5,000 to $10,000 per speech so I didn’t have to travel a lot and still be able
to reach my annual financial goal of $100,000.
4)
I wanted a lifestyle whereby
traveling less and making more money meant more time with my family.
After putting
together my outputs (desired results) in the next three years, I was now left
with the task of figuring what ‘inputs’ I would need to achieve these results.
This part was going to be tougher. I went through a whole laundry list of
things in order to get the desired output. I won’t go into detail here on all
of them, but here were the inputs that worked:
1)
Had to design a consistent program
(The Logic of Success)
2)
Had to define my starting point or
niche market. I chose the College Market (see
www.SpeakatColleges.com)
3)
I needed to publish a book on my
topic for credibility
4)
I needed to get my speaking on video
5)
Marketing to my niche was key
This is just
a sampling of the ‘inputs’ that did help me achieve my outputs. There were many
inputs that simply didn’t work or add real value. Here is a sampling:
1)
Work with others to get you going
2)
Join organizations in hopes of
getting more business
3)
Speaking for free at places that
didn’t serve my niche
4)
Attend ‘super’ expensive seminars (a
few proved worthwhile, the majority sucked)
5)
Design many programs instead of
focusing in on one key program
Again, the
list goes on but you get the idea. (If you’re an aspiring speaker, go to
www.DirtySpeakingSecrets.com) for an insider’s look at the speaking
business…it’s FREE)
Getting to
where you want to ‘be’ in life requires you to reverse engineer your success.
There will be a lot of ‘input’ testing (resources) and a lot of measuring of the
outputs (results). What eventually happens over time is that you will begin to
recognize a pattern of what inputs give you the best outputs. You will begin to
see what works and what doesn’t.
In our
engineering class, when we were all testing our black boxes with varying inputs,
no one person got it on the first try. It was a three-hour lab session and
everyone, including our team used up every minute.
As we were
testing, and the results seemed confusing, not once did we think of giving up.
Trial and error was accepted as part and parcel of trying to reverse engineer
the black box.
Let me re-emphasize the two key
points:
1)
No one got it on the first try
2)
When the inputs didn’t give the
desired results, it was simply viewed as a combination that didn’t work.
Testing and measuring repeatedly was seen as a ‘process’ toward success. It was
“trial and error” not “trial and failure”.
Keep this in
mind as you go out there in the world and begin to reverse engineer your
success. You most likely won’t get it right on the first try, but over time,
you will figure out the success circuitry and achieve the level of success you
desire. Don’t get discouraged! Keep testing!
Forward this on to someone who is trying to
succeed at a NEW CAREER.
Victor
Gonzalez, one of America's top business motivational speaker and author of “The LOGIC of
Success”. For more info go to: www.thelogicofsuccess.com
or by email
victor@thelogicofsuccess.com
Copyright © 2005 by Victor
Gonzalez All rights reserved. This article MAY be
reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including
photocopying, as long as the author’s name, website and email address are
included as part of the article’s body. All inquiries, including
information on electronic licensing, should be directed to Victor Gonzalez,
victor@thelogicofsuccess.com
www.thelogicofsuccess.com
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