The Signs of Success

The Signs of Success

As I reflect today on choice and moving forward, I’m reminded that success doesn’t just show up in the big wins — it shows up in the signs placed along the road of our daily lives.

Every day, we pass signs that guide us, warn us, and remind us where we are. Some are physical — yield signs, bus stops, crosswalks, or speed limits. Others are internal — the reminders we put in our home, on our screensaver, or in our workspace to keep us aligned with who we want to become. These signs are everywhere if we’re willing to look for them.

A yield sign reminds us to slow down, to give space and consideration before moving forward. A bus stop reminds us that there’s always a place to pause and a way to get where we’re going if we’re patient enough to wait. Speed limit signs remind us there are boundaries — and that ignoring them brings consequences. Green lights tell us to go. Yellow lights tell us to proceed with caution. Red lights demand that we stop.

But the most important signs aren’t out on the road — they’re within us.

In Heads-Up Baseball, Ken Ravizza introduced one of the simplest yet most powerful systems for mental performance: the internal signal light system. Green means we’re in control — we’re calm, confident, and connected to the present moment. Yellow means we’re losing control — frustration, doubt, or fear is beginning to take over. Red means we’ve lost control — we’re reacting instead of responding, and our performance begins to suffer.

The key is awareness. Just like a driver has to recognize and respond to the lights on the road, we must learn to recognize and respond to the signal lights within us. When we can notice the signs — whether they’re external or internal — we give ourselves the power to choose differently.

The signs of success are all around us, and they’re not random. They’re reminders. Yield when needed. Slow down when your emotions speed up. Wait at the bus stop if you need direction. And when you’re ready, move forward on green with full trust and awareness of who you are and what you’re capable of.

That’s what it means to read the signs of success.