Like many others, you may also be surprised by my response because I strongly believe that success is not due to genius, or is not something we are born with. It starts with the cultivation of a mindset that can be learned. My response is based on seven key areas of focus based on the word SUCCEED:
- Strategy: it is always important to have a well-defined strategy that gets you from an idea to the end goal. This may not always be visible at the time an idea is conceived but it should be formed during the journey to success. Without strategy you will be like a tumbleweed drifting in the wind – nobody knows exactly where you will end up. You must have a strategy for success.
- Understanding: without understanding your limitations and finding ways to overcome those through development or delegation you will constantly hit roadblocks that may dissuade you from either starting or continuing on your journey to success. You need to understand and then embrace your limitations in order to succeed.
- Collaboration: an important one – no successful individual completed the journey alone – conquering Mount Everest took a team; landing on the moon took a team. Your success depends on collaborating with others. You need to find a mentor and likeminded people with whom you can mastermind.
- Consistency: successful people make up their minds quickly and change their minds slowly. They will make a choice and take consistent action on the necessary tasks which help them on their journey to success. This is in contrast with the sporadic activities performed by the majority of people on the planet who only show consistency at looking for the next best thing. You need to be consistent in your actions.
- Education: you may have graduated from school or gone on to graduate from college, and for most of us that is where we believe our education stops. Those who wish to succeed know that formal education is just a beginning. Self education is a powerful ongoing means by which you can propel yourself to success. You can either grow mentally by learning or die mentally by believing you have all the knowledge you require.
- Energy: without a little energy to power your creativity, you will struggle to stay focused on your goals. Energy fuels your body and helps keep you innovative and passionate about your journey to success. You must be energetic to remain active on your journey to success.
- Discipline: whilst consistency ensures constant action, persistence is what keeps you motivated when things don’t go to plan. No journey to success ever goes smoothly. Expect bumps along the way, but commit to being persistent. Stay disciplined and you will be rewarded frequently on your journey to success.
If you are serious about the journey to success then make sure you have each of those seven areas covered: Strategy; Understanding; Collaboration; Consistency; Education; Energy; and Discipline.
