Preparing You For Success

If your like everyone else, there is more you want out of life. A sense of accomplishment and success that so few people get to realize in their lifetime. The positive side is that you can have, do, or be anything you want to be. The other side is that it really is fairly simple to have the life of your dreams. Not easy necessarily, but simple. The down side is that so few people are willing to do what it takes to discover that success for themselves.

There are only a handful of traits that you must develop within yourself to be able to discover the success you seek. With the right discipline in these areas and the constant application of the following principles, you cannot help but be success at anything you apply yourself to. Develop these concepts into habits, and the world will be at your command.

The first trait that is absolutely necessary for success is commitment. Just as getting married involves a commitment for it to be successful, everything else, including making money, involves a commitment. Most people fail at becoming wealthy or successful at anything simply because they do not have a commitment. They want something, but it is only a fancy for having it, not a deep seated desire. A desire that is so strong and so driving that they are willing to go through anything to get what they want. If we were to compare these desires to fires, successful people would have a burning desire for success and what they want that would be equal to a forest fire taking up half the state of California. Most people are lucky to have a campfire for desire. Develop your desire to live the life of your dreams, and nothing can stop you.

The second thing that is necessary for you to be successful is to know what it is you want. Less than 5% of people out there take the time to write down what it is they want. Even fewer know exactly what it is they want and when they will have it. You must know what you want, and exactly when you want, period. You must write it down and review on a regular basis. If you don’t you are on the quickest path to failure.

The third trait that so few people develop is a plan. Many people either do nothing, or just do anything. A good plan helps keep you on track with what you want to accomplish and where you want to go. It also allows you to know when corrections need to be made to keep on track and exactly where you are on the course. Just as a map lets you know what highway needs to be taken next to get from New York City to San Fransisco. Without a map, one could just start traveling west, but it could takes weeks, or even months to get to California. Take the time to create a map to help you get to where you want to go, but leave it flexible enough for the inevitable bumps and detours that will happen.

The fourth trait necessary to have is a strong heart. No matter what path one takes, if it is outside the social norm of what others think is possible or acceptable, there will be criticism. There will always be nay-sayers. There will always be friends and family that think you dream to big. People who think you couldn’t possibly have what you want, or that normal people could never be wealthy or happy. You must become like steel. You must take your mind away from these people and ignore everything they tell you. You must keep your eye on the prize and keep going no matter what. You must develop a desire and driving force that will blow past these sort of people.

The final trait necessary for success is action. So many people dream big, but never take a single step in the direction of accomplishment. A desire, a good plan, knowing what you want. All of that is useless and nothing more than pipe dreams if you don’t take action toward accomplishing it. Taking action alone with a strong desire is all that is really necessary for success. However, a good plan and the ability to stay focused on the goal helps make the path quicker and easier. There are people who take no action, and people who do nothing but take action. Some people are really good at taking action, again and again and again. They start this, then they start something else, then they move onto another thing. Those types of people never get anything done either because they are always starting new projects. So get started, follow your plan, and stay the course. Be sure to do something every single day to move you closer to your goals.

So success is really that simple. Decide what it is you want and write it down. Review that list on a regular basis. Develop a driving force within yourself to have what you want out of this life, and refuse to settle for even 1% less than that. Develop a plan with specific dates for when you will get what you want, and work the plan. Develop the ability to take your mind off of any negativity that could hamper your success. Become like solid steel and stand strong and firm for what you want and believe. Finally, take action on your dreams and goals. Don’t hesitate, don’t delay, don’t even wait one second. Take action, and take it now. As Nike would say, just do it!

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“What most fundamentally characterizes the well-adjusted, or highly sane person is not chiefly the particular habits or attitudes that he holds, but rather the deftness with which he modifies them in response to changing circumstances.” – Wendell Johnson

What a great quote, huh?

Really makes you think about all those times when you’ve hoped, wished and dreamed that thing in your life would change for the better and yet prevented the very same from happening by failing to change the way you’re approaching life doesn’t it?

(Well, it does for me anyway!)

Think about it; how many times in your life have you said to yourself “Things have GOT TO change! I can’t live like this anymore!” and then gone right out and done the things you’ve always done in the exact same way you’ve always done them?

Come on, be honest!

Well, you can change all that today you know.

You really can.

And it’s simple too.

Just do 1 thing differently to the way you normally do it.

Drive another route home.

Leave work an hour earlier.

Stay an hour later.

Take a day off.

Read a book.

Take the kids to a movie.

Send flowers.

Call your parents.

Look, it really doesn’t matter what you do but do it differently and the change begins.

And once it does, wow!

Don’t believe me?

Just try changing something in your life today then tell stand back and observe the amazing difference it makes to your life.

You’ll be stunned by how the small things lead to big results!

Success

In the 21st Century, success is usually measured by the financial muscle of an individual versus the real value of a person. The sad thing is that many people go by this measurement and never really discover true success. The essence of success is that it is not managed in quantity but in quality of life lived. The more we acquire the less value we place on life. Money doesn’t buy happiness but it can contribute to our happiness considerably. If we want to become a success, we should stop measuring ourselves with others and address the real issues, are we doing something we love? If we had a choice would we be excited about our lives? Are we excited right now? Our quest for becoming a success is only and I mean only fueled by passion. No passion equals no success. Once we find our passion, we should do all we can to be a success. Success is not an event, its a state of mind.The word success is usually associated with many things, for some people its the dream and hope of financial status, prestige and even fame. Success in life can mean many things to different people. When looking at the meaning of real success, it involves more than just having money, prestige and fame. Let’s look into how to become a success in life, its definition and how you can achieve it. 

Success can best be described as being happy or content in life. This is the simplest way to define it. Most people tend to value life based on quantity versus quality. The quality of your life is more important than the quantity of it, which is how much ‘stuff’ you accumulate or get in life. This does not go to say pursuing money, prestige and fame is wrong but if you are pursuing them doing something that you do not love, it’s hard to say you are successful. If you are happy with life and you are doing something you passionately love, there is no amount of money, prestige or fame that can take that away from you. This is what makes you truly successful. While media and other people tend to make us view success as external, it is actually internal. Happiness is the root of all success. Money, prestige and fame play a part in happiness but ultimately being a success is about being happy with your life.

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What does it take to be successful? What is success? How can I get there?

The best answer to the question of what is success is from Og Mandino: ” Success is meeting your goals.”

The answer to what it takes to be successful and how to get there is a bit longer: Success happens at that special intersection of passion, commitment, talent and persistence. Think of those four as separate paths that flow into one path – one powerful path that leads to success – in it’s infinite variety.. It’s a special place, that path.

That special path is different for each of us. It has to be – everyone of us is so special and different in every one of those four requirements. But we all have the capacity to arrive at our own intersection – again and again. What an exciting thought – that each of us can combine and align our special attributes in such a way to be successful – as we choose to define success.

It’s sad that so many people have had experiences that have taught them to be safe, to stay on the sidelines and watch, to hold their passions and commitments in check, to see how the wind blows. What an enormous waste of resources,on a personal level and on every other level. Those are the people that are the subject of Henry David Thoreau’s statement: ” The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.”

It doesn’t have to be that way.

The idea that there is the potential to exceed anything yet accomplished through a process of self discovery, discipline, commitment and passion is really exciting – and scary. What’s really scary is that it lies within each of our capabilities to grow and reach that intersection and do it again and again in our lives. We can do it at any age, under any circumstance, at any stage – and it’s not magic, it’s not a silver bullet, it’s not limited in any way.

Let’s walk down each of these four paths and see how we can get them to join together to create a level of success greater than any yet experienced.

Passion is the first path for a reason. It’s the emotion that leads to commitment. It’s the feeling that comes from the heart and provides us with the strength to dedicate ourselves to people, places, things, ideas, processes. It’s often the most difficult path to find, but once found, it can be the most sustaining and exciting. Passion is excitement, passion is enthusiasm. It’s curiosity, it’s wanting to share, it’s that spark that lights the fire that leads to commitment. The path of passion runs very close to the path of commitment – their intersection is vital to creating the foundation for success.

Commitment comes in many forms. The qualities of commitment that we are looking for start with positiveness; the conviction that we are committing to a worthy cause; the belief that what we commit to will result in a positive outcome, and will improve our life and the lives of others. There is no place on our path for negative, destructive commitment. Positive commitment sustains, negative commitment corrodes and destroys. Commitment requires that special feeling of being part of something bigger than self. If there is a single tipping point on the path to success, it is when that feeling of total commitment occurs – when, as Goethe wrote:

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy,
the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness.

Concerning all acts of initiative there is one elementary
truth,
the ignorance of which kills
countless ideas and endless plans:
That at the moment one definitely commits oneself,
then providence moves, too.

All sorts of things occur to help one
that would never otherwise occurred.
A whole stream of events issues from the decision,
raising in one’s favor all manner of
unforeseen incidents and meetings and
material assistance which no man
could have dreamed would come his way.

Whatever you can do or
dream you can, begin it!
Boldness has genius, power
and magic in it.”

Talent is the path where the rubber meets the road – where things can be done – where action to create success occurs. The belief that anyone can do anything if they put their mind to it may be true at one level, but at the practical level of creating success, it hinders more than it helps. An example: without good eye hand coordination and excellent depth perception, no one is going to be a major league baseball player – nobody. They don’t have a piece of the puzzle – the talent – that is critical to success. If they persist in trying to a be a major league ball player, they’re wasting their time. Some people learn that lesson the hard way. “Experience may be the best teacher, but only fools can learn by no other” is a harsh reality. Others find out what they are good at, and pursue success from that more powerful place. You can have a passion for and a commitment to baseball, you can manifest that passion and commitment as a spectator, as a sportscaster, as a grounds keeper, as a General Manager or a players agent, or as an employee of the team, but as a player – not. The talent has to be there to be successful.

The good news – and it is really good news – is that talent requirements can be identified, talents already present can be identified, and, in many cases, talents that need to be developed can be – it’s exciting. Even more exciting is discovering a passion and a commitment that fits with your unique blend of talents – now that’s special. Whether it’s through experience, failures, successes, self discovery, or tools to help define requirements and capabilities, this is where the engine of success resides – in the talent to drive that passion and commitment.

And then Persistence, the centerline that keeps the forces generated in the paths of Passion, Commitment and Talent moving toward success. I have a framed saying from Ralph Waldo Emerson that I keep within eyesight . It’s a powerful message:

“Press On

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not: unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education alone will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”

Passion, leading to Commitment, fueled by Talent, and Directed by Persistence – the formula for success. And in this time of uncertainty and bad news, it’s so important to find or rediscover our passions and commit or recommit to them, develop the talent – the skills and abilities and motivators we need to make them happen – and then persist in meeting our goals.

That’s the package. Now’s the time It’s not easy – but it’s worth it – in so many ways. Have a great 2009, and the best of success to you.

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Achieving sustained success is not all that complicated, unless we choose to make it so. Success is truly a choice.

For many, the benefits of success are illusive. These people struggle, search and try year after year to create a life filled with financial security, nurturing relationships and a sense of purpose and meaning. Others appear to effortlessly achieve greatness, independence and happiness as they travel through the days of their lives.

What are the differences between these two groups? Is it luck, a favorable early environment, good fortune, the right contacts, hard work, a powerful will to succeed, education, good looks, charm or some other measurable qualities? As a fellow traveler in search of success for over forty years, I do not claim to have the answer or the answers to your quest. I do not know the secrets, if there are any secrets, to success.

I have learned, however, that there are certain attitudes, actions, beliefs, and philosophies, that when embraced and followed, ultimately lead to the higher ground.

I believe there are ten traits that successful people regardless of age, gender, profession, education status, or however you would choose to define success embrace and have mastered.

It doesn’t matter whether you are a business leader, teacher, florist, artist or in any of the thousands of other roles or positions in life. If you want rewarding and enduring success you must embrace and master each of the ten qualities. I do not believe that success hinges on any single one of the qualities listed or those that I have chosen to leave out . Success is not guaranteed to every human who walks the planet. However, the potential for success is bequeathed to each of us at birth. Success is not an accident or the result of believing that life owes it to you.

Success is not: power, fame, wealth, prosperity, happiness or independence. Once gained, there is no guarantee that the success you have achieved will be maintained indefinitely in any recognizable or anticipated form. If success is lost, it is not destined to elude us forever. Success is a choice.

Life offers no guarantees – just choices; no certainty – just consequences; no predictable outcomes – just the privilege of pursuit. People who succeed and fail come in all shapes, sizes, colors, ages, nationalities and gender. In the end, success is not what we achieve or accumulate, but who we have become in the process.

Successful people succeed because they do the things necessary for success. Failures want the same success outcomes and rewards, but they either don’t know which traits to develop or they refuse or fail to develop them while on their life journey.

Many people, when attempting to excuse themselves from the personal responsibility of a successful life, do so by blaming others, their background or circumstances. Life is a neutral concept. It responds to a person’s beliefs, commitments, expectations, effort, attitudes and actions. It always gives us what we unconsciously desire, deserve and ask for.

Life is not selective. It doesn’t pick on some people while showering others with innumerable benefits or gifts. It is a perfect example of cause and effect in the ebb and flow of life. Life is not fair. It is not unfair either. It just is.

In the end, people who want to succeed, do because they take the time and energy to develop the required characteristics and attitudes. Their success, however, may not resemble their early picture of what they thought their success would look like when they embarked on their journey. Most people who fail, subconsciously want to fail. Oh, they may say they want success and its trappings, but in reality they do not believe in their hearts that they deserve it or will ever achieve it. We are all magnets. We attract into our experience and life that which is consistent with our inner beliefs, values, thoughts, expectations and desires.

Here are the ten.

-Control your thoughts

-Relentless Self-Promotion

-Unwavering Belief

-Know Your Purpose

-Maintain Your Passion . . . 37

-Time is your Ally

-Overcoming Adversity

-The Spirit of Optimism

-Persistence Is A way Of Life

-Focus On What You Can Do Now

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