The one word that will make you successful

There is one word at work that arrives like a gift. It makes me feel happy and brings a jolt of joy to everyone who sees it in an email, IM, or text. I love reading this word more than any other — it has always spoken to me more than “bonus,” “raise,” and even “promotion.” I bet you love it too.

The reason I love this word is that it’s written every day. It denotes team progress, and is free for everyone, anywhere to use at any time. It speaks to our sense of accomplishment — both as individuals and a team.

Before I share this special word, I want to tell you why it will make you rich. But let’s be clear about what I think about wealth. Being rich is about achieving what you have dreamed of accomplishing. I tell that to our team at Aha! (which is a product roadmap software company) every day.

For many though, being rich means having $1M in the bank or buying that fancy car that they have wanted since high school. But for others, wealth is defined by their community service, overcoming addiction, or finally earning the degree that they abandoned 20 years ago.

I am not the only one who thinks broadly about the word rich. In a survey released last year, 90% of respondents said they believe that success is more about happiness than money or prestige. 60% of the same survey respondents said success means “loving what you do for a living”; just 20% said success is defined by monetary wealth.

So, do you know the one word that will bring you treasure? The one word you can write that will make you rich is, “Done.”

You might be surprised, but stay with me so I can explain how powerful this little word is. The word “Done”:

Builds confidence
The more often you complete a task, the more your confidence to achieve what’s next grows. Writing “Done” to your colleague or boss who has asked for status on a task, means everything. It’s similar to crossing items off a to-do list, but in a collaborative way. That sense of confidence allows you to take on new challenges and continue to grow.

Pleases others
Most colleagues don’t like asking for help. But when they do, they probably really need something from you. You have an opportunity to thrill that person when you respond with “Done” as it means you completed their request. This helps them get to “Done” too. Writing “Done” reminds everyone that they are part of a team, and that you have a key role.

Highlights your value
Getting work finished is energizing, and when you write the word “Done,” it reinforces your contribution. It also enhances your reputation for being trustworthy, reliable, and dependable. Ultimately, our accomplishments are what satisfy our internal ambitions and are rewarded at work too.

People who love and respect the word “Done” work hard and have deep reservoirs of stamina. They take great satisfaction from being productive and helping others along the way.

They also happen to be the people who are rich. This is because they are driven by their talents to achieve greatness. Their hard work drives them to achieve their own goals and ensure their teams are terrific too.

This article is published in collaboration with LinkedIn. Publication does not imply endorsement of views by the World Economic Forum.

To keep up with the Agenda subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Author: Brian de Haaff is the CEO of Aha!

Image: A worker arrives at his office in the Canary Wharf business district in London. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh.