Everyone wants to be successful. Who doesn’t?
Whether it is having the career you want, the family life you have always envisioned, the business you’ve always dreamed of, the physique you’ve always wanted… even little successes like perfecting a dish, or passing the school exams (here are top 10 tips to manage exam stress successfully)—there is fulfillment in reaching what you set out to achieve, no matter how big or small.
We all know someone we consider successful in various aspects of their life. For us, they stand out because they are consistently successful at what they do.
You can join that club, too. It is possible to achieve a success story of your own.
How do you do it?
First, intend to succeed. I always tell my coaching clients that a determined soul is like a whirlwind—impossible to stop. There is nothing as powerful as having the willingness to succeed. When you set your mind on a goal, you are setting the motion for success to come.
De-clutter your mind. Often, we allow ourselves to be swept away by a tide of worries and unnecessary thoughts that create a lot of anxiety and stress. This disrupts efforts and energy that we could have spent working on a success plan. So sweep away the clutter.
Pursue realistic targets within an achievable time limit. How do you know if your goal is realistic? Ask yourself: How can I accomplish this goal? Next, be specific about your goal. Goals like "I want to be rich" can be too broad. Perhaps you might want to start with “I want to make some money”. Having a specific goal allows you to concentrate on your target, which means you have a better chance of achieving it so that you can move on to the next one.
Be productive. Any goal is just a goal if you don’t put some muscle on it. Take action. Make things happen. You can not make any real progress unless you take action. And when you do, focus on being productive. It is not the amount of work you have accomplished that matters, but the quality of the results. As the saying goes, “work smarter, not harder”.
Simplify. In life, we tend to overcomplicate things. Identify what is most important to you and build your goals around that. Make a list of the things that matter to you. Eliminate what does not help you and put first things first.
Have a winning attitude. Be thankful for the people, opportunities and circumstances in your life. They are there for a reason. The bad ones serve to toughen you while the good ones serve to inspire you. Don’t forget to reward yourself for a job well done. This will keep you motivated to stay on track. If something goes wrong, don’t sweat it. Evaluate the situation, learn from the mistake and start again.
Never make a decision when you are emotional. We are in danger of making wrong moves when we make emotional decisions. That is because we use emotions instead of reason in making those decisions. When you are upset, excited or angry, do not make any life-changing decisions.
Make continuous improvements. Break down goals into manageable tasks so that it is easier for you to work on them. Small successes also give you the momentum you need to slowly but surely reach the level of success you want. Stay persistent and consistent.
Successful people know how to take care of their health. As the saying goes, health is wealth. It is easier to accomplish your goals and enjoy life when your mind and body are in harmony. So eat right, exercise often and have enough sleep to give your mind and body renewed energy to face another day.
Finally, don’t forget to have a balanced lifestyle. You miss out on your full potential if aspects of your life are not in balance. You could have a great work life but have no social life, or have a great social life but have poor family life. Don't let one area take all your time and energy because in the long run, this will only make you feel stressed and frustrated. Balance your life and set success in motion.
