I’m fascinated by the concept of Success. I’ve studied it, lived it (as well as my share of failures – believe me!) written about it, and continue to study it.
Of course, success can be defined in many different ways, depending upon the context. From Earl Nightingale’s “the progressive realization of a worthy ideal” to Christopher Morley’s, “there is only one success – to be able to spend your life in your own way” and the many in-between. Success could, of course, also be defined simply as accomplishing a desired goal.
While making money is certainly one aspect of success, the truly successful – in my opinion – seem to be successful from the inside out rather than the opposite. To paraphrase Jim Rohn, “they improved…and then their finances improved.”
But how does one’s journey to success begin?
In Mach II With Your Hair On Fire, Richard Brooke tells how he went from minimum wage laborer to millionaire (while Richard did it via Network Marketing, first as a distributor and now CEO of his own company, note how similar it will be to any other truly successful person in practically any other field). He said:
“I changed. I changed my thoughts. I changed the people I paid attention to. I changed my mind. I changed my habits. I changed my attitude. I changed my clothes. I changed my opinions about me and about you. I changed what I read, I changed what I watched on television, and what I listened to. I changed those deep-rooted decisions about who I was and who I would become.”
After posting that quote on my Facebook status page, Larry Boyer replied, “it’s amazing how consistent some of the stories of success are, and they all start with changing something about yourself.”
What a terrific observation by Larry. I know I always enjoy looking for the common denominators of successful people – regardless of their field – and that seems to be it.
At some point in their lives, people who advance from average to successful recognized that there was something about them that had to change. Life didn’t have to change. Other people didn’t have to change. Circumstances didn’t have to change. They had to change. They made the decision to do so. And, they did it. No exceptions, no excuses. They simply did it.
Do you find that to be true? Any exceptions you can share with us? Or, any confirmations?
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Bob, you are absolutely right on the money. Once we loose the attitude that we know it all and are open to changing ourselves, all kinds of new doors and opportunities present themselves. I think the biggest change I have made is truly listening with an open mind & heart.
Yes, Bob, I’m confirming this. Whether its someone who came from very humble (and potentially devastating) circumstances growing up OR someone who had models of success surrounding them….the fact still remains that the individual had to make a decision to do what it takes and persist despite obstacles big or small. Great post!
Great post Bob! (as always!) Reminds me of the “theme song” that I chose for myself this year. Although not usually a country music fan, I chose “Settlin” by Sugarland due to the lyrics: “… be the girl who changed her mind, and changed the world…”
It’s also a great reminder that we have to “be, before we can do, before we can have!”
Thanks for the reminder!!! 🙂
Well said my friend! I readily admit I love all your work, but this one I read twice — it was that good & that important (in my humble opinion) that I internalize the ideas you shared.
Thank you, all. Verykind of you. I greatly appreciated your thoughts and words!!
Bob, love this post. I have to add my few cents in there and say one word to answer your questions about how does success start? “DECIDE”
We all make decisions one way or the other each and every day for all things great and small. How great would it be if everyone CHOSE success… all it takes is a decision.
Bob,
Your posts are so right-on, and this one is especially so. I hadn’t started to learn this lesson until later in life, and am so glad that I did now, instead of later.
Personal development is definitely a journey worth taking, and it begins with a choice in the mind.
Thanks for your great and consistent posts!
Bob, so true. Indeed the only thing we can every change is ourselves. Even if we manage to influence someone else to change for a short time, they will likely revert back to whatever they wanted to do in the first place. I find the decision to change a thought or an action are conscious choices we make one at a time rather than one big “decision to change!!!” Always a work in progress.