You Can Call Her 'Coach': Sue Enquist On What It Means To Be Successful

Without progress, there is no success.

That's the message from Sue Enquist, award winning softball coach, speaker, and Hall of Famer. Enquist was speaking at The Women Of The Channel West Conference, where the keynote speakers included inspiring authors, motivational speakers, and award-winning women focused on helping others become the best they can be in their industry.

"Really, it's about progress, I wanted to demonstrate that progress takes time," said Enquist. She reiterated the importance of "failing fast" and being efficient in getting back up after every disappointment.

Her keynote included tools and tips to help guide audience members in becoming the most productive version of themselves. Enquist explained that in any industry, it's important to create "conditions for success," in which every employee and team member can feel valued, supported, and ultimately productive.

"I think there are common characteristics [for success], but everyone has their own personal slant. For me, it is to have your team, or your group, really understand what their role is," said Enquist. "In doing this, you create conditions for that person to feel successful."

In her talk, the importance of failure was a topic that went hand-in-hand with her definition of success. According to Enquist, it's not about how often you fail in work or life that matters, but rather, how efficiently you recover after a downward turn.

"In our program, we created little routines so people can get comfortable owning their mistakes and moving on. We practice it, like anything else, and you get better at it, and life goes on."

She even encouraged parents in the audience to take a deeper look at how they are helping their children deal with success and failure.

Ultimately, Enquist said it's important to let your kids fall down, and that as women, we shouldn't be so quick to help them back up. "They'll figure it out on their own. You can help dust them off, but don't do it for them," she said.

Leaving the crowd energized and motivated, Enquist assured attendees that we are all a work-in-progress, and that in the end, it's important to remember the goal in life is simply to reach one's highest potential – no matter how long that might take.