Success principles
January

Success principles  January

 
 
 

‘Action is the foundational key to all success’

Pablo Picasso

 
 
 
 
 
#1
Take 100% responsibility for your life

You are totally responsible for your life. This is the first success principle to embrace if you plan for happiness and success. Get out of the ‘it is not my fault’ and ‘I can do nothing about it’-zone. Don’t play the victim any longer and take responsibility for your life. Stop all the excuses! You will feel joy and in control of circumstances.

 
#2
Don’t talk. Act!

‘Action is the foundational key to all success’ [Pablo Picasso]
Anyone can share opinions. An opinion is cheap and quickly forgotten. What you say isn’t interesting, what you do is! Spend your life doing instead of talking. Actions speak so much louder than words. And once you take action, cool things will happen!

 
#3
Get over yourself!

Most of the time in personal and professional life you avoid all possibility of failure. You feel compelled to maintain your all-knowing, all-achieving image. Stop trying to be perfect! Make mistakes. Hang yourself out there. Try! Chances are you’ll succeed! And when you fail: fail graciously.

 
#4
Start each day with expectation

If there’s any big truth about life, it’s that it usually lives up to [or down to] your expectations. Therefore, when you rise from bed, make your first thought: ‘Something wonderful is going to happen today.’ And guess what? You’re probably right.

 
#5
End each day with gratitude

Just before you go to bed, write down at least one wonderful thing that happened. It might be something as small as a making a child laugh or something as huge as a million dollar deal. Whatever it is, be grateful for that day because it will never come again.

 
#6
Get rid of plan B

Back-up plans can help you sleep easier at night. Plan B can also create an easy out when times get tough. You’ll show a lot more commitment if your primary plan simply has to work because there is no other option. And total commitment, without a safety net, will spur you harder than you ever imagined possible.

 
#7
Do the work

You can be quite good with a little effort. You can be really good with a little more effort. And you can be great if you put in an incredible amount of focused effort. There are no shortcuts. There are no overnight successes. Everyone has heard about the 10,000 hours principle but no one follows it… except remarkably successful people!

 
#8
…and work a lot more

Every extremely successful person works more hours than the average person. A lot more. They have long lists of things they want to get done. So they have to put in lots of time. Better yet, they want to put in lots of time. If you don’t embrace a workload others would consider crazy then your goal doesn’t mean that much to you–or it’s not particularly difficult to achieve. Either way you won’t be remarkably successful.

 
#9
Avoid the crowds

Conventional wisdom only gives conventional results. Joining the crowd [no matter how hip the crowd is] is a recipe for mediocrity. Remarkably successful people do what other people won’t do. They go where others won’t go. Because there’s a lot less competition and a much greater chance for success.

 
#10
Start at the end…

Average success is often based on setting average goals. Decide what you really want: to be the best, the fastest, the cheapest, the biggest, whatever. Aim for the ultimate. Decide where you want to end up. That is your goal. Then you can work backwards and lay out every step along the way. Never start small where goals are concerned.

 
#11
… and don’t stop at the end

Achieving a goal, no matter how big, is not the finish line. Achieving one huge goal just creates a launching pad for achieving another huge goal. The process of becoming successful in one field will give you the skills and network to be remarkably successful in many other fields. Don’t try to win just one race. Expect and plan to win a number of subsequent races.

 

#12

Sell!
Selling is the foundation of business and personal success: knowing how to negotiate, to deal with “no,” to maintain confidence and self-esteem in the face of rejection, to communicate effectively with a wide range of people, to build long-term relationships… And when you truly believe in your idea, or your company, or yourself then you don’t need to have a huge ego or a huge personality. You don’t need to “sell.” You just need to communicate.

 
#13
Stop wasting your life online

Wasting time on Facebook. Playing with apps. Emailing and texting. Buying every stupid little gadget ever imagined. Quit doing all! You’ll have more time then you ever dreamed of to actually get things done.

 
#14
Stop lookin for a winning lottery ticket

If you’re after an easy way out, a quick fix, a silver bullet, an overnight viral success… You won’t find it. Ever. That’s just not how this sort of thing works.

 
#15
Never be too proud

To admit that you made a mistake. To say you are sorry. To have big dreams. To admit you owe your success to others. To ask for help. To fail. And to try again.

 
#16
Always tell the truth!

The truth often comes out whether you want it to or not.  It is much better to just develop the habit of telling the truth. Even when it is difficult.  This will save you a lot of heartache and misery in life.

 
#17
Strive for excellence

Excellence exceeds people’s expectations. In a world of mediocrity, excellence makes you stand out in the crowd. Why do a job if you aren’t going to do it right? Excellence should be the standard you strive for in all you do.

 
#18
Live the ‘Golden Rule’

‘Do unto others…’ is a guideline you should follow always. Think of the conflict and tragedy that could have been avoided if people simply applied the Golden Rule. If we all make this a habit, then we will find a lot more success in life. Respecting people of all races and beliefs is living life to the fullest.

 
#19
Practice good hygiene

Habits like brushing your teeth twice a day and washing your hands regularly not only contribute to health, but also lead to routines that will give you a sharper appearance. First impressions are powerful and are mostly derived from the way a person looks. Like it or not this is true. Start today to ensure you do what it takes to leave a lasting good impression. Dress for success!

 
#20
Never give up!

‘Winners never quit and quitters never win’ ~Vince Lombardi
It takes perseverance to enjoy any kind of success. The good news is: perseverance is a habit. One that can be developed just like any other.

 
#21
Ask for what you want
Develop the habit of asking for what you want. How else are you going to get it? It is really that simple. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you get exactly what you wanted if you just ask. Give it a try! This is truly a behavior you want to come naturally. It builds confidence and self-esteem.

 
#22
Be punctual

80% of success is showing up. On time! Arriving on time is important to your success. It is an indicator of whether you mean what you say and can be trusted. People always notice when you are late. Showing up on time is a habit that will serve you well in all areas of your life.

 
#23
Be a regular reader

Reading has numerous benefits. It builds your vocabulary, expands the imagination, and rekindles creativity. Make reading a daily routine!

 
#24
Develop adaptability

If you want to succeed, then you must be able to adapt. You are going to need to change, there is no way around it. You need to grow, innovate and evolve in business and in life. The world is not stagnate so, if you are, then you are being left behind. Embrace change. Be change.

 
#25
Stay positive and optimistic

The importance of making optimism a habit cannot be overstated. Your thoughts are the seeds from which everything else in your life grows. You can’t plant one thing and expect to harvest another. It just doesn’t work that way. Those that enjoy the most success in life understand this clearly.

 
#26
Think long term

Most failures are a result of wanting and expecting too much, too soon. You just can’t rush life. Those with greater self-control and the ability to put off immediate gratification are more likely to succeed. Make long-term thinking a habit and you will come out well ahead.

 
#27
Get along with others

Life is not a solo sport. If you want to enjoy the best life possible, then you need to learn to get along with a wide-range of people. Connectors, communicators and collaborators produce tremendous results.

 
#28
Love

We all need love. The thing is, we have to give love in order to receive it. If you want the very best life possible, then love people. Love people in general. With your whole heart. This will make your life happier overall and that’s what counts.

 
#29
Get some rest

A basic need that continually gets ignored. You simply cannot perform at your best if you don’t get adequate rest. Eventually this bad habit will catch up with you. Develop better sleep habits before you crash!

 
#30
Get your mind out of ‘neutral’

If you aren’t experiencing the positive life that you want, then it is probably because you are on autopilot. The world is full of opportunity and adventure! Shake things up a little. Get yourself out of the rut and make a positive choice to pursue your dreams!

 
#31
Enthusiasm is contageous

Be enthusiastic about what you are doing. Enthusiasm creates results that can transform any situation into something better. Use enthusiasm to lift the energy of everyone around you to a whole new level. Because energy is magnetic! You can be mild and mediocre or enthusiastic and remarkable! Which one will you choose?

 
 
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