Everyone want to succeed. Everyone would like to find the secret ingredient(s) that spell success. Is there even such a thing as a success formula? In order find a reasonably satisfying answer to this question, the best thing to do is look back in history and study those who have achieved success and see what (if any) traits they have in common. Remember, each person’s definition of success is different. Success can be financial, marital, professional, athletic, military, spiritual, and so on… So what is it that you need in order to reach it, no matter which type of success you’re looking for? Well history and observation suggest that the secret lies within those five factors:
1. Mindset – You’d be hard-pressed to find any success story coming from someone who never thought they had what it took. Even if at first they doubted themselves, there’s always this turning point where they realize that they actually can, and shove aside self-doubt, as they now see that it was probably the main thing holding them back. The right mindset, being convinced that you can make a difference, this is first and foremost the main thing you have to get right in order to move forward and build success. If you’re entertaining thoughts of failure, there’s little chance that you’ll be in the position to be successful. The old adage is true, you are what you think you are. Sorry to sound cliché, but if you think you can you’re right; if you think you can’t, you’re also right. Whatever you are thinking about is what you create and is your experience. Invest in your thoughts and turn them into positive ones (I didn’t say delusional). The payoff will be great.
2. Leverage – In just about any field, your success is determined by your ability to do more than the average person in the same amount of time. Successful people learn to leverage not only their money, but also (and perhaps more importantly) their time. Your time is your most valuable asset, since it’s the one that you can never get back. So it’s wise to spend it wisely doing things that get you ahead towards goals that are important to you. How much do you value your time? Any time you can, outsource and/or delegate certain tasks to people who are probably more capable than you are, which will leave you free to handle what you excel at, as well as what you get enjoyment out of. The most successful people spend their time delegating tasks so they have more time to think about the bigger picture and their overall success. Prioritize your time and do tasks first based on their value in your eyes.
3. Learn from someone who is successful – There’s a reason why leaders are readers. Reading about successful people in your field and how they made it will prep your mind and give you useful insight on how to spot opportunities and avoid costly mistakes. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel if someone has already (and successfully) carved out a path that you can step right in. But what’s even better than reading is finding yourself a mentor, someone you look up to, and soak up as much knowledge from them as you possibly can. Remember this quote by Roy H. Williams: ‘A smart man makes a mistake, learns from it, and never makes that mistake again. But a wise man finds a smart man and learns from him how to avoid the mistake altogether’. No matter how successful they are, everyone was a beginner at one point. And successful people are often more open than you think when it comes to sharing their experiences.
4. Have fun and dream big- make money from your hobbies and do something you enjoy. I was recently watching this DVD from PBS, titled “Buffett & Gates Go Back To School”, and when it came to the recipe for success, both men (who incidentally are the 2 richest men in the world) say that enjoying what you do is paramount. Warren Buffett says that he is excited to go to his office everyday, because he likes what he’s doing: quite frankly, money is no longer a motivation for him. If you can identify something that you could do all day and lose all track of time, and figure out a way to earn a living out of it, you’ll probably be quite successful. Pursuing your passions and what your strengths have this way of paying great dividends. Look at how many people are making money doing what they love, people like singers, athletes, high-level professionals, and so on. Most of these people keep going because what they do is their passion. The financial windfall naturally follows because the fact they they’re doing something they love makes them strive for perfection and thus stand out in their chosen field. Also, it is vital to think BIG because let’s face it, if you’re a talented basketball player and only dreamt of playing in the NBA’s Development League, you’ll never be an NBA star. The bigger the better, have no limits: dreaming of owning a bike requires the same mental effort as dreaming of owning a Ferrari. The most successful people got to where they are by thinking that nothing is impossible and that they could reach whatever goal they set their minds to. The naysayers will always be around, what you have to do is extract the good out of their negative comments: collect them all and use them to fuel your journey to success.
5. Action – Nothing will happen without it. There’s this saying that pretty much says that luck is where preparedness meets opportunity. By taking action, you’re creating your own luck. No one is going to just appear out of nowhere and hand you the realization of your dreams. If you think that taking action is such a drag and will require so much effort, just look at where you are right now. Most likely, you’re not where you’d like to be. Well, this is the result of you NOT acting. Do you want to (can you) live like this for another twenty years? Success does not come to those who wait, but to those who are adamant and relentless to work for their success.