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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 possiblity 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.