(CLP) Programs

Appleton Greene corporate training programs are all process-driven. They are used as vehicles to implement tangible business processes within clients’ organizations, together with training, support and facilitation during the use of these processes. Corporate training programs are therefore implemented over a sustainable period of time, that is to say, between 1 year (incorporating 12 monthly workshops), and 4 years (incorporating 48 monthly workshops). Your program information guide will specify how long each program takes to complete. Each monthly workshop takes 6 hours to implement and can be undertaken either on the client’s premises, an Appleton Greene serviced office, or online via the internet. This enables clients to implement each part of their business process, before moving onto the next stage of the program and enables employees to plan their study time around their current work commitments. The result is far greater program benefit, over a more sustainable period of time and a significantly improved return on investment.

Appleton Greene uses standard and bespoke corporate training programs as vessels to transfer business process improvement knowledge into the heart of our clients’ organizations. Each individual program focuses upon the implementation of a specific business process, which enables clients to easily quantify their return on investment. There are hundreds of established Appleton Greene corporate training products now available to clients within customer services, e-business, finance, globalization, human resources, information technology, legal, management, marketing and production. It does not matter whether a client’s employees are located within one office, or an unlimited number of international offices, we can still bring them together to learn and implement specific business processes collectively. Our approach to global localization enables us to provide clients with a truly international service with that all important personal touch. Appleton Greene corporate training programs can be provided virtually or locally and they are all unique in that they individually focus upon a specific business function. All (CLP) programs are implemented over a sustainable period of time, usually between 1-4 years, incorporating 12-48 monthly workshops and professional support is consistently provided during this time by qualified learning providers and where appropriate, by Accredited Consultants.

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Executive summary

Program “Principles of Success – Achieving Sustainable Impact”

Positioning of the Program

Some projects and transformations succeed; others fail. Some individuals always appear to be “lucky”, others are constantly struggling. How come? Is it all just a result of good (or bad) luck and coincidence? About being at the right place at the right time? Or is there more to it?

Yes, there certainly is! But how to ensure that success? What are the distinctive principles and frameworks that can be applied? What can individuals, and groups, do to become (more) successful, in a sustainable way? Not just theoretically, but very practically?

The training program’s foundations build on the research and writing of Napoleon Hill, who studied meticulously some of the most successful people of his time, such as Andrew Carnegie, Thomas Edison, and Henry Ford. Napoleon Hill’s Success Principles are as relevant today as they were at the time when he compiled them. “Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve”, yet “nothing comes from nothing”. Success requires purpose and positive mental attitude, together with going the extra mile, while maintaining balance. And most importantly: a quitter never wins, while a winner never quits! During the program, we will jointly explore all success principles, ask ourselves how to apply them in today’s context, and discover how to use them for our own best benefit, in very practical ways.

Yet, the program doesn’t stop at Napoleon Hill’s Success Principles. It explores further modern project management and delivery tools, emphasizes the success critical role of positioning and communications, and looks into work-lifestyle components that are critical for long-term sustainability and success.

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Objectives of the Program

Many training courses emphasize either practical tools and methods or motivation, a positive outlook, and “feel good” factors. Yet, success does not permit “either – or”, success requires passion and skills. This program addresses both.

The Importance of a Success Mindset

“It takes half your life before you discover life is a do-it-yourself project” – Napoleon Hill

Because it is a reminder of the personal power we have but ignore we possess, Hill’s writing has struck a chord with so many readers. In life, both personally and professionally, we can become so fixated on the results that we completely overlook the processes that went into getting there. Pay, work titles, career progression, a home, a trip, a marriage, and children. We constantly evaluate and contrast what we receive while completely ignoring what we offer.

The greatest approach to raise outputs, however, is to increase inputs in a meaningful way, just as in any successful business strategy. Moments make up our lives (inputs). So it stands to reason that consistently making the most of the present moment is the smallest yet most significant change we can make in our lives.

Simple to say. But it is far more challenging to achieve because it calls for numerous microdecisions, which taken together will make a major difference.

Many successful people weren’t just “naturally successful” from the outset, as Hill has frequently demonstrated in his writings. Some of them began from nothing and worked their way up; others, like Henry Ford, even created something that had not existed before.

Determinig their ultimate purposed, their big objective, and then pursuing it with a burning desire to achieve and to realize the objective they have set for their lives was one of many traits shared by all the inventors and business owners Hill interviewed over the course of 20 years. The first thing they did was to get their thinking as ready as they could be to fulfil their stated purpose.

“Most great people have achieved their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure.” — Napoleon Hill

The pursuit of your own self-development is frequently the most rewarding route to success and personal joy. The radically successful and content are deeply interested in themselves and their own personal growth. Through self-discovery, people continue to be genuinely curious and enthusiastic about bettering themselves.

The Importance of Project Success Tools

While the right mindset is a critical component, it is not sufficient by its own. Using commitment and applying project management tools, you may ensure that a project’s work is performed according to plan and you are pursuing your major purpose diligently and effectively.

Any company or organization that works on projects, particularly those involving complicated tasks and processes, can and should benefit from the usage of such tools as well as the required coordination as well as supervision and coaching/continuous improvement frameworks.

By putting in place those tools, it is made sure that nothing is overlooked. Instead, everyone always has a plan of action in place to ensure that they are productive and responsible for their activities.

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Target Group(s) of the Program

This program is an offering to purpose-driven organizations and individuals that want to make a real difference, rather than focused on a specific sector in the classical way.

If you are or want to become such an organization or individual, yet you think you could benefit rom management and project execution principles that have been proven successful in the corporate as well as public sector and not-for-profit/NGO world, this program is for you.

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In a similar logic, the program can help start-ups and organizations that are growing quickly, as well as emerging entrepreneurs.

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Overview of Project Approach

This program, “Principles of Success – Achieving Sustainable Impact”, takes participants on a vast and far-reaching journey in keeping with a comprehensive perspective on the “Principles of Success,” allowing each participant to focus (with the support of the coach) on aspects that are of particular relevance to her/him. The program encourages (and requires) participants to identify their own strengths and limitations, perceive both strengths and limitations as possibilities (rather than threats), and start their own growth paths.

The program heavily relies on Napoleon Hill, his “Principles of Success,” and the writings and coaching of Hill.

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It is not merely a “Napoleon Hill seminar,” though; the curriculum uses the underlying ideas and principles to understand and communicate them in a way that is appropriate for the situation, challenges, and society of today.

The program is very interactive and, from the outset, engages the participants in conversation and takes them on their own journey, with specific, tangible value-add and impact. It is not “simply theoretical” or “purely hands-on.” That said, the program does impart the underlying ideas and foundations of Napoleon Hill, enabling and inspiring the participants to continue investigating any areas of particular interest outside of the program.

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Structure of the Program

This Principles of Success program is strongly structured around the Principles of Success, as outlined by Napoleon Hill and other authors. It will explore and apply those Principles of Success extensively.

In addition to Napoleon Hill’s Success Principles, participants will get the opportunity to explore the following:

• The Pyramid Principle: Logic in Writing and Thinking by Barbara Minto, which suggests that people’s ideas should be communicated in a pyramid format in which summary points are derived from constituent and supporting sub-points

• Delivery Excellence (building on the thinking and practical experiences of Sir Michael Barber et al)

• Problem Structuring and Solving Frameworks (as applied by leading global management consultancies such as McKinsey & Company)

• Vitality: Comprehensive Balance and Well-Being (building on the thoughts and considerations of Sebastian Kneipp, in a 21st century evolution)

• Personal, Social and Ecological Sustainability (In today’s world, sustainability has come to be seen as an intrinsic component of success, whether defined as ESG goals or in a wide range of other ways.)

The program will consist of a total of 12 modules, combining theoretical elements and practical exercises. Participants will be expected to contribute pro-actively, to gain most benefit. This will be an interactive program.

Team members will be expected to work on specific projects (or define a specific purpose they are working towards). Typically, participants of the program would each have their own purpose/project, but – in coordination with the client – there may also be settings where the participants are working together on a specific project.

Each module will combine (i) theoretical foundations, (ii) sharing of practical experiences (both by the coach/trainer and the participants, (iii) interactive exercises during the module, and (iv) assignments, to be executed between modules.

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Curriculum

Principles of Success – Achieving Sustainable Impact – Part 1- Year 1

1. Part 1 Month 1 Key Principles
2. Part 1 Month 2 Key Principles
3. Part 1 Month 3 Major Purpose
4. Part 1 Month 4 Energetic Passion
5. Part 1 Month 5 Powerful Masterminds
6. Part 1 Month 6 Focused Problem-Solving
7. Part 1 Month 7 Successful Planning
8. Part 1 Month 8 Strong Narratives
9. Part 1 Month 9 Delivery Excellence
10. Part 1 Month 10 True Engagement
11. Part 1 Month 11 Positive Balance
12. Part 1 Month 12 Looking Forward

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Program Objectives

The following list represents the Key Program Objectives (KPO) for the Appleton Greene Principles of Success – Achieving Sustainable Impact corporate training program.

Principles of Success – Achieving Sustainable Impact – Part 1- Year 1

1. Part 1 Month 1 Key Principles – The first module will introduce the participants to the structure of the full program as well as familiarize them with Napoleon Hill and other thinkers that have influenced the program. It will also lay out to them how the program will work, and what will be needed from them, so that they achieve maximum benefit out of participating in the program. It will then move to the first half of providing an overview of Key Principles of Success, at a relatively high level. The objective is to familiarize the participants with major thinking and key messages in an intense way, so they can start benefitting from the program in their real professional or personal environment from the outset. Also, this will provide the “big picture”, upon which subsequent modules will build.
2. Part 1 Month 2 Key Principles – Module 2 is the second half of the overview of Key Principles of Success and key underlying concepts. This will be a lot to digest for the participants, and it will be relatively heavy on presentation style methods, balanced with small exercises and discussions (as well as ample of room for questions).During the last part of this module, the mode will shift – the focus will go to the assignments/tasks/projects of the individual participants (or groups of participants). The program leader will explain the purpose and structure of those assignments, and the participants will get a chance to share what they would like to use (or be given the chance to consider).
3. Part 1 Month 3 Major Purpose – Success requires clarity on purpose. Without a clearly defined purpose, success is very unlikely. Research shows that clarity on purpose is the single most important differentiator between success and lack of success. Yet, at the same time, the majority of people are actually struggling to state their major purpose (or the major purpose of what they are working on). And even more are struggling if they are tasked to write down that purpose. The module will focus on the definition of “major purpose” and what criteria a good definition should meet. As an assignment, participants will be encouraged to reflect on their “major purpose” and to put it down on paper. From experience, this seemingly easy assignment is the most difficult for many participants.
4. Part 1 Month 4 Energetic Passion – Napoleon Hill speaks of “burning desire”, other writers of “passion”. Yet other terms are “determination” and “commitment”. What it all comes down to: positive energy – positive energy that is targeted toward the major purpose. This module will look at the importance of energy, and passion as an expression of that targeted energy. It will also spend time on positive mental attitude (vs. negative mental attitude), and what such positive mental attitude actually achieves in our consciousness as well as sub-consciousness.
5. Part 1 Month 5 Powerful Masterminds – All of us have different sets of passion and expertise as well as experiences. We are also different in terms of characters and personal styles. Those difference can be perceived as a major pain – or as an amazing opportunity of advancing by skilfully bringing together the right team. This module will look at the concept of mastermind groups and how to unlock their potential, making them catalysts towards one’s major purpose.
6. Part 1 Month 6 Focused Problem-Solving – A major purpose and burning passion, even in combination with the most positive mindset, will run into difficulties unless they are coupled with actual skills to tackle problems and challenges. It is not enough to want something; it requires the necessary skills and tools to achieve it. This module will look at various problem-structuring and problem-solving concepts as well as helpful techniques, as developed, tested and applied by major management consulting firms.
7. Part 1 Month 7 Successful Planning – The world is full of good ideas, often in combination with strong passion. But it is a long path from an initial idea (and the initial boost of energy) to actual implementation and ultimately to impact and achievement. Some will feel planning is less “fun” than the higher-level “blue sky thinking”, while others will find that it comes naturally to them. In either case, it is necessary. This module will look at key characteristics of good planning, and it will strongly invite participants to contribute, by sharing their experiences of good planning. Most likely, bad examples will be discussed as well, but the focus shall remain on an appreciative enquire approach.
8. Part 1 Month 8 Strong Narratives – Wanting the right things and planning for them are great – but participants also need to be able to convey their stories (their narratives) to others. For a narrative to be strong, clarity in the writer’s/teller’s mind comes first. Following that, there are a number of useful tools and methods to encourage and facilitate strong narratives. This module will look into major principles of strong narratives, from a theoretical as well as practical experience. It will, e.g., highlight Minto’s Pyramid Principle of Communications, but also borrow from analysing successful speeches, and where they are deriving their power from. This could be the subject of a full training in its own right, so not everything can be covered in one module – but it is a strong starting point.
9. Part 1 Month 9 Delivery Excellence – Having a clear major purpose, burning for it, having a plan, and a strong narrative – what can go wrong? Well, it is actual delivery that makes the difference. The world is full of grand ideas and even more talking – but only those ideas that have made it to implementation (delivery) have really left their mark. This module will look at models of delivery excellence, including the so-called Delivery Unit methodology used in public sector and large-scale corporate transformation programs. It will also bring in various other delivery methodologies, focusing on offering the participants options and helping them distil the uniting principles found in all methodologies. An additional topic in this module will be the importance of “standing up again”, of looking at (interim) failure as a learning opportunity to do better going forward.
10. Part 1 Month 10 True Engagement – Communications is important. Engagement goes further. Engagement is about two-way communication and creating bonds. Depending on the relevance and interests of specific stakeholders, those bonds might be tight or lose, they may be of varying nature. But they are all important. This module will look at creating “stakeholder maps”, gathering information to inform engagement, and at paths of actual engagement – which are determined by the tasks at hand. As this module is already rather far into the program, a lot of emphasis will be given to the participants coaching each other on optimizing engagement.
11. Part 1 Month 11 Positive Balance – To achieve sustainable success, one’s own health – both health of the body and the mind – are not optional. There will be waves of extremely hard work, and such waves are required for success. But there also need to be waves of balancing, of relaxing, of simply feeling joy. We need positive balance to refuel and succeed. This module may feel different, “softer”, compared to the other modules. It puts things into perspective, argues the case of balance and provides examples, drawing on a range of motivational concepts as well as older concepts, e.g., those by Kneipp.
12. Part 1 Month 12 Looking Forward – The final module will not be dedicated to a specific principle. It will give room for questions and answers, and provide an opportunity to reflect on learnings over the course of the program and to draw conclusions. It will also serve to debrief on the assignments. At the same time, this module should not be too much “backward looking”. Rather, it will be focused on forward perspectives. Participants will be asked to make commitments for the coming period (e.g., year), to write them down and then to put them into a sealed envelope (not to be opened, e.g., for a year). They will also be asked to share among the group. Last but not least, this program was initiated with a specific purpose, and with a passion for getting others excited. It also required hard work. For good balance, it is important not just to work together, but also to celebrate together. This is the opportunity. Hence, where feasible, , this last module is combined with a motivational team activity, which gives it good final dynamics – to be discussed with clients.

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Methodology

Principles of Program Methodology

Purpose, Mindset/Motivation, Success Principles, Specific Tools – Our Approach

“Principles of Success – Achieving Sustainable Impact” supports developing the right mindset, familiarizing with the necessary tools and techniques and overcoming obstacles so that participants can realize their full potential. Any major undertaking, whether in the public or private sector calls for talented, enthusiastic people who are driven to reach their goals while also relishing the journey and inspiring others.

Building on a modern interpretation of Napoleon Hill’s Principles of Success, we modularly and flexibly integrate them with other strategies.

From “what” (definition of purpose) to “how” (Napoleon Hill’s Principles of Success and other complementary tools and techniques) to “let’s go” (providing coaching and skill building during delivery) to “done” (impact), we offer training and coaching and motivational modules.

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Structure of the Program and its Modules

The program will consist of a total of 12 modules, combining theoretical elements and practical exercises. Participants will be expected to contribute pro-actively, to gain most benefit. This will be an interactive program.

Team members will be expected to work on specific projects (or define a specific purpose they are working towards). Typically, participants of the program would each have their own purpose/project, but – in coordination with the client – there may also be settings where the participants are working together on a specific project.

Each module will combine (i) theoretical foundations, (ii) sharing of practical experiences (both by the coach/trainer and the participants, (iii) interactive exercises during the module, and (iv) assignments, to be executed between modules.

Based on experience, some participants will seek and benefit from individual coaching on top of/complementing the program. This allows to dive deeper on specific topics and/or cover specific questions that an individual participant – for whatever reason – prefers not to fully share in the group. Such individual coaching is possible (and encouraged), but it is not part of the standard package.

Also, in case of group project settings, separate problem-solving support or project delivery coaching may be offered as an optional add-on.

Module 1 will serve as an introduction and then move quickly to an overview of key principles and concepts. Module 2 will continue that introduction and then offer a Q&A, before moving to explaining the initial assignment.

Modules 3 – 11 will then follow the following standard pattern: (i) short synthesis of program to date, as introduction, (ii) debrief on assignments; room for questions and experiences, (iii) deep dive on a specific topic (presentation + interactive formats), (iv) new assignment/task.

Module 12 will provide an overall synthesis, debrief on the assignments and experiences throughout the program, provide room for Q&A, look at the perspective going forward – and celebrate completion of the program.

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Methodological Foundations

Through the course of this program, participants will delve into the principles of success, exploring the underpinning foundations of the subject, which include but are not limited to: Napoleon Hill’s Principles of Success; Barbara Minto’s Pyramid Principle; Delivery Excellence; Problem Structuring and Solving Frameworks; Vitality: Comprehensive Balance and Well-Being; and Personal, Social and Ecological Sustainability.

Napoleon Hill and the Principles of Success

Around the past several decades, business executives, politicians, philanthropists, and artists from all over the world have been inspired by and directed by The Principles of Success:

1. Develop Definiteness of Purpose
2. Establish a Mastermind Alliance
3. Assemble an Attractive Personality
4. Use Applied Faith
5. Go the Extra Mile
6. Create Personal Initiative
7. Build a Positive Mental Attitude
8. Control Your Enthusiasm
9. Enforce Self-Discipline
10. Think Accurately
11. Control Your Attention
12. Inspire Teamwork
13. Learn from Adversity and Defeat
14. Cultivate Creative Vision
15. Maintain Sound Health
16. Budget Your Time and Money
17. Use Cosmic Habitforce

Different versions and combinations of those Principles exist, as research and writings have been advanced over time, both by Napoleon Hill himself and by others. For the purposes of this program, the individual Principles have been partially grouped and also combined with other tools and techniques, but all Principles will be covered. In addition, interested participants are highly recommended to dive deeper by reading Napoleon Hill’s books.

The Pyramid Principle – Logic in Writing and Thinking (Barbara Minto)

The Pyramid Principle of Communications, also known as the Minto Pyramid Principle (named after Barbara Minto, a former McKinsey partner who developed the thinking and coined the term), is a technique for organizing and processing enormous volumes of data so that a story, message, or presentation may be delivered without leaving out crucial facts.

In written materials or presentations, the Minto Pyramid’s basic tenet is to get straight to the point. This makes sure the audience is engaged and enables the creation of a captivating story that is simple to recall and comprehend.

After introducing the thesis statement, the Minto Pyramid Principle is used to organize the points and arguments. The material is then provided before diverging in an understandable and insightful way to the exact details.

Barbara Minto’s book “The Pyramid Principle” was released by McKinsey & Company in the 1970s. In the shortest amount of time feasible, Barbara Minto was in charge of training new hires