Becoming successful is one of the most popular self-development topics today. And although everyone seems to be looking for success, we all have a different definition of what that means. So, if you want to learn how to be successful in life, you first have to determine what it means for you.
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What Is Success?
For some, success means being wealthy or reaching the top of their career. For others, it’s to have their dream house in the countryside, and for others, it’s to make a difference in the world. The truth is, success can literally mean anything, and there is no right or wrong. So even if you’re not interested in getting rich, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be interested in being successful.
What you believe success to be all comes down to your values. What makes you get out of bed in the morning, and what motivates you through the hard days? Is it your family, career, money? Or is your biggest value helping others, making a difference, or being of service? Whatever your most profound value is, that is where you will find success.
You might say that your definition of success is to be happy. Everyone should strive towards happiness, but a happy life doesn’t necessarily mean a successful life, and vice versa. Success is about attaining your vision of a good life, whereas happiness is a byproduct of living aligned with your values. So another way you can figure out what success means to you is to determine your life goal.
Why Should You Strive for Success?
Success is strongly linked to your life plan, purpose, and vision. Unless you’re happy to coast through life without achieving anything, striving for success is what will give you the most profound feeling of fulfillment.
As human beings, we naturally want to win. So every goal you reach is an accomplishment that fills you with positivity and moves you closer to your vision. Therefore, striving for success gives you focus and direction in life and essentially gives you a reason to wake up in the morning.
The Ladder to Success
1. Envision Your Dream Life
Take a moment to imagine what your dream life looks like. Close your eyes and visualize the successful version of yourself in 20 years. Where are you living? Who are you sharing your life with? How do you spend your day? Don’t limit your potential, instead allow yourself to dream big. What would your life look like if anything was possible?
2. Set Goals
Once you know what your dream life looks like, you can determine what your big goal is. Most likely, your life goal will seem unachievable at first. Therefore, you’ll need to break it down into smaller, more realistic goals. You can use the SMART goal-setting method to help you do this. Make sure what you’re aiming for is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.
3. Create an Action Plan
While goals give us direction in life, setting goals does not mean we will achieve them. So for the next step, create an action plan where you break down all the things you need to do to reach your intention. Doing this will change your perception, too, as once you break down your goal, you’ll start to see and believe that it is achievable and success really is possible. Plus, be sure to set a deadline for each action to ensure you meet the ultimate deadline of your big goal.
4. Develop Better Habits
You won’t accomplish your goals by doing the same things you have always done. ‘Most people have at least some bad habits that hinder success rather than lead to it. For example, perhaps you spend all evening watching Netflix rather than studying the skills you need to achieve your goals. Or maybe you snooze your alarm every morning and thus, start every day feeling rushed and stressed, setting you up for a bad day.
It’s likely that you already know what your bad habits are; it’s simply a case of changing them. Unfortunately, changing habits is not easy, so focus on one thing at a time and modify it gradually. For example, if you want to create a habit of reading for 30 minutes every day, first start with 10 minutes and increase it over time.
5. Surround Yourself With Positivity
Most people do not realize that their environment and the people around them play a crucial role in their success. Think about it, if you spend your time with people who do not have goals or any interest in bettering themselves, you will become like them. But, on the other hand, if you start hanging out with people who are clear on their vision, self-disciplined, and focused on success, you will pick up on those positive traits too.
6. Push Yourself Out of Your Comfort Zone
If you want to achieve something great, you will need to do something that scares you. Ask any successful person, and they will tell you the same thing: they only started to achieve their goals once they pushed themselves out of their comfort zone.
So start doing the things that you’ve always wanted to do but felt too scared to do. Perhaps it’s trying a new sport, going traveling on your own, or even skydiving. Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone will give you a positive, can-do attitude and significantly increase your confidence and self-belief.
7. Learn From Successful People
Surrounding yourself with positive people who are also striving for success will benefit you immensely. However, in addition, you’ll need to study from those who are already living a prosperous life. Having a mentor is a powerful tool for success, but this doesn’t mean you have to know a successful person personally. Our role models can be mentors even if we have never met them or even spoken to them.
Of course, your mentors will depend on what your definition of success is. Find people who have achieved the things you want to achieve and study from them. Seek out successful people who have written books about their journey or have a Youtube channel or podcast where they share tips for success.
Once you find mentors with whom you resonate, study their character. While their journey will give you an insight into the path you need to take to success, the course is different for everyone. However, habits and mindset and the two things that all successful people have in common. Start with their morning routine. Find out how your role models start their day and implement it into your life.
8. Be Persistent
Reaching success is never easy; if it was, everyone would be successful. What’s more, no one becomes successful overnight; it takes years of hard work and persistence. If you’re going to have any chance of a prosperous life, you need to be prepared to put in the work and push through any challenges that arise. You will have many setbacks along the way, but remember, you only ever fail if you give up!
Final Thoughts
Becoming successful feels daunting to everyone in the beginning. However, don’t let negative feelings lead to procrastination. Instead, get clear on your values, focus on your goals and start taking small actions to improve your life today. And remember, success is different for everyone, so do not let someone influence your definition of prosperity.
