You ever notice how people and events, seem to have commonalities in their success stories? Certain characteristic traits are present in success stories I read and hear about, and they tend to jump out at me sometimes. This year, I went home to New Orleans, Louisiana over the Mardi Gras celebration. I witnessed these four common threads of successful behavior in action.

4 Traits of Success

1. Do what you do to the best of your ability
2. In order to satisfy your audience, review feedback
3. Take from feedback only what is useful
4. True success lies in being true to yourself

Mardi Gras 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana

I saw the themes in play through the Mardi Gras celebration, a long-standing New Orleans tradition. This year New Orleans, Louisiana reported the best Mardi Gras attendance numbers since Hurricane Katrina hit the port city:

Despite a downturn in the economy nationwide, the Crescent City is flourishing – at least for this weekend – as thousands of visitors flock to New Orleans to enjoy beads, boas, parades and parties.1

Visitors arrived in New Orleans for Mardi Gras, taking a break from their regular routines. They came to enjoy themselves and some to help the city. Believe it or not, some had business meetings in town that didn’t account for this major party. And visitors and natives partied together.

Give the People What They Want

New Orleans businesses provided street music, like in front of Harrah’s Casino, and various spots along Canal Street. There were booths and street vendors selling food, drinks, trinkets, and souvenirs. Music and the rest of the party was free.

And wherever the music played the people danced.

There was high police visibility and not so conspicuous security personnel and loads of entertainment throughout the city. Mardi Gras is, like many things, it’s what you make of it.

It wasn’t Perfect . . . What is, Really?

People had fun, as is the tradition of the Mardi Gras celebration before Lent, and the city made money. There were dangers that were thwarted and some not. People were killed over Mardi Gras and traffic laws were broken. People drank too much and hurt themselves too. Still, crime is everywhere. My contention is if that’s all you saw when you looked at New Orleans, Louisiana and Mardi Gras, then that’s all you were looking for.

Attracting Useful Interactions

I’ve seen that what you bring to events informs what you take from it. Two ladies interviewed on the news said they came to see the party, and to spend money to boost the New Orleans economy. The media caught up to them later in the celebration, they said they had a great time. New Orleans held their grand party on their own terms, informed by what needs they saw for celebrants, businesses and the community.

• We all can use a break from time to time
• A big party with open bar is a big draw
• Generally people want to help others when they can (in this case by putting money into the New Orleans economy)
• Many feel good by giving others a hand up (tourists), and great to be able to help themselves (businesses & locals participation)

The success of the New Orleans Mardi Gras celebration reflects the four themes common to other success stories. Your success will come when you apply the four themes in your endeavors. And when you make strong effort, you’ll find that you attract useful interactions.

Maybe you’ve seen these traits in your own story. Share your experiences in your blog or website and link to it here in the comments. I’d like to hear about your experience.

Reference

1. From WWLTV.com: Despite Economic Downturn, Carnival Business Booming