There's been so much written about the "secret" this or the "hidden" that. All of these books and articles about the keys to success tend to cause most people to wonder how mankind has survived the past few millennia.
You've heard about how so many bits of knowledge have been hidden from the masses over the centuries. You've heard that there's a specific secret that only a select few have been authorized to acquire. They have the hidden codes to unlock and solve the mysteries that billions of people throughout time have sought.
Well, I'm here to tell you that these so-called secrets and hidden codes aren't hidden at all. The real secret to the amazing success of a small minority of the world's population has been in plain sight for eons. There have been hundreds of books and articles written about it. When asked, many of the truly successful have openly exposed the secret to their success to anyone wishing to simply touch the talisman that would bring them the success that they seek.
I have found that the sip from the holy grail of success that everyone is looking for is this -
PERSISTENCE!
It's this quality that everyone has at birth, but as time goes on, and life throws the obstacles directly onto our paths, the vast majority of people wear down, tire out, and stop their forward progress. They put their big plans and ideas away in the closet of their minds and settle for the more mundane life of everyone around them. They settle for making a living to keep a roof over their heads and food in their stomachs. Every once in a while, they may take a nice trip out of their local areas for an all too brief vacation.
Don't get me wrong. There's absolutely nothing wrong with being self sufficient. I applaud those that go out daily and take care of their households by honest effort. Far too many able-bodied individuals have decided that the gravy train of government sponsored income is the way to live. "Let someone else pay for my needs. I'm perfectly content living the life of a parasite."
In the next day or two, take the time to do an experiment. Ask those that you know over the age of 40 (if you're one of the "young and swingin'" over 40, you count!) if they could do any job in the world, what would it be? Ask them what they thought their life's occupation would be when they were 12 years old. I'd make a small wager that over 90% of those you ask will say a job that they're not currently doing.
The reasons for their course change will vary, but at the root will be the lack of persistence. They gave up on achieving the career that would bring them child-like joy through their adult lives because they quit taking the actions to get there. When the going got tough, they said "Forget it! I'll settle for a life here. It's gotta be better than this!"
They were right. It is better to stop short... as long as you can live with your thoughts of what could have been for the next 40 - 60 years.
So how do you avoid settling for the "okay" life of the majority? You start your journey today to pursue your happiness with dogged determination. You can build the momentum you'll need if you -
- Find your passion - When you were in your youth, what did you do with little or no effort? When you were in school or college, what classes did you take that you found particularly interesting? What talents have you found by pursuing your hobbies? What makes you feel good when you're taking part in it? Your level of passion is critical to maintain the drive you'll need to keep moving forward.
- Do your research - Once you find your passion, look into ways others have begun to make money doing something similar. You may find that your hobby has a devoted following that's willing to pay you for something you'd do for free.
- Renew your desire and stoke it to a blazing level - You can do this by taking two to five minute "thought breaks" at least three times each day. During these breaks, put yourself in your new career or position. Imagine that you're already there and doing the job you love. Visualize your office, stage, gallery, workshop, etc. with you there thoroughly enjoying what you do. If you're feeling really good after your thought break, then you're doing what you need to do to keep build your desire into the fire of obsession.
- Plan your path - I don't know of anyone that achieved any level of success in their desired field that didn't have a plan of the path that they'd take to get there. At the very least, they knew where they wanted to go. The plan you develop will keep your destination in sight when life places the inevitable obstacles and detours in front of you.
- Do the steps in your plan - This is the big step for everyone. It's great to fantasize about what you really want to do, but it's the actual taking of steps toward your goal that make your dreams reality. One thing is certain; you have no chance of reaching the end of your journey if you don't take the first, or subsequent, steps.
- Don't make mountains out of molehills - Life happens and unforeseen events come to all of us. While they may not be pleasant, you'll survive these as you have done all of your life. Don't fall into the trap of making an issue bigger than it really is. It's an event, not a death sentence. The magnitude you place on these less than ideal events of your life are inversely proportional to your success.
- Take a step forward each day - This is especially true if it seems that you're taking two steps back. The true test of your dedication will be how many times will you take even a small step forward each day. If all you can muster is reading a page of an uplifting book or a biography of someone you admire, then do it. Can you make another phone call or knock on another door even though you've done these same actions 100 times?
There isn't a person alive that hasn't had to overcome distresses in their lives. Those that achieve success take the hits, get back up, and continue on their journeys. Their secret is that they've persisted in taking the steps in their plans until they reached the level of success that they desired. They've built, and maintained, their stamina by building their desires to a level where the flame couldn't be extinguished.
After a while, life gives way to those that keep going. That's the "secret" to your success that's been right in front of you... if you keep moving toward it.
Persistence - make it a habit.
Do you hate your job? Are you ready to make a change in your career, either moving up in your current company, or to a new company? Do you want to work in an entirely new position or a new field? Leon R. Scott is a Certified Master Life Coach specializing in Career Transitions for veterans, upwardly mobile employees, and those wanting to change career paths.
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