Our bookshelves are lined with habits that successful people
do on a daily basis. We read about them and implement them into our routines
and practices. Quite often these practices improve our productivity and make
our lives better as a result. But that’s not what this article is about. It’s
not about what successful people do, but what they did.
Here’s a brief study of 10 things that these hungry and
unstoppable people did to see the success they all eventually achieved.
The 10 Things Successful People Live By Before They Make It
1. They didn’t use excuses.
We all have two voices. There’s the voice that tells us to
work hard, to focus on the task at hand and to finish it before we move on to
the next. And to finish it well.
We also have the voice that tells us to take a break, to
think about what’s on TV, or to visit a site that we like to visit that
entertains us – whether it’s ESPN.com or facebook.
In life we’re the victim of injustice from time to time. It
could be a promotion that we deserve but don’t get. No matter who we are, we’re
going to be treated unfairly at some point. We can either feel sorry for
ourselves, or push forward and put it behind us – even use it as motivation.
Nelson Mandela could have used his unjust imprisonment as an
excuse to give into his anger. Instead, he used it as an opportunity to learn,
grow, and eventually free others.
Listen to your excuses. Understand why you have them. Then
figure out how you can use them for good.
2. It wasn’t just about them.
‘Things’ can be a motivator, they can even be a reward, but
they can’t be the motivator. The truly successful in life always get there
because they created change in the lives of others, not just their own.
If something drives you that is greater than just the
‘ends’, we’re going to work harder, longer, and we’re going to give more of
ourselves to our project.
Yes we can make money when we have the primary goal of
making money. Some might even use that money for good – which is awesome. But
there’s no fulfillment in simply making money. And isn’t that the point?
3. Early mornings and late nights.
People who have achieved true success in their lives have
worked for it.
This might come at the detriment of other areas of their
lives, such as family or social life. But their mission is first and foremost.
Until it’s complete, everything else comes second.
There’s literally no substitute for hard work. Abraham
Lincoln said, “Things may come to those who wait… but only the things left by
those who hustle.” If you want to be successful, you’re going to have to out
hustle everyone else.
4. The greatest commodity.
Energy is a huge commodity that is often not talked about.
Yes, energy in the sense of fuel and electricity is talked about everywhere,
but I’m talking about our own energy levels.
The fact is that the more energy we have, the easier it is
to focus, and the higher the quality of our work is.
One of Richard Branson‘s ‘key’s to success’ is staying in
great physical shape. So would raised energy levels be the greatest benefit to
working out? It may be.
Keeping physically fit gives us greater blood-flow to our
brain, enhanced alertness and improved focus. Make training a routine part of
your life and increase your chances at success – in every meaning of the word.
5. Principles.
History will be kind to me. For I intend to write it.
Winston Churchill had principles. The difference between him
and the rest of us, is that he stuck to his principles at all costs. He didn’t
waver when they weren’t popular – an extreme rarity in politics.
What are your principles? All of us should have them, know
what they are, and live our lives bythem.
One of Apple’s principles is to bring change to the world
through technology, and they do it with every product they release.
Identify what principles you have that guide your life
through tough times, and when things couldn’t be any better. They shouldn’t
change, and at your core, neither should you.
6. Wavering, yet unbreakable faith.
We all have moments of doubt. Even the best of us question
if our dream is going to come true. The one thing that separates the truly
successful from those who never reach their true potential is an unbreakable
faith in the fact that what they’re doing is right.
Even if they have moments of doubt, they’re soon quelled,
where other’s listen to that doubt and let it eat them up and finally they
quit.
Have your moments of doubt. You’re human. Just don’t let
that doubt eat you up. Instead let it motivate you to prove your optimism
right.
7. A reason.
Many of the greatest accomplishments in the world were
accomplished by insecure men and women, people who had something to prove to
others. A desire to elevate their status and create change that was so strong,
that failure is simply never and option.
Abraham Lincoln‘s reason(s) had to do a lot with his view of
himself in relation to how other’s viewed him. Where others saw a poor,
illiterate boy, Lincoln saw someone capable of achieving more, even if he had
to do it completely on his own. He also saw the need for change. A nation that
preached freedom wasn’t free. He saw something fundamentally wrong with this
and set out to change it. His why wasn’t about him. Which in turn made him one
of history’s great men.
Understand why. You have that reason to work when others
sleep, to sacrifice a safe life for a risky one with no ceiling. Find it by
asking why, and not stopping until you hit your core, emotional reason for
wanting to change your status, or the status of others.
8. They persevered when others didn’t.
How does the guy who quit on his dream know how long it
would’ve taken him to become a success? He doesn’t. None of us do. It could be
tomorrow, or ten years from now.
What separates a lot of the great people we read about in
our history books from those we’ve never heard of is the fact that they never
quit. Quitting was never an option. They only stopped when they reached their
dream. And even then, they created a new mission.
Take James J. Braddock, or even Nelson Mandela, for example.
They didn’t achieve their greatness or success early on in their careers or in
life like some. They achieved it after surviving. They survived while others
literally died, or quit. In their cases it wasn’t just that they were the best,
but they were the best because of what they endured. They were the last one’s
standing.
We don’t know when our breakthrough will come. So don’t
guarantee your failure by quitting. You can adapt, change, and evolve, but
never, never, never quit.
9. Great people relentlessly studied their craft.
Tony Gwynn and Mike Tyson studied their craft as much as
anyone. Gwynn spent hours upon hours studying opposing pitchers. He studied
their patterns. He wasn’t the most athletic guy around, but he put his work in
to be the best at what he did: hit baseballs.
When people think of Tyson, they think of an animal, but
what we fail to see is the student. No one studied boxing like Tyson did.
Watched more film than anyone in the history of the sport. He was a student
first, a fighter second.
These great athletes studied film, but how can we perfect
our craft?
Using myself as an example; much of my job has to do with
writing, and obviously fitness. So, I study those two things. I read books
about how to become a better writer, ways to connect with the reader, and I
simply read great books written by authors who are much better at writing than
I am. If you’re in sales, read and study sales. If you’re a marketer, then do
the same with marketing.
Being a drone that simply goes through the motions is no way
to achieve greatness. Assuming success is something you want, you have to study
your craft, whatever it may be. Learn it inside and out. Build a wealth of
knowledge. It’ll help you create great, inspiring, and unique work.
10. Risk.
No risk, no reward. Yes it’s an over-used, cliché of a
phrase. But it’s true. Those who have achieved real success have often risked
the most to get there.
There have been billions of people throughout history who
have had the ability to achieve greatness, whether it was the talent or smarts,
they had it. What they didn’t have was the guts to risk the life that they were
living. They also didn’t have the work ethic to see their talent realized.
The greatest tragedy in life is wasted talent ~ A Bronx Tale
Your big, audacious dream might be to marry the girl of your
dreams and have a family with her. You risk might be to leave the career that
you love in order to support her and your family. Your dream might be to help
millions live longer, healthier lives. Whatever your dream is, give it enough
of a chance to be realized.
Risk if you truly want to see the reward.
Find your dream. Then risk everything to get it.
Credits : addicted2success
