What is Success and How Do We Achieve It?

To be clear about what success is must be the first step to achieving success.

So far, the best definition I have come across is: "Success is the completion of anything intended." In other words success is finishing what you planned to do.

Even robbing a bank is a kind of success if that is what you wished to do. However, you probably did not intend to end up in prison!

The above definition of success shines a light on failure and success. Make a plan and follow it and you will have succeeded. Make a plan and do not follow it and you will have failed.

This gives a yard stick for judging every day of our lives. We can say at the end of the day "I have failed" or "I have succeeded."

This may seem very obvious but it is amazing that only about 85% of the human race end up doing what they intended.

I asked several people what they thought success was. One person said that "Success is making loads of money." Another said that success is "Achieving your goals". Some one else said that success is "Fulfilling your potential". An interesting answer was that success is "Making others jealous".

Brian Tracy agrees with the connection between success and goals. He has said "Success is goals, and all else is commentary." Tracy believes that people with clear, written goals, accomplish far more in a shorter period of time than people without them.

Stuart Goldsmith in "The Midas Method" has an important section on how to set goals so that they are achieved using the full power of the subconscious mind.

Maria Nemeth gives this definition of success: "Doing what you said you would do, with ease".

"Doing what you said you would do" is currently not achieved by the majority of the human race especially politicians! Doing it with ease is achieved by even fewer and requires making the most of the subconscious mind.

Jim Rohn argues that success is just a few simple disciplines practised daily.

The power of daily discipline is HUGE. Because the discipline is practised daily the effect is cumulative. The good practice is carried out 365 times a year with, perhaps, a few lapses.

It cannot fail to have tremendous influence. Once the discipline becomes a daily habit, it can be forgotten about until the rewards start coming in.

The writer who writes every day has written well over 300 pages by the end of the year. If he or she does not write every day they lose momentum and inspiration. If they keep up the writing (even just a few words a day) a magnet for relevant thoughts develops.

Recently a Liverpool student of American media studies applied for 600 jobs and received only one interview which he failed. He decided to write a novel. He determined to complete ten pages a day. He worked in the evenings at a dead end job to make money and then wrote until about 5 in the morning at his novel which has now become famous. It also looks like becoming a Hollywood blockbuster film.

He points out that if you write only one page a day for 100 days you can write a screen play. He wrote his novel by studying the structure of two other novels and noticing how they were structured and wrote his screenplay after studying video of films and noticing how long each scene lasted before there was a change.

I can't remember his name or the name of his book as I just happened to hear part of his interview on television.

The practice of daily disciplines alone can change our lives totally. Another benefit of daily disciplines is that they quickly create habits and habits create character.

A great quote by Jim Ryun, the American Athlete, is as follows

"Motivation is what gets you started.
Habit is what keeps you going"

Another brilliant quote is:

"Try not to become a man of success but rather try to become a man of value."

Albert Einstein

The next quote says more or less the same thing:

"Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it." Henry David Thoreau

Many would argue that success is not about making money but about developing oneself into a person who is valuable to others.

However, this quite often will lead to making money because people will pay for value. Any one who is very good at their job can usually command whatever pay they wish.

Adam Hollioake is one of the most successful English county cricket captains. He realised what is important in life when his brother Ben was killed in a car accident in Perth Australia. Adam learned that he should be kind to people and have fun and "that's what life is about."

His view of success in cricket is not necessarily winning. He is not afraid to lose a cricket match. He is only concerned that his team put 100% effort into the game. He comments:

"If we do put that effort in we usually win anyway".

Success then is putting in 100% effort whatever the results. More often than not, however, the results will be excellent.

Michael Angier has a great definition of success.

"Success is the result of steadily taking action on our most important goals. When we consistently focus our energies and our efforts upon what matters most, we can't help but be successful".

Angier also admires Ralph Waldo Emerson's comments on success:

"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived; this is to have succeeded."

What are the causes of failure and success?

William James, the great American psychologist, puts failure down to lack of faith in one self

"There is but one cause of human failure. And that is man's lack of faith in his true self."

Faith in one self is a huge part of success. Stuart Goldsmith in "The Midas Method" talks about two kinds of belief that are necessary for success. You must believe that you deserve to succeed and you must believe that you have the ability to succeed.

Another big cause of success is discipline.

"The ability to discipline yourself to delay gratification in the short term in order to enjoy greater rewards in the long term is the indispensable prerequisite for success." Brian Tracy

Another cause is the willingness to try to succeed even if the possibility of success is remote.

"Far away in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see the beauty, believe in them and try to follow where they lead."

Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888) American Writer

My computer guru, Danny believes that you should hold on to your dream in all circumstances and never let go. Grab hold of your vision with an iron fist and even if you are down on your luck and in the gutter never give up.

Danny himself has held on to a dream for 22 years. His dream is to develop the best languages translator in the world.

It does not matter if you are 72 - grab hold of your dream. Actually visualize your hand holding on to that dream. Too many people are worn down by life and give up their dreams.

Every dream is personal but the principle is the same. You are an idiot if you let go. You have to have a reason for living. Set yourself a goal and never let go until you die.

There is nothing you can't do. If you can't swim 10 lengths without a rest, train for a few months and you will be able to swim 50 lengths.

Danny's comments about swimming reminded me about how little is taught at school about how training can improve your abilities.

At my school in the Isle of Man, there was an annual half mile swim in the sea. I knew I would drown if I attempted this but no one ever suggested that I start training hard so that I would be capable of completing the swim.

I was just classified as someone who could not do the swim. It did not occur to me that through determined training I would be able to do what I could not previously do.

When Danny was young he was a skinny weakling. But one day he decided that this was not a good thing. He filled out and did some weight training and set up his own fitness, strength and flexibility routine.

He performs this every other day. This avoids the boredom of a daily routine. He does 200 situps, 30-50 leg raises and three or four sets of 20-30 bench presses.

He also does 2 sets of 20 or 30 squats with dumbells to develop leg power. The dumbbells avoid the danger of overbalancing with a barbell across your shoulders. There is also little likelihood that you will drop the dumbbells on children or family pets! Dumbells allow for greater control than barbells.

Danny's advice for success is to do something. If in doubt, read a book. The worst thing you can do is sit on your backside watching TV. If you do, nothing will ever happen. He notes the hypnotic effect of TV on the spectators. Danny seldom ever watches TV.

Danny also is impressed by Arnold Schwarzenegger who has just been elected Governor of California. If Arnold wants something, he does what is necessary to get that thing. If he had to eat 50 mars bars, he would eat them. If he had to stand stark naked on his head in a field for half an hour he would.

This is an example to us all. If you have to put stamps on thousands of envelopes to send out your direct mail sales letters, you just have to do it.

The basic principle is that you have to do what is required. Some things require certain actions to achieve them and you have to do them whether you like doing them or not.

It is no good saying I want to be Governor of California but I don't want to do any public speaking or travel on the campaign trail or be friendly to thousands of people you don't like. You have to pick up babies and smile at people you may not like.

If you want to be rich you have to do those things which will make you rich. It's no good saying "I don't really want to do it." Danny gives himself a virtual smack round the head every time he is tempted to give up on his projects.

Some people think they will make money by taking short cuts like suing people or fraud. The world would be a much better place if people just got on with doing what they had to do.

Many successful people stress the importance of action in achieving success.

Michael Masterson of the Ezine "Early to Rise" writes:"Action is the key to success, and failure to act is the reason most people will never achieve the kind of success they dream about"

Another approach to achieving success is to stay cool about it. Just get on with doing what you think is important and what you love to do.

"Don't aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally." Sir David Frost

Elvis Presley gave his cousin Donna some advice to help her achieve her goals for the future. It seems good advice to me:

Donna's best memory of Elvis was when she was 18 and she spoke to him one on one. He asked her about her plans for the future and told her she could achieve anything she wanted "so long as you have faith in God;have faith in yourself; work hard and never let anyone tell you, you can't do something".

Elvis himself had plenty of discouragement which he successfully ignored. The later part of his life was not too successful but as Donna commented, we should focus on what he did achieve which was amazing.

Peter Vidmar explains how he achieved success at the Olympic Games:

"There's only two things I had to do to win the Olympic gold: Train when I wanted to, and train when I didn't."

This is possibly my favourite quote of all time. It sums up the essence of success and the will power and discipline necessary to achieve it. Sometimes training will be easy but sometimes it will take effort because one really does not feel like training. This is simple and beautifully easy to understand.

Another quote I like is concerned with the kind of success which depends on people liking your work or product. Don't worry about whether they will like your work. Just do your best and leave the liking or disliking up to them.

"Success has a simple formula: 'Do your best and people may like it'".

Sam Ewing

Any success involves some kind of cost; usually some boring work is involved as suggested in the following quote. The word 'drudgery' sums this kind of work up exactly. Almost any kind of business involves marketing and marketing is the last thing many businessmen enjoy doing.

"Success is the child of drudgery and perseverance. It cannot be coaxed or bribed; pay the price and it is yours".

Orison Swett Marden, 1850-1924.

Mike Litman comes up with golden statements frequently. Here is just one of them:

"The biggest secret of success in life is: You don't have to get it right; you just have to get it going. Perfectionism can kill success. We never get going because we are always waiting to get everything just right. Instead, let's get going."

One success breeds another. Bobby Robson, now over 70, is one of Britain's most successful managers. He should know what creates success. He recently commented about his team's performances:

"Success breeds success"

This makes sense. Write one successful book and you will have the confidence to write another. A lady over 70 wrote a book about overcoming the pain of arthritis. It was a huge success to her total amazement and made hundreds of thousands of dollars. Not surprisingly she has now written two more books.

Success is a key goal for most people but it helps to have a clear idea of what success means to you. I hope this article will have shed some light on possible definitions of success and provided some ideas about how you can achieve your kind of success. 

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Watson

Five Formulas for Committing to Success!

1. Clear vision + Intention + Purpose + Focus = Success!  A vision is many things:  the original blueprint of the successful outcome you desire, a thought picture turned into visual action, a full expression of you!  If you are given a vision, then it is within your power to make it happen, if you choose.  You would not have been given the vision without the ability to make it come true.  Visions are so powerful, it is essential that you know exactly what you are visioning and why.  Intention and purpose are partners.  Your purpose, or mission, must also be very clear and firm.  Your integrity is bound closely with this pair.  If it is your intention to truly make your dreams materialize, then a commitment must be made to focus on the specific outcome you desire.  Goal planning works well for focus.  Make your goals realistic, specific and have a definite timetable for meeting your objectives.
2. Authenticity + Passion + Commitment = Success!  Being authentic  means that the real you is showing up all the time - in words, thoughts and actions.  First - you are true to yourself above all.  You are dedicated to knowing what you are all about - your integrity, passion, strengths, honesty and reliability. Knowing your values and acting in alignment with them are crucial to your authenticity.  Passion is what stirs from within that motivates you - inspires you to get up each morning, eagerly, to continue working on a job or project that excites you to want to do more.  Passion is the unique message that you want to bring to the world.  Commitment is a "can-do" attitude.  You want to accomplish something so intensely that you are willing to use whatever resources of time and energy to make it so!   You have an un-abiding passion to stay committed to your project until it is complete.
3. Spiritual Practice + Flow = Success!   A spiritual connection is essential for the unlimited and energetic flow in moving forward on your journey to self-commitment and success.  Webster defines 'spirit' as a "person's essential nature, an emotional state characterized by vigor and animation, strong loyalty or dedication."  Spiritual practices may include everything from organized religion to pagan ritual and ceremony.  Since there is no one universal definition that fits all, one must explore and define his or her own description.  How does your spiritual path make a difference, not only in your own life, but how might it connect to a global flow of energy? Your personal definition of spirit is one of your own making, touching the honesty of your own soul.  You get to choose how you wish to walk in this world and how you want to be connected to a higher source.  A strong spiritual practice allows you to flow with a vibrational frequency that will energize and ground you on the 'success' journey.
4.  Energy + Expectations + Perseverance = Success!  Being energetic and creating reserves of energy are essential for success.  If your energy is depleted, you do not have the stamina to carry out the plans for your success.  One way to create energy is by taking extremely good care of yourself - even being selfish with your needs!  If you support a healthy, energetic, life-affirming style, than you can continue working towards the expectations you have for yourself.  One way to identify whether or not your expectations are realistic is to take a piece of paper and make two columns.  On the left side, write your expectation.  On the right side, write how you might accomplish that.  You do have the ability to reach your own expectations, and each one of them needs its own plan.  When you look at the columns, you may recognize that some of the expectations are not realistic and that in order for you retain your energy and persevere to the final outcome, the items may need to be adjusted.  Perseverance is continuing firmly on your path, regardless of unexpected challenges. If you believe in yourself, and are committed to your processes, you will solve every conceivable quandary or roadblock that appears.  You know what the rewards will be if you persevere with your plan.
5.  Strong Mission Statement + Plan of Action + Focus = Success! Your mission in life is simply your purpose - and your purpose, your mission.  You've heard the saying, "If you don't know where you're going, that's exactly where you'll end up - nowhere!"  Mission statements act as a rudder for your entrepreneurial-ship. When you know exactly what you want and how you're going to get there, you can make better decisions along the way knowing that all of your steps must support the mission.  If questions arise and you're not sure of the answer, or direction, look to your mission statement to see if it supports the quandary.  OK, everything is in place: your vision is clarified, you're feeling passionate about the path you're on, you are connected to your own flow, you're energized and focused, your mission is clear and NOW - you're ready to execute the "plan"!  Plans of action do not have to be ten pages long.  Your plan is whatever you want it to be - however, you must have one if you want to proceed firmly on your way and reach the pinnacle of your success.  A simple plan can consist of lists: i.e. your business name and legal entity (LLC, C or S Corp, sole proprietor etc.), accountant (essential for cash/flow analyses), your mission, administrative needs, budget, competitor research, services you offer, advisory team members...and so forth.  There are hundreds of books on the market to help you specifically with business plans. The goal is to move into action at whatever pace you choose to set and keep a steady course to completion. Oh yes, focus again!  You can have it all - one focused step a time! copyright by Sharon Hooper, Commit To Your Success,
  http://www.CommitToYourSuccess.com
 
 

Do Really You Want To Succeed?

If you Really Want To Succeed this is what your have to do 

1. See where you are at now.
2. Decided where you want to go.
3. Decided why you want to get there.
4. Become aware of opportunities.
5. Set your goals.
6. Follow your intuition.
7. Become a lifetime learner.

Step 1: See Where You Are At Now.

Is to see where you are at right now. If you know where you are at at this present moment. Then you can pretty much figure out what is working and what is not working in your life. Then you can stop doing what is not working and spend that time doing what is working in your life.

Step 2: Decided Where You Want To Go. 

• Where do you want to be in 30 days from now?
• Where do you want to be in 90 days from now?
• Where do you want to be six months from now?
• Where do you want to be a year form now?
• Where do you want to be five years from now?

It use to be said that a person can completely change their life in three to five years. Today with the internet you can change you life in as little as sixty to ninety days. There are programs on the internet today that will teach how you can increase your income to unbelievable amounts of income.

Step 3: Decided WHY You Want To Got There.

You have to have a compelling reason why you want to get there? You have to see the results in your mind. We think in pictures so you have to picture what your life will be like once you have reached where you are going.

This has to become a burning desire.

Everything ever accomplished began with an idea. This idea then became a burning desire in this persons life to see it become a reality.

Napoleon Hill said in his book "Think and Grow Rich."

"There is one quality which one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it."

So what is a burning desire?

Burning desire is something that it is a MUST for you. You cannot live without it. You get up with you in the morning and you take it to bed with you at night. It is the driving force behind reaching your desired results.

Step 4: Become Aware of Opportunities.

Opportunities are all around us but unless we become aware of them. We will not be in the position to act on them. You could create a product or service for these three areas. 

• Problems - Opportunity to resolve these problems.
• Needs - Opportunity to provide for these needs.
• Wants - Opportunity to fulfill these wants.

Step 5: Set Your Goals.

Now there are three levels of goals. As taught by Bob Proctor

C. Fantasy - What I Want

B. Plan - What I Think I Can Do.

A. Know - Present Results

The type of goals I am talking about here are C. Fantasy - What I Want goals.

What do I mean when I say Fantasy Goals?

These are they type of goals that have you reach for something bigger then you are now. I brings you into a higher state of mind. What I often call inspired goals.

Now you should set these goals in all areas of your life. 

• Health - See yourself in a better state of health then you are now
• Relationships - Improve relationships so that you will have more joy in your life.
• Financial - This can be in your present position or in a creating a new position.

Why did I just list these three ares. Because people's greatest desires are to be healthy, happy and financially secure.

Step 6: Follow Your Intuition.

Your intuition comes from the unconscious part of your mind. Some call it a hunch, a inner feeling or the inner voice.

What you need to do is be watchful for these insights and act of them.

Step 7: Become a Lifetime Learner.

The last step is to become a lifetime learner. A lot of people feel that once they completed their schooling that they do not need to learn anything else. While the most successful people are lifetime learners. These people are always finding ways to learn more in their chosen field and learning more about how they can improve themselves through self-help books and courses.

Hand in hand with learning is teaching what you have learned to others. By teaching others what you have learned it ingrains it deeper into your mind. Whenever you learn something you need to start doing what you have learned. This makes it a part of you. Which you can claim as your own.

I am sure that you may think of more steps to success, but these seven steps will help you start down the road to your own success.

Learning The Inner Voice

Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_W_Robarg

Towards Your Success: Part 1

1-Introduction:

Success is one of the most covered subjects in the internet. You will find many articles and books about how to be successful. If you do a complete research about success, you will find that success has a pattern. Success has its own laws, and these laws exist whether we know it or not. Therefore, if we want to achieve success for any area of our life, we simply need to know and apply these laws.

Laws of success exist like the law of Gravity: even if we don't realize them, they work on us like Gravity.

2-Success Research:

Many researchers and authors spent years and years studying the nature & laws of success. For example, Napoleon Hill spent 20 years studying successful people in America until he finally developed his concept of these laws. He interviewed over 100 American millionaires across nearly 20 years, including such self-made industrial giants as Henry Ford, J. P. Morgan, John D. Rockefeller, Alexander Graham Bell, and Thomas Edison. In his book The Law of Success, a 1,170 page book, he found out that these laws are universal in the sense they are everywhere for everyone at any time. According to Napoleon Hill: "What the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve." His most famous work, Think and Grow Rich (1937), is one of the best-selling books of all time (at the time of Hill's death in 1970, Think and Grow Rich had sold 20 million copies).

Tony Robbins had interviewed many successful persons in many different countries. According to him " If you want to be successful, find someone who has achieved the results you want and copy what they do and you'll achieve the same results." In Neuro Linguistic Programing NLP, they call this modeling excellence.

Brian Tracy talks in detail about the laws of success such as the law of attraction, law of expectation... etc.

Stephen Covey in his bestseller: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People demonstrates that successful persons follow a pattern to reach success, and this pattern is summarized in 7 habits.

What is common among those top experts in the field of success & human development is that all of them see a pattern or "common laws" for success.

3-The Mental /Emotional Attitude:

These laws are mental / emotional. Often, they are called "the Laws of the Mind". They are like positive thinking but with more focus and more direction. If you know them well and follow them, you will program your unconscious mind UM to apply them with automatically. This means you will apply them with relative ease, with natural continuity, and without hard struggle. In a way they will be part of your personality. You will begin to see opportunities rather than challenges, even within any challenge. You will take a positive look towards life. Your focus is on the solution rather than on the difficulty. Once you begin to develop this pattern of thinking, you will begin to attract success in your life. You will also attract successful persons in your life. You will attract positive energy in your body.

Your mental/emotional attitude is the basis of these laws. Once your mental thinking has become directed towards your goals, and once you direct it only positively, you will begin to expect the positive. Once you expect it, it will be much easier to achieve it. Success starts with a thought. Henry Ford had said: "If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." This does not mean that simply by thinking positively you will not get any problem in your life. It doesn't also mean that if we get any challenge it is because we expected it or attracted it in our life. No, it simply means that the power of positive thinking, the power of your mind and the ability to use your mental thoughts/images will provide you with tremendous energy that helps you towards achieving that specific goal.

If you guide your thought towards success, the outcome will follow. Napoleon Hill calls it the master mind. Others see it as the law of attraction. Your thought attracts success. According to Deepak Chopra "Every thought you are thinking creates a wave in the unified field. It ripples through all the layers of intellect, mind, senses, and matter, spreading out in wider and wider circles. You are like a light radiating not photons but consciousness."

This view is based on ""like attracts like". It starts with a thought that you create in your conscious mind. On average, you receive 60,000 thoughts every day.

Focus on what you want, rather than on what you don't want. As Norman Vincent Peale had said:" Change your thoughts and you change your world."

Your thoughts are your imagination. As Albert Einstein said, "Your imagination is your preview of life's coming attractions." Hill believes that imagination is the key to mastering all of the other lessons of his book: Law of Success. This is one of the reasons why visualization techniques are so powerful, as they are based on your imagination.

Your thoughts must be positively connected with your expectations. You have to expect the best: best of you, best of people & best of life. Many experts talk about the law of expectation as something inherent in success. When one expects with confidence that good things will happen, they usually will. Dr. Robert Rosenthal of the University of California - Riverside, has spent more than 40 years studying the idea that one's expectations for the behavior of another, can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. In his landmark book, Pygmalion in the Classroom, Rosenthal tells of case after students' performance was directly linked to high expectations.

Our expectations are linked to our existing beliefs. According to Earl Nightingale"Our environment, the world in which we live and work, is a mirror of our attitudes and expectations".

4-The Order of Success:

All of our actions are the fruit of our ideas: before we act on anything we must first have had an idea. An idea is a thought or a group of thoughts that ultimately determine the conditions of our daily lives.

The order of success is like this: you start with a thought; this thought will lead to energy, energy will in turn lead to an action, and ultimately action will lead to success. This is why it is essential to have the right thought from the start.

Remember that energy follows thought: we move toward, but not beyond, what we can imagine. Success requires gradual steps. There are steps that you can take towards your success. I will talk later - in other materials- in detail about these steps and how to apply them. In the meantime, think of success as the stairs: The elevator to success is out-of-order. You'll have to use the stairs... one step at a time.

Finally, remember that Success is achievable, and this is within your potential.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Malek_Moqaddam

How to Achieve Success Using Life's Tools

Success is achieved by being flexible and using our tools.

Flexibility

Rigidity plays its role in rallying in our wild sides. But, when left unattended, those rascals undermine our potentials. It's one thing to let loose when the time calls for it; it's another thing to let loose every minute of every hour.

Generally, it works like this. We start off as disorganized, untamed individuals. Over time we begin to realize the importance of becoming organized, having a planning and sticking to it - growing up. We may even go through a period in which we stick to our plan so much that we do ourselves harm. Our inflexibility works against us, and we miss out on opportunities.

Our plans must make room for flexibility.

Our happiness relies on our being flexible like a garden hose. Otherwise, we create rules without an end date/time and, thus, continue to follow rules way past their undeclared due date. There comes a point when the tools of life no longer serve us. Are we willing and flexible enough to let go without feeling shameful?

We are not a failure for letting something go when its time has come. There is a lifespan for everything, including our plans, schedules, rules and goals. These tools might have worked to instill in us a new habit or skill. But once that skill or habit is ingrained, is it really necessary to be so adamant as to continue when it's no longer necessary? Once we are trained, we are allowed to take the training wheels off and free flow from there - until new tools arrive.

We only need training wheels for so long, until we just don't need them anymore. We are no less of a person by removing the training wheels. In fact we are often seen as having grown up!

Wow! We are able to joyously boast, "I've achieved my goal, and I no longer need to restrict myself in this manner. I am thoroughly trained!"

We must learn to use our tools until the point at which we recognize their limitations.Then we are required to discard those tools and move on.

That's not to say we will never use tools again. In order to climb to new peaks, we will always require new tools. But once one is worn out, let's not allow our egos to stubbornly hold on to these limitations. Let's relinquish these limitations. Let's ride the bike without the training wheels for a while.

The Tools

Eventually, we will need to get a new bike. Our bodies will grow, and so we will need to get a larger bike. Eventually we may decide that the bike is not the best mode of transportation or form of exercise. Instead, we may decide that it's better to roller blade. Our feet have an appetite for the ground.

So we strap on a new pair of roller blades. Depending upon our past experiences, we may not be equipped with the proper knowledge to successfully hit the ground rolling. We may need secondary tools, such as a teacher or a smooth surface.

So, we acquire a roller rink and a professional to guide us until we feel safe to ride the wall alone. We ride the wall and the smooth floor until we decide the wall is not the center, and we want to see what's in the middle. Soon we realize that the center of the rink is just as boring as the rink by the wall. What does the street hold for us?

We acquire different tools throughout our life. Each tool arrives newly packaged. We move through a process of unwrapping, using and discarding, and then we enter a period without use for tools or manuals.

Each aspect of the process enables us to explore different avenues life. Without these tools we would not be able to get where we're going. The wonderful part about this is that we have all the tools we will ever need right now.

We may not recognize the tools for what they are. We may be carrying around several worn out pieces, or we may have failed to pick up the shiny new tools. We may have perfect tools in our box that we simply neglect. Of course, they are growing cobwebs and deteriorating from disuse, but that doesn't mean we can't dust them off and use them.

Once those tools become well worn, we mustn't worry about the acquisition of new tools. Instead, we must only be concerned with respectfully laying aside what no longer works for us.

It's important to pay respect to what has served us. Without those tools, we would not be where we are today. Let's be thankful for what we've been given and then lay it aside.

New tools will be given to us. Let's not be afraid to pick them up and use them. They are ours to use. We are entitled to use whatever comes our way, given that we recognize it's for us and no one else. And don't try and steal someone else's tools. Simply be patient. Ours will arrive.

Being overzealous in our adventures will only cause us stress. We can't move forward without our tools and we can't move forward with someone else's tools. We can't climb Mount Everest with our friend's roller blades, we are going to need very specific gear. And don't think we can use our friend's scuba gear to camp in the desert.

The time between is a reprieve - a tool in itself. While there may be no form associated with these times, realize that it is just as much a tool as anything else.

Sometimes we just need a break. There's no point in avoiding that. Let's no go out searching for our tools, ogling other people's tools and wishing for our own - as if they weren't on their way. Take the lull as a gift. It's a time for us to rest up. How can we use our new tools if we spend all our energy in these fruitless ways?

Let's restore ourselves to high levels of energy. Refresh ourselves for the road ahead. We are on an adventure, and every adventure requires energy. Let's not waste ours. Let's be patient and rest in the peaceful serenity of this period. Let's recognize its use.

Once our tools have arrived, let's be appreciative. We can never be too appreciative! Appreciation is a prayer for success and happiness.

Let's love what we've been give with our whole mind, body and spirit. Then, let's take up our new tools and set out to explore the new world. We've just been given the keys - let's unlock the door!

It's ours for the taking if we would only take it.

That is, if we haven't been off stealing someone else's tools and going down their path. But, if that is the case, our tools will be waiting for us when we get back. Or new tools for a new path will arrive.

Whatever the case may be, the quicker we give back what doesn't belong to us and recognize what does, we can be on your way, galavanting in the direction of brand new experiences.

Adventures await us in all directions. Let's figure out whether we've been using the wrong tools, neglecting the tools we've been given, or if we failed to get rid the old.

Let's take a personal inventory. What's going on? Which tools are being used? Are they the right tools? How do they feel? Are we ready for new tools? Or, is this a period of grace?

These are questions that need to be answered honestly.

Let's let go of any thoughts that tell us to do something that we don't feel is right. Let's let go of the opinions of others. Let's call on our higher powers to guide and direct us in the direction of our dreams. We have all the tools we will ever need right here, right now, so long as we are flexible enough to recognize when to stop, let go and move on.

It's alright to stop a while and rest, if that's what we feel you need to do. The world will go on. We are allowed to give Atlas the world back and resume our unique roles as OURSELVES.

Let's be successful. Let's be flexible. Let's use our tools.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paula_D_Jones

The Law of Success: An Overview of Napoleon Hill's Lesson Eight

Lesson Eight in Napoleon Hill's book The Law of Success is entitled Habit of Doing More Than Paid For. Hill writes, "By establishing a reputation as being a person who always renders more service and better service than that which you are paid, you will benefit by comparison with those around you who do not render such service, and the contrast will be so noticeable that there will be keen competition for your services, no matter what your life-work may be."

If you are working in a profession in which you are passionate, you will find that you can work long hours without fatigue. On the other hand, if you dislike your work, you can become fatigued quickly. Working for someone you love can also ease fatigue. Quality and quantity of work increases if you love what you do, so finding your passion and pursuing it, is of utmost importance.

When you are doing the work you love, you experience the rewards of happiness, which is priceless and the reward of more money over time due to higher quality and quantity you produce because you do your work in the spirit of love.

By performing more and better service than you are paid, you develop your skills and abilities as well as an excellent reputation. If you happen to be in a work situation not to your liking, performing more than you are paid will likely enable you to remove yourself from that undesirable situation or station in life more quickly. You may receive recognition and promotion or additional more desirable opportunities due to your outstanding reputation.

Furthermore, by doing more than you are paid for, you will receive favorable attention during transactions creating a demand for your products or services. Eventually, your customers or employer come to feel that they cannot get along without you placing you in an advantageous position.

Hill states, "A single hour devoted each day to rendering service for which we are not paid, can be made to yield bigger returns than we received from the entire remainder of the day during which we are merely performing our duty."

Hill believes that you are creating a mountain that stands in the way of your ultimate success if you have the feeling that you have been cheated unless you receive material pay for all the service you perform. He suggests an experiment for six months of providing some useful service to at least one person each day and not expect or accept monetary payment from them. You will put yourself ahead in the world by first helping others to get ahead.

Ultimately, you profit the most from the effort of rendering more and better service than you are paid for. You will become a leader and you will become successful by developing leadership and may eventually be paid for more than you actually do! So remember that developing the habit of doing more than you are paid for is one of the 16 ingredients of success from the bookThe Law of Success.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lisa_Shultz

Uncover Why You Want It

I have been researching over 94 super achievers over the past five years. My research has led me to a number of very interesting hypotheses regarding the characteristics, personality traits, philosophies and behaviours, they all possess. My objective has been to try to understand why some people achieve greatness. Yet more talented people, with so much pent-up potential, just seem to keep spinning their wheels throughout their lives and never seem to achieve anything meaningful. My research, so far, has revealed some interesting results to me.

Characteristics common to Super Achievers

1. Vision
   Without exception, every one of them had a crystal clear picture of exactly what they want to achieve in the future and when asked to describe it, they passionately look up to the right and deliver a passionate, description, of this picture of possibility, as though they have already achieved it. There is not even a moment's pause, as they easily describe what they see in the future. Can you describe and articulate your vision as easily? If you are not clear on what you want, then the way your future will turn out, is out of your hands and will be left to the whims of the world and those around you. Do you want to surrender your future to chance and have no control over how things will turn out? Wrestle back control of your life right now, by clarifying the direction you want it to go by, describing your vision for the future.


2. Belief
   The second characteristic, which I observed in every super achiever, was an unwavering belief in their own ability to achieve their vision. When asked a series of questions about the possibility of living their vision. Without exception every one of them believed that they had what it took or they could acquire the knowledge or support they needed from someone who did. There was not a shadow of doubt in their minds that they would achieve their vision in the future. How do you feel about yourself? Do you have what it takes to achieve greatness or are you constantly engaged in negative self-talk, where you constantly doubt yourself and your abilities? Building belief is a process and is not something, which will happen in a day. If you get support to help you build your self-belief, self-esteem and are 100 % committed to your future success. You can gradually build your crucial self-belief, to a point where it will support you to achieve the picture of possibility, you have envisioned for the future.


3. Commitment to Life-Long learning
   As Jim Rohn said, "A formal education will get you a job, a commitment to lifelong learning, will make you a fortune" Without exception, every super achiever, I have researched was committed to their personal growth. They were almost like sponges, always looking for ways to grow and improve. They did not only read and/or listen to audio books, attend seminars etc. They were committed to grow every day, and it was so inspiring to be around them and to observe the hunger for knowledge. They were constantly asking questions, exploring, observing and consciously storing away any new lessons or experiences they had each day. How much time do you invest into your personal development every day? I cannot say when you will start to see remarkable results start to unfold in your life. But I can confidently say that if you invest a minimum of 2 hours a day into your personal development and growth, you will over time, exponentially increase your pace of progress and attract incredible levels of success to yourself.


4. Work Ethic
   Success in whatever form it may come is the result of consistent hard work, persistence and patience. Every one of the super achievers I have researched worked tirelessly every day on their success. Not one of them had any unique talent, unusual ability or social advantage. They were clear all just very clear on what they wanted, believed in their abilities, constantly worked to improve their knowledge, worked really hard and knew why they wanted to achieve greatness. How hard are you willing to work? Does the thought of giving up some of your leisure time scare you? If you want to achieve the meaning and fullfilment you have only dreamed about until now. Accept that it is going to require work, do the tough stuff daily and the doors of possibility burst open on a future of wonder. Commit to do what it takes, be clear about what and why you want, believe it is possible for you to achieve it and "NO-THING" is beyond the realm of possibility for you.


5. Why do you want it?
   All the super achievers also had absolute clarity about why they wanted to achieve their vision. The reasons ranged from significance, to legacy, to helping and supporting others, etc. All their reasons why they wanted to achieve greatness were focused on things greater than themselves. Yes, all of them at one stage or other had been driven by selfish, self-interest. But without exception, they all stated that, as soon as they changed their focus from self and instead focused on others or a reason greater than themselves, their whole world changed and greatness flowed in. What is your reason why you want to achieve anything meaningful with your life? Uncover your reason why and everything just gets easier. Even when the inevitable challenges do come your way, you will have the drive, passion and deep rooted inspiration, to support you to mitigate or overcome all of them.


6. Love What you do
   The other area where the super achievers really stood out, for me, was that they loved what they did. They woke up every day excited by the prospect of their day, anticipating the challenges and rewards it would bring. Do you love what you do, or are you waking up every day wondering how you will get through the day, week or year. Learn the art of loving what you do and you will have uncovered an incredible secret to success.

Example:

My Purpose and Vision

To live, to love, to be mega happy, consistently growing, helping millions of people invite similar levels of meaning and fullfilment into their own experience, for the greater good of all concerned.

Action Idea: Invest a little time today to think about all the above characteristics. Explore your own characteristics, to see how you can sculpture or mold your own so they can become more prevalent. You are a super achiever, the only person, who does not believe it is "YOU"

Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=A_Horton

Do I Have to Be Perfect to Be Successful?

Sometimes people wonder if they have to be perfect in order to be successful. Many of us carry with us a secret insecure side of us with painful scars from our past experiences. We 'fake it until we make it', so to speak, and just hope that nobody notices or ever sees us for who we really are.

The question is, who are you really? Are you your strengths and dreams; or are you your weaknesses and scars? I believe we are an extension of God energy, and only when we forget that fact, do we internalize negative experiences and make them part of us. Those are NOT who we are. Those are just things that happen in our around us. Things that we don't like, that do not make us feel happy. That is actually a good thing.

WHY? Because they show us vividly what we do not want. Only when we identify what does not feel good and what we do not want, can we begin for focus more strongly on what we DO want. In other words, you can't taste the sweet unless you've tasted the sour. What if we interpreted negative experiences (whether we feel they are our fault or not), as KEY indicators of what we do not want. Negative experiences are almost like a yellow traffic light saying slow down, pay attention, and don't keep moving in this direction. TURN to the left or right, but do not keep going forward in this direction.

I love the idea that our hurtful or painful experiences are here specifically to teach us, through our FEELINGS, about what we do not want. Only through feeling the negative can we say, NO, I don't like this or want this. I'm going to move in a different direction. I chose a new direction that feels good to me that leads me to a wonderful place full of health, wealth, and beautiful relationships. My past pain is not going to be my future, just because it feels familiar to me. That is NOT me.

That is something liberating. Talk about making lemonade out of lemons! Were you abandoned, neglected, or abused in your childhood? Did you like it? NO! Flashing yellow light! Now you know you will be double focused on being a devoted, loving, present parent that teaches your child a new way of living. Your children will grow up happy, secure, with their needs met. If you never say "NO, that wasn't right. I don't like that," then you will most likely repeat the painful pattern. Being a loving parent is your destiny. That's who you are!

Did you grow up without much money or stability? Good!Now you take very seriously the importance of working, of developing your skills, and living in abundance. Nothing will stop you or deter you from achieving your goals because you have been at the bottom and did not like it. So you are committed to being at the top! Living in abundance is your destiny. Thats' who you are!

Did you believe you had to be perfect to be successful? Did you learn through experience to get approval from others through your performance or attempted perfection? Were you afraid to let others down or lose their love and approval if you made a mistake? That hurts. And it is a prison of achievement with an insatiable monster eating up every accomplishment you dish up before you can even catch your breath and celebrate. Believe it or not, that's good too! Now you know that you can accomplish great things which drove you to success. But you now realize it takes the joy out of the accomplishment if you do it for someone else. It doesn't feel good when you say "tada," and wait for someone else to say great job. That's not you. That's the child in you.

Your destiny is to achieve your goals because you want to experience the joy of accomplishing them. Your destiny is to pursue your dreams so that your own adult life experience can be better with those results in it. Your destiny is to love, laugh, achieve, believe, and live each day for the joy of experiencing whatever it is that you want... just because you want it. If no one ever acknowledges anything you are doing, that's OK as long as you are feeling joy in the journey of it. It could be joy in the work or joy in the money you earn from it and what you can purchase afterwards. It doesn't matter.

Whatever and wherever your joy is, that's your destiny. That's who you are. And only you can define yourself by that and not let your negative 'guiding' experiences define you. They are just the yellow traffic lights telling you to move in another direction. Your life is the only place you get to be you, so enjoy it! And let the rest go.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ellen_Farquharson

Our Results Are Based On Our Perceptions

Nearly everyone claims that he wants to achieve to his potential, thus getting his desired results which he considers being a success. However, many of us often overlook the facts that we are the ones, that in the end result, are nearly always responsible for the results that occur. In fact, not only are our results based on our perceptions, but our perceptions are the first and primary determiner of our eventual results! Personal success means different things to different individuals, yet, regardless of what it means to each of us, it comes as a results of how we first conceive of ideas and attitudes, how we proceed to perceive of them, whether we actually believe (in our heart of hearts, not merely in our rhetoric), and then whether we propel ourselves forward by our persistence and perseverance which drives us to achieve. The second and closely related behavior which determine results is whether we proceed with a positive, neutral or negative attitude, visualization and belief.

1. The reality of results is that they are most closely related to the adage which states that whatever our mind conceives of, is able to perceive and believe, we will achieve. There can almost never be truly successful results without first believing we will both achieve what we want to, and that we deserve to achieve. Our personal attitude and self - image determines our actual self - confidence, which generally is one of the dominant determinants of desirable results. Many speak of positive attitudes, but few maintain a consistent focus and actually feel that they deserve to achieve greatness. Only when we decide that we will positively control our mindset and attitude will we be able to move forward toward great personal achievements.

2. While many discuss visualizing and its impact, they often neglect to realize that visualization may be either positive, neutral or negative in nature. How we see things creates our belief set, and obviously, this can either be meaningful or debilitating. Imagine how challenging things become when someone feels a paralysis of analysis, because these create a focus on fears and reasons why one will fail, rather than on ways to succeed. Only when we focus on ways to proceed rather than on reasons why something is impossible, can we possibly achieve what we desire to see as our results.

What is your mindset when you face challenges, perceive of obstacles, or are confronted by other individuals? These perceptions generally determine your results.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Brody

Embrace the Future to Succeed

Do you have a true desire to fail? You may ask, "What kind of question is that?" Many equate rejection and the word "no" from prospects as a personal failure. It becomes a strong negative and if you allow it, it will shut down your desire to succeed.

From the beginning of your journey to succeed, your attitude toward the word "no" "not interested" "I can't at this time" or whatever the rejecting phrases are, will determine your success. For starters, "Bring it on" is a great attitude. Embrace the rejection, because you are that much closer to the "yes!".

First, recognize that there will be rejection, don't avoid it. If you continue to have an intense desire to avoid rejection at all costs, you will fail in moving from the most basic level of your business success. Therefore, accept the "no's" and failures as a natural byproduct of success. It takes great endurance and time, but you can do it!

Over time, and after many "fails" or "no's", you will ultimately discover that it is possible to develop the desire to fail. Let me give you an example of how I learned the art of failing positively. I was a telemarketer for a major book company. We had to sell to librarians, the most difficult of people to sell to. I was given a sheet with rows of pictures of cherries. As I made the call, I either crossed off a cherry or circled it, depending on if I had success. I began to see that each crossed off Cherry got me closer to the circled one. I began to take on the challenge of rejection, knowing that success was just a few lines down or maybe right after the most recent crossed off cherry. I realized that persistence and patience was the key. Desiring to fail became a part of my attitude of success.

Second, realize that having a true desire to fail requires complete faith that personal and financial growth will follow. Keep persisting, and you will ascend to levels beyond your fondest expectations.

Third, learn to get through the "no's" or failures faster. The faster you get through the "fail cherries" the faster you will see success, and it success grows exponentially. If you maintain the rate of failure, then you will increase your rate of success.

Fourth, learn to love your failures along with your successes. Opposition is a good thing. If success was easy, you wouldn't appreciate it. Your reward is built upon opposition.

Finally, set realistic BIG goals. Break them down to the day to day. Give reason to the goal-who does it involve, what are the obstacles that could come along, how are you going to face the obstacles, when will you accomplish the goal. If you write only the BIG goal without reason, more than likely it will be an unrealistic goal. Review your plan often, adjust your course according to the failures and successes. Take action every day, no matter how small the task, to advance yourself toward your goals. Begin to embrace failure and enjoy the sound of "No".

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brad_Gillies

Optimism and Positive Thinking Are Essential Ingredients for Success

Life is a roller-coaster ride where a person has to deal with various shortcomings. It is basically a blend of anger, bitterness, coupled with sweet and sour feelings. But one must never let that get to them. Every day is a new learning experience and people come across various challenges that they have to face. However the challenges will seem easier when a person is optimistic about them. Positive thinking and optimism are both very powerful attributes that bring happiness, peace, satisfaction, good health and enhanced relationships to the person who lives it. Even though life might not be at its best sometimes, optimism gives you the strength to move effortlessly in everyday affairs.

Both positive and negative thoughts are infectious, but people with an optimistic attitude are more likely to better handle challenges than the pessimistic people because a negative mind will always make a path for unenthusiastic and undesirable moods and actions, which is certainly not pleasing. Optimism is basically a blend of three very important ingredients. The first one is faith in one's self and ones' own power to have a fruitful life. The second, is to always have positive thoughts, as negativity is unrewarding, and the third one is that positivity is permanent in life while negativity is temporary and may cause major losses. Actions are always the outcome of one's thinking.

If the thinking of a person is negative, the result will obviously be negative and various studies have shown that being negative makes a person unhealthy as it leads to depression, anxiety and stress. It can also shorten the person's life, whereas those who are optimistic are known to live healthier and longer lives. A positive attitude will also be helpful for someone recovering from an ailment due to their uplifting spirit.

Most of the people get negative vibes because of what they have dealt with in the past. But, one must always know that the past is history, and it's never too late to make a new beginning. It might not be as easy as it sounds, but one can try to make their present and future better instead of worrying about what has already been done. You cannot change what has happened but you can put in efforts to mend what is current. Every difficulty a person comes across must be taken as a challenge and resolve to face it fearlessly.

Opportunities do not come knocking to everybody, but if they do, give it your best to prove to yourself that you're capable of accomplishing your goals and that you can fight for what you deserve. Eating healthy, spending time with family, and getting enough sleep contribute to a good and positive lifestyle. Optimism is important for everyone. Always remember that nothing is possible without confidence and hope. When a person is happy and content with what he or she has, positive thinking comes naturally.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ben_R._Wilkie