Why is it that some people are more successful than others? What are their secrets of success? The answer is simple. They consistently work on a few core success principles throughout their lives that lead them to success. And the best part is anyone can immediately apply these principles in their life. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist, work yourself to the bone or have a stash of cash to do it.
In this post, I share the top 3 secrets of success that will give you the everything you need to achieve what you want in life. Master these and you too can become highly successful.
Secrets of Success #1
Master goal setting with a plan of action
Goal setting will do more to help you achieve the things you want in life than anything else. However, it is one of the most under utilized tools available to anyone and everyone. Numerous studies have shown that only 3% of the population have goals and only 1% write them down. Yet, it is the most important skill that you can learn.
The most successful people in the world are strongly goal oriented. They spend time writing down clear and specific goals with an organized plan of action that they work on daily. So if you have lofty dreams, becoming an expert in goal setting and goal planning is definitely something you want to master.
Related: The Importance Of Goal Setting (FREE PLANNER)
So why do so few people set goals?
I have found that there are 2 main reasons:
The fear of criticism
The fear of criticism was caused by the constant critique we received in early childhood. Many people stopped setting goals because they found that every time they did, somebody tells them that they can’t achieve it, or that they will lose money or they’ll waste their time. So they stop trying all together.
Here’s the cold hard truth. If you don’t try you are 100% guaranteed to fail. But, if you write out your goal, make a plan and take action towards it, you are 10 times more likely to achieve it!
So which side would you rather be on? The one that doesn’t bother trying or the one that puts their goals and dreams above everything else and doesn’t care what anyone tells them?
“First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win.” Mahatma Ghandi
The fear of failure
The fear of failure is the biggest obstacle to success in adult life and keeps people from pushing themselves to their full potential. The thing is failure plays a big role in achievement. It is impossible to succeed without failing. The key to success through goal setting is expecting setbacks and obstacles as inevitable parts of the process. Some things you can plan for and others you can’t. Either way, knowing that it happens to everyone and is part of the process is key to overcoming the fear of failure.
Secrets of success #2
Your mindset will either propel you forward or pull you down
Your mindset determines whether or not you are successful in achieving all those GOALS & DREAMS you have. The fear of criticism and the fear of failure are strong feelings that we’ve been conditioned to avoid during childhood. In order to overcome those fears and push past any setbacks and obstacles you must keep your thoughts focused on the positive.
A positive outlook is necessary to keep yourself motivated when things go sideways. Thinking positive is a choice. It’s a decision to appreciate the positives in your life and letting go of the negative. Everyone has setbacks or things that don’t go as planned. It’s by keeping a positive mindset that will keep you going through thick and thin. Your thought patterns aren’t easy to change and will take time so go easy on yourself.
Success or Failure
We’ve been conditioned to see things as either a success or a failure. But the truth is that you will never have success without failure. It’s the failures or lack of progress that makes us look at a situation in a different light or attempt a different approach. Instead, look at the experience as an opportunity to learn and grow not as a reflection of your abilities.
“Failure is success in progress” Einstein
Personally, when things go sideways, I ask myself “what did I learn and how can I improve?” Inevitably, the answer always leads to the next step I need to take to move forward. And if you don’t try, you will never know just how successful you can be.
Another technique I use to change my perspective from negative to positive, is to look for the benefits in a situation. We’ve just about marked 1 year since Covid caused the country to go into lockdown. We are restricted in who we can see, where we can go and what we can do. But, instead of looking at it as a bad thing, think about how many families are reconnecting because they are forced to eat together every day now. Or how you now have time to go back to school and pursue your dream job.
Being able to keep a positive mindset, no matter what happens, is going to make the difference between giving up and staying committed to your success. And in my opinion, giving up is the only real failure.
Secrets of success #3
Understanding your finances will empower you
Unless you live off the land in the bush, everyone has to handle their own finances. Yet, we aren’t taught this life skill growing up. And, this is the one aspect in your life that you have total control over!
But instead of embracing how to manage finances, we are spending more than ever before. We live in a world of consumerism. If we see something we want, we buy it. We want to show off the latest and greatest and we are willing to pay for it. The buy now, pay later mentality has increased household debt exponentially over the last decade. And the convenience of online shopping has many spending more than ever.
Before you grumble about having to make a budget and tell me that it’s your money so you can spend it however you want. Which I totally agree with by the way. Let me tell you that a budget is NOT meant to squash any and all enjoyment out of life. A budget actually gives you the freedom to design your life.
A budget allows you to CHOOSE how much, where and when you spend the money you worked so hard for. It allows YOU to decide what is more important and what isn’t worth spending your money on. Understanding this perspective of creating a budget will completely shift your view of budgeting and is a vital part of achieving all those goals you want to achieve in life.
Related: How To Manage Money During A Financial Crisis (FREE BUDGET WORKSHEET)
I just need to earn more money
A lot of people think everything would be fine if they just made more money. The reality is that it isn’t about how much you make, it’s how you spend it. Let me elaborate for you. I know a woman in her early 30’s who is working 2 jobs to pay her bills. She just went through a divorce and had to take half the debt that they had accumulated together. She’s constantly saying how she needs more money and can’t pay her debts.
Recently, she got a promotion with a guaranteed salary at one of her jobs and was able to quit the other one. She earns more and finally has the chance to improve her financial situation. However, instead of making a plan to pay off her debt and start saving, within a week of getting the promotion, she is out looking for a new place to live that is more modern with an increase in the rent to go along with it.
My point is that, if you have a spending mindset, you will never have enough money. Your spending will simply grow as your income increases. So, by getting a clear understanding of budgeting, you can control where your money goes instead of wondering where it went.
Conclusion
Highly successful people continue to improve and hone their skills in order to achieve more than they thought possible. By focusing on these 3 secrets of success, you too can achieve great things. All it takes is a bit of determination, persistence and follow through!