Success: (noun) The accomplishment of an aim or purpose.
When it’s written plainly, success seems to be quite a simple concept, doesn’t it? Yet the idea of success can represent many things to different people; whether it’s sealing a £1 million deal, getting a new job or even reaching personal goal.
The tricky part is getting there. There are endless books, websites, seminars and inspirational speakers that claim to tell you about ‘The Recipe for Success’, but does one really exist?
In truth, success, and how to get there, depends on the individual and the circumstance. What works for someone looking to start up a luxury hotel chain, won’t necessarily work for someone wanting to complete a degree in Neuroscience. What helps a super driven salesperson to hit their monthly targets, won’t always be useful to an ambitious stay-at-home parent looking to start an online business.
That being said, there are a few core principles that might help you get started. To give yourself a good shot at being successful you first need to:
Although there may not be a guaranteed formula for success, there are plenty of people who have achieved it. Following in their footsteps may be a little more likely if you also follow their advice.
“If you want something you have never had, you must be willing to do something you have never done.” – Thomas Jefferson
The Comfort Zone. It’s all in the name really, it’s comfortable, so that’s where most people remain and they never stray. Success is not born from doing the same things, doing what’s ‘safe’ or sticking to the ‘known’. Strap yourself in, because if you want to be successful you’ve got to take that trip out of your comfort zone and it might be a bumpy ride.
“I never dreamed about success. I worked for it.” – Estée Lauder
It isn’t easy – fact. However, because success doesn’t just land in your lap makes it all the more satisfying when you achieve it. If you’re truly serious about reaching your goals, you need to work for them. Hard. Only you can drive you; push yourself to seize every opportunity possible to get one step closer to success.
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill
It’s always important to keep sight of what you want. If you get where you want to be – great! But remember, this isn’t the time to be complacent. You have to work hard to be successful, true, but you also have to work to maintain your success. If you have sadly failed at reaching your goals, it really isn’t the end of the world – you’re only human. What defines a successful person is whether or not they are willing to dust themselves off and keep trying. Just because you didn’t get there this time doesn’t mean it will never happen, so keep up the hard work and don’t stop trying.
Below is an infographic full of sound advice from successful people who are the ‘rock stars’ of the entrepreneurial world.
You may not recognise every name on the list, but they are names you definitely need to remember in your quest for success. Including:
Reaching success seems to be black and white – you either succeed or you fail. So, what does it take to win?
Following the tips from these entrepreneurs is a good place to start:
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