1. Plan, Plan, Plan!
One of the most difficult things to do is to anticipate the future. Answering questions about where you will be in 5 years, 10 years, or 20 years can seem daunting and outright impossible to answer with certainty; however, individuals who are successful spend quality time examining their goals and creating plans to see those goals come to life. Successful people are people who are consistently setting goals and taking steps to ensure that they accomplish them.
First Step: Get in the habit today of setting goals and reaching them and you will see your dreams become reality. If 5 years seem too far into the future, set goals for what you plan to accomplish next week or even tomorrow.
2. Pay It Back
One thing is true of everyone who is successful: They didn’t achieve success alone. The road to success is paved with the advice, counsel, and mentorship of others who believe in your dream and your ability to achieve it. Taking the time to show gratitude to those who have helped you and investing in the lives of others is a way of giving back what you have received.
First Step: One of the ways that you can give back to others is by providing counsel or even mentoring someone who is looking for help in their lives. A true marker of success is one’s willingness to share it with others.
3. Embrace Change
There are few things constant in the world; Change is one of those things. Every day we are met with different challenges, situations, people and environments. The difference between those who succeed and those who don’t is how the individual accepts and embraces change as reality.
First Step: Try to anticipate change. Wake up in the morning expecting that something that day will not go as planned and resolve that when that happens you will acknowledge it. When you’re met with unexpected change, step back and dissect what’s happening. Acknowledge that the situation is unexpected and think of some possible ways that you can address it in a way that is considerate, effective and productive. Embrace it and you will embrace success.
4. Learn to Cope with Failure
In the digital age of Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, we are all putting our best foot forward to present the best of ourselves. Rarely does this include our failures and yet the most successful individuals consistently refer to their failures as being the catalyst to their success.
First Step: In order to be successful, you must not downplay or underestimate the importance of failures. Failures cement the importance of our dreams and goals to us and help us to recalibrate our expectations. Our dreams often give way to big disappointment, not because we are not succeeding but because we had expectations that were too high.
5. There is No I in Team
Teamwork is an integral part of success. There are few sports that are not team sports and even individual athletes have coaches. Why? Because no one can do it alone. There is value in being able to get the perspectives and insights of others. Working with others helps us to open our eyes and minds to new ideas, strategies, processes and definitions of success.
First Step: Successful people value the input of others and foster an environment that promotes working together. Success is a team effort. There is no success if there is no teamwork.
6. Never Stop Learning
Successful people commit themselves to constantly learning. No matter how smart you are there are things you do not know. Dedicate yourself to reading and researching new trends and developments in the industry you are looking to be successful in. If you desire to be successful in something you must become knowledgeable.
First Step: The library is a wonderful resource! There are books that not only document the players in your industry currently, but the players and success stories in the past. Commit yourself to learning more and you will succeed.
7. Enjoy the Journey
As you strive for success, you will be tempted to constantly pursue and push for your dreams. Though drive is important, never forget to enjoy the journey. Being appreciative and content at each stage of your journey makes it possible for you to learn lessons that will help you in the future. You also get the chance to bask in the successes that you already have and look forward ones you hope to achieve in the future. Enjoying your journey makes your success yours.
First Step: Watch you and your dreams grow and once you achieve them, you get to enjoying pursuing more.
