As long-time subscribers know, I am passionate about helping
people create the lives they truly want. I am not
necessarily concerned that we all get rich or drive fancy
cars, because we each have our own definitions of success.
(Think how crowded it would be if we all lived on the same
beach!)
But I am passionate about developing tools and systems that
empower thousands of people to enjoy the life they truly
want. Obviously, a tough economy may make success more
difficult, but that only emphasizes the need for smart
strategies and elegant solutions. Even in tough times, some
people achieve magnificent outcomes! And so can you.
Very few people define success in terms that are rare or
wildly unusual. Most of us define success in terms that are
recognizable to thousands of our friends and neighbors. We
want healthy families and enough money to be comfortable and
secure. We want to travel or perhaps have a second home in
the country. We want happiness, security, and peace of mind.
Some people define success as having their own business, or
leaving a legacy.
But, and this is vital, most of us want things that other
people have achieved before! And if they have already done
it, we can learn from them, copy their methods, and achieve
similar results.
Most of us want the kinds of success that thousands of other
people have already achieved, and we are working really,
really hard, and yet too many of us are no closer to "the
good life" today than we were a year ago. That is terribly
frustrating and unacceptable!
In most cases, the problem is that we are not using smart
strategies. We are working very hard, but not making
progress. Many of us are wasting our time, talent and energy
on things of secondary importance. We are not focused and we
are not getting the results we deserve. We can do better!
Highly successful people work from a "play book." They begin
by clarifying precisely what they want. Then they study the
problems, get good advice, and develop a plan. They create a
road-map, and follow it to their ultimate goal. They have a
budget, a schedule, good teachers (or coaches) and support
people. They know what their most important tasks are, what
they will focus on next week, and (assuming there are no
major revisions) they can tell you where they will be a year
from now.
If your definition of "the good life" is something other
people have already achieved, and you are not making
adequate progress, I encourage you to review and (if
necessary) revise your strategies.
Highly successful people do certain things, and for the most
part, they are simple, ordinary things that we can all copy.
Here's a short list:
1. They have the courage to choose specific, concrete
goals. They know they cannot do everything, so they make
choices. If necessary, hard choices.
2. They focus on personal development first, external
achievement second. They know that to have more, they must
first become more.
3. They learn from experts. They study and use techniques
that have worked for others, even if at first they seem
expensive or uncomfortable.
4. They take time to plan and they follow their plan to
completion. They are focused, disciplined and determined. If
they aren't getting the results they anticipated, they
devise a better plan.
5. They work hard at working smart. They are not easily
distracted and they never give up.
We live in the most amazing time in history, when you can
achieve pretty much anything you want. The major requirement
is that you have a good plan and be willing to pay the
price. If you are not making the progress you desire,
double-check the quality of your planning. Get expert
advice. Invest in training. Get a coach. And then persist
until you reach your goal.
Quotes of the Week
"Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of
things which matter least." -- Goethe
"Two little words that can make the difference: START NOW." -- Mary C. Crowley
"The reason so many people never get anywhere in life is
because when opportunity knocks, they are out in the
backyard looking for four-leaf clovers." -- Walter Chrysler
"What gets measured, gets done." -- Edward Deming
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