Don’t wait until everything is just right.
It will never be perfect.
There will always be challenges, obstacles and less than perfect conditions.
So what. Get started now.
With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger,
more and more skilled, more and more self-confident and
more and more successful.
What is Success?
Success means different things to different people. The word itself has a fairly simple definition. It means outcome or result.
So the question that you need to pose to yourself then is, “Are you getting the results or outcomes you had hoped to achieve” Either you are moving forward along the right path toward your intended goal, or you have been diverted along the way. And, whatever you have already accomplished, there is always another interesting-looking mountain to climb. If you’re looking for more achievement, you can improve your life radically with a few simple changes.
Getting on track
I am going to offer several simple and obvious suggestions to you. We all know these things, but every now and then we need to be reminded of them. We also need to be prompted to be conscientious in our pursuits to make them part of our daily habits. Although these suggestions are straightforward, most of them will still require constant attention for a time until they become habitual or automatic.
Action Steps:
1. Set goals
Your mind is tremendously good at finding solutions. You can help yourself a lot by doing a good job of outlining and prioritizing your objectives. The simplest way to do this is to write down your goal(s) and include a deadline. Now your mind, both waking and sleeping, knows what to work on and when to have it accomplished. Read over your goals at least twice a day to provide mental emphasis that they are important. Everyone knows how easy it is to get sidetracked by life’s distractions, those real and imagined, and forget all about your goals and plans.
You will be amazed how well you can keep on-track when you know where you are headed.
2. Get organized
Yes, I’m going to talk about making lists. Lists are important so that you have something to refer to as you progress. Many people suggest reviewing lists in the morning to set the tone for the day. Personally, I have found that I do much better by making and reviewing my lists at night. Before I go to bed each night, along with picking my clothes, and making sure my briefcase is packed, I make a list with all the things I want to accomplish the next day. Doing this at night gives your brain a chance to work on things while you sleep. Also, you will feel much better when you can start your day with a clear set of objectives instead of spending time trying to figure out what to do or where your stuff is.
I have found that my subconscious mind can work out solutions that I could not see clearly in the rush and noise of the day. So, along with making and reviewing the list before bed, I also keep a pad and pen/pencil on my nightstand. If I think of something fantastic at night, I can scribble it down and have it available in the morning. Plus, I don’t have to lose sleep trying to hold it in my mind until daylight.
3. Fix your attitude
People who are happy, content and successful usually have a positive attitude. That’s what allows them to move forward assuredly and with confidence. This is not the same as acting. I am talking about being! Minor challenges don’t bog these guys down because they believe that things will work out well in the end. They are also keeping the broader, bigger picture in mind, so minor challenges are just that…minor. And minor things can usually be easily bypassed or overcome. For example, you say you want to be healthy. Do you have a positive outlook about that? Your attitudes must be congruent or in-tune with your objectives.
Everything starts on the inside. Seeing outside changes in your life takes time and work.
4. Spend time with successful individuals
It is no secret that you will often achieve about as much as the people with whom you spend the most time. If you want to be successful, affiliate as frequently as you can with people who are more successful than you.
One of the potential benefits of this is that you will be exposed to a completely different way of thinking and interacting with the world. Successful people look at many things differently than those who are less successful. Integrating some of these ideas into your own thinking will likely bring you more successes of your own.
Secondly, you’ll be exposed to new opportunities. High-achieving people frequently have all kinds of projects going on. You never know when they might need a helping hand. You may also get to connect with their peer group, who are likely to be very successful as well. This applies to your real life face-to-face contacts, but also to your social media connections. And, no, I’m not talking about stalking Bill Gates to hang out. Most of us rub shoulders with people who are smarter, more successful and think differently than we do in many ways. Open up your mind and life to some new contacts who aren’t doing the same “old thing” you have been doing.
5. Be Helpful
Offering your services and being helpful to others will attract like-minded people into your life. It shows that you have a loving nature as well as an open heart and mind. Doors and opportunities will open for you, but your best reward is in knowing that you are capable of making a difference in the life of someone else. And these need not be grand, over-the-top gestures. Just be yourself and reach out.
6. Make time to play
Play is an essential part of your growth and development. It affords you opportunities to relax, try new skills or activities and bond with those you care about. You should never find yourself so busy or so focused on your journey to success that you sacrifice those you love to it or for it!
These 6 simple ideas can bring you tremendous power, if you choose to use them to your advantage. And when you really stop to think about is, being successful is really no more challenging than being unsuccessful. Both require specific actions and attitudes applied consistently over a period of time.
Make some changes in your life and in your thinking today and give yourself the gift of success…however you define it.
Thoughts?
Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/39287453@N03/3612149144/sizes/m/in/photostream/
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