What It Takes To Be Successful

Deep down inside I don't think anyone wants to be a failure or live a
 sub-par life. But I have found many people just give up on the idea of being successful, and I know success is relative to each individual, but most have given up on their own idea of success as well.

I have studied, interviewed and talk with some highly successful people, and there is always a few common threads that run through these individuals.

I was told long time ago that success is like a combination lock, and if you put the numbers in the right sequence, the lock will open for you, no matter who you are. So what have I found out about successful people that make us admire them. These ideas are going to be so common, you will be tempted to say, I have heard that before. But it's not what you have heard before; it's about what are you doing with what you have heard. How committed are you to doing what you have heard?

Here is what I have learned:

THEY DREAM BIGGER THAN THEIR ENVIRONMENT

Whether it's Martin Luther King Jr. dreaming of a better society or Mother Teresa believing that she could change a child's life one at a time, the dream on the inside of them was bigger than the environment they were in. Successful people just refuse to believe that the task is too great. The dream on the inside of them will not allow them to give up.

THEIR ATTITUDE IS ALWAYS POSITIVE

Their circumstances may not always be positive, but they have the ability to remain positive. Nelson Mandela's ability to stay positive and hopeful, and not become bitter after spending 27 years in prison, allowed him to be elected President of South Africa. Successful individuals know that becoming negative will not serve them well, so they focus on the positives of every situation.

THEY LISTEN TO THE CRITICS

Lebron James was blasted and left for dead when the Miami Heat didn't when the NBA championship the first year after he was traded from Cleveland. Although it was a painful experience, Lebron took the time to listen to what people were saying, some of it was true, some of it was not. He listened for what was true in the criticism, and went to work. He heard the critics say his low post game was weak, so he met with and learned from the great Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon.  The result was a better low post game and a much improved Lebron. Successful people are interested in improving, not staying the same, even if the help comes through criticism.

THEY REFUSE TO STOP

Hard, difficult, tired, disappointed are not words for quitting to highly successful people. It's just a part of the process. I haven't met  one person that has had an easy cake walk to success. It has taken years, blood, sweat, sleepless nights and everything under the sun for them to achieve success. The question always remains, how bad do you want it, successful people have made up in their minds, that it is wort

THEY KNOW THEY CAN'T DO IT ALONE

Successful people understand that it takes team work to make the dream work. Even if the team has to change many times, they never give up on working with people. They don't develop a me against the world attitude. They learn and move on when one relationship doesn't work out.

These traits are going to be critical to you achieving the success you desire. So dream big, never give up, surround yourself with great people, learn from weaknesses and mistakes and maintain a positive attitude always.



Dr. Will
Author, Genius Potential
America's #1 Leadership Life Trainer

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