I’ve learned a lot from others in my life. I’ve learned from my family, both nuclear and extended. I’ve learned from teachers, bosses, and pastors over the years. But my knowledge of the keys to success comes from four very specific individuals. Their names are John ‘Hannibal’ Smith, Templeton ‘Face Man’ Peck, Bosco Albert ‘B.A.’ Baracus, and H.M. ‘Howling Mad’ Murdoch. Yes…what I know about the secrets to success, I learned every Tuesday night at 8:00 PM from 1983 to 1986. Everything I know about the keys to success…I learned from The A Team.

If you have never watched an episode of The A Team, first off…I doubt we have much in common. But secondly, and more seriously, allow me to recap these “Success Lessons” with the four main pillars of success that the show featured week in and week out. I have affectionately dubbed these, the ‘Four Cs’. I know…I know…the ‘Four As’ would be more apropos, but truth be told…I’m just not that creative. So onward with the ‘Four Cs’!

The first one is Characteristics. Every week, The A Team would find someone who needed their help and show up to provide assistance. This would typically entail going toe to toe with some bad guys and a plan was always needed to ensure they would come out on top. And this plan utilized each member’s characteristics. Hannibal was the leader, so he would develop and oversee the plan. Face Man was the resident con artist, so he would secure whatever materials they needed just by turning on his charm. B.A. was the mechanic and the muscle of the bunch. Any work to be done on motors or engines (which surprisingly happened almost weekly) was handled by him. Also, for any fistfights that needed won…he was the man. And Murdoch was the pilot. He could fly anything from a 747 to a helicopter to helium-filled trash bags attached to a chair (Yes…that last one happened and it was just as awesome as it sounds!). The bottom line is that each member of this team had specific characteristics he brought to the table, and each and every week these skills were recognized and implemented.

The next C is Change. It just so happened that each week, The A Team would show up, take the early advantage over their foe, but then be put in a precarious situation by same said foe, only to have to figure out how to overcome this unforeseen peril and arise triumphant in the end. And they did so each and every Tuesday night. How? Well, to steal a phrase from one of my favorite Clint Eastwood movies, they adapted, improvised, and overcame. Plans are great, and we all need them. But nothing in life ever goes completely according to them. In all we do, we have to be able to change our circumstances by changing our plans. Change happens every day. Learn to embrace it and then to adapt and improvise in order to overcome and be successful.

The next C is my favorite. It’s Confidence. Nothing great in life can be achieved without it. One of my favorite Mark Twain quotes is this: “All you need in life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure.” I have made a living off of this quote. There have been more times than I care to remember where I used confidence to see me through when I knew the talent just wasn’t there. The A Team did the same…so obviously I’m in good company. Whenever things looked bleak for the team and there seemed to be no way out, Hannibal would come up with a plan. It was usually a long shot, one-in-a-million chance of working type of plan, but a plan nonetheless. And guess what? I don’t remember one episode where someone on the team second-guessed his orders. Not one time did someone say, “You know what? Today’s just not our day.” No. Every time…and this can’t be minimalized…EVERY time, they believed in the plan, believed in themselves, and succeeded. Ex-Indianapolis Colts wide receiver, Reggie Wayne, used to have a quote that I now have hanging in my office. He said, “You doubt, you’re done.” Short…to the point…and very, very true.

This brings us to the final and perhaps most important C. Credit. It’s amazing how much can be accomplished when we don’t worry about who’s going to get credit for the end result. If you’ve never had the pleasure of watching The A Team, you should know that they are wanted men. They are wanted for a crime they didn’t commit, but wanted just the same. Coincidentally, at the end of most episodes, the military police, led by the evil Colonel Decker, would figure out where they were and come after them, sirens blaring! The A Team would always get the drop on them and take off right before they arrived. They would usually leave the bad guys handcuffed or tied up, ready to be turned over to the authorities. Hannibal would typically tell their clients to take full credit for the capture and not to mention that they were ever there. They didn’t do what they did for the glory. They did it simply to help others. Looking back, it was rare they ever even charged their clients. They did what they did because if was the right thing to do. And when we follow that motto, success is never far behind.

Keys to success (via The A Team): Use all the specific characteristics of your team members. Everyone can be a contributor. Be ready to adapt to change. It will always come your way. Have the confidence to know you’ll be successful. Without it, you won’t be. And don’t be overly concerned with who gets credit for what. Success always finds its way to the modest and humble.

If you’ve never watched The A Team, I was just kidding earlier when I said we probably didn’t have much in common. But you are welcome to come over and binge watch all five seasons with me. I always keep the DVDs close by. Here’s wishing you much success in your next endeavors. And as Hannibal always said, “I love it when a plan comes together!”