Genuine Success Comes In Work Clothes (The Stepping Stone To Greatness)

The rejection or the rejection letter seems like a horrible thing, does it not? Well, it is good if you can persist through that seemingly permanent defeat, and make it genuinely temporary. Some of the best realities in life come after the worst defeats we can suffer. I mean think about this particular scenario: H. Richard Hornberger or Richard Hooker as he is known had his novel about three Army Doctors rejected so many times that ultimately something good had to happen with it. What happened with it? It became a popular novel, motion picture, a television series and ultimately a cultural icon. (Yes, I am writing about MASH, or Mobile Army Surgical Hospital)

I would mention more temporary defeats and seeming setbacks and disasters, but I just mentioned that to "wet your whistle" on what I am writing about to make the point. The point is: Real winning comes looking like a training ground of disaster and hard work. Oh, it is easy to have the silver or gold spoon in your mouth and have lauding without earning it and before even doing anything, in fact before you fall flat on your face out of the gate of really trying to do something with that burden, it feels wonderful to get the prize (for a second) without earning it. Indeed, genuine success comes in work clothes, training, understanding and development. Not unproven lauding and unearned praise before even starting to do anything. Sure, some people succeed without knowing what they are doing from the start and get lucky, but ask them to repeat that sort of success, usually without amazing blessing, they cannot repeat it. I use the word "blessing" in this case instead of the word "luck", because if that sort of providence can be repeated without knowing what one it doing, that is more than just luck, that is a blessing. But if that blessing does not happen after the initial luck, it is a curse when you fall flat on your face without knowing what you are doing, really.

Any way it goes, the earned way is the best way to do it, because you do not depend on luck. Genuine understanding and repeatable knowledge of success is always a blessing. The best way to do things is when success comes in work clothes as a stable stepping stone to greatness. Luck without a foundation even with repeatable blessing and not any genuine knowledge anchoring it will always sink ultimately. But, greatness that is real with knowledge and genuine understanding at its base always beats the luck and blessing without that knowledge every time. In fact, I will say here that luck and blessing combined with earned understanding is the ultimate winner. That is reality. The fantasy is the easy way out that depends on luck purely. After all, "nothing is worse than a muddy tuxedo" to end with a little humor and a hint at what I really mean by the title of this piece.

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Why You Should Think Long Term to Overcome Immediate Setbacks

Life Should Be Measured In Its Entirety

To dwell on your setbacks instead of playing the long game in life can be significant to your emotional wellbeing.

Obstacles are real while the future is promised to no one.

Disappointments can overwhelm you, though they are just one aspect of your life. The key is to keep moving forward and not get caught up in your problems for too long.

You mustn't allow what is holding you back right now to overshadow your long-term plans.

It was Henry Ford who said: "When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it."

Opportunities are concealed in your setbacks if you're willing to look hard enough. It is once the anxiety settles that you will understand what you're dealing with.

It is human nature to catastrophise situations that are not as bleak as they appear. The mind has an inherent negativity bias owing to thousands of years of evolution.

That's why life should be measured in its entirety, not by your failures.

I equate it to visiting an art exhibition and observing a painting from six inches away. You're only likely to see bold brush strokes from that close up and not the entire masterpiece.

However, if you step back and observe it from a proper distance, you will notice the beauty of the canvas as a complete picture.

Many people focus on one aspect of their life not going to plan and judge the entirety of their life by this one measure.

If you're lucky enough, you will live a long life. So, avoid giving too much attention to your setbacks, since you're likely to bounce back from them.

Don't exaggerate what is taking place.

Yes, setbacks may seem real, but you will overcome them to the best of your ability. It is part of the human condition, to overcome, grow and expand into a greater version of yourself.

Author Amy Morin explains in 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do that keeping an eye on your long-term plans helps you to keep the big picture in mind instead of staying mired in your setbacks: "If you can remember to look at your long-term goals, however, it will help you put setbacks into perspective."

Cast your attention away from negativity and what is not working and focus on your long-term plans.

Consider the following questions instead of getting caught up in negativity:

What could be taking place behind the scenes I'm unaware of?

Are there hidden lessons contained within my setbacks?

You Are Never Trapped In Your Current Circumstances

The value of adopting a long-term view is in not taking life seriously because ultimately problems will resolve themselves if you are patient.

Develop a clear picture of your intended future, instead of focusing on the setback. Recall the mind's negativity bias I mentioned earlier?

It requires vigilance and purpose to readjust your focus and is worth the effort if you're to succeed.

Obstacles are part of life.

Whilst they're difficult to deal with, they allow for crucial personal growth for the journey ahead.

In light of this, adopt self-control and discipline as you think long-term.

No one knows what the future holds, but if you have a purposeful vision of what it might look like, you can overcome your short-term pain.

Author Larry Weidel writes in Serial Winner: 5 Actions to Create Your Cycle of Success how failures and setbacks serve a function in your life, not to defeat you but promote you: "Failures, setbacks, bad luck, disasters; they are there to serve you, not hold you back. They toughen you up and drive you to improve. Frustration fuels growth. It gives you the energy and resolve to clean yourself up, get organized, fix what you can, and take the next step."

Long-term thinking helps you to appreciate that things will improve and you are never trapped in your current circumstances.

Time tests your inner resolve, your strength of character and your ability to withstand difficult conditions. Emotional growth occurs when you allow a situation to play out as it should instead of hoping for an easy path.

An easy life seldom leads to the fruit at the end of the branch.

It is difficult to take a long-term view at times because our minds are not accustomed to thinking that far ahead.

We are used to dealing with what is taking place before us and have a limited view of what tomorrow will bring.

That comes at a cost to our wellbeing because if we follow this script, we are constantly putting out spot fires instead of working on our big-picture goals.

To think long-term, set your sights on the future and review your plans to get there. Look within as you plan ahead and move towards your dreams and greater ambitions.

Imagine Your Proposed Future

Take action however small, whether it be through self-reinforcement, affirmations or visualisations.

Success is contained in the smallest details.

In his book The Time Paradox: The New Psychology of Time That Will Change Your Life, psychologist and professor at Stanford University, Philip Zimbardo states there are six time paradoxes that shape our lives:

Past-negative

Past-positive

Present-fatalistic

Present-hedonistic

Future

Transcendental-future

If you wish to take an inventory of your time perspective, I encourage you to complete the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory test online.

Based on his principles, your relationship with time influences aspects of your life. So if you dwell on the past, you are less likely to appreciate the present moment or the future.

The key to long-term thinking is to imagine your proposed future. Focus on the smaller destinations instead of the larger picture.

For example, if your goal is to lose 10 kg (22 lbs) by the end of the year and you are injured (setback), this will make it difficult to exercise and achieve your goal.

You could choose to focus on the setback or what you are capable of doing during this period.

Use the time to tweak your nutritional habits by consuming fewer carbohydrates, owing to inactivity.

Later, when you can exercise again you are likely to enhance your weight loss due to following sound nutritional habits.

"You need to change your self-talk in order to shift the story you're telling yourself about setbacks and adversity. You need to seek the insight or wisdom in challenging moments," states author Adam Markel in Pivot: The Art and Science of Reinventing Your Career and Life.

Focus On The Long Game

There is always something you can do however small, to move you forward towards your goals.

Long-term thinking is something I've pursued throughout my adult life.

Whilst others excelled in individual areas and gained instant results, I focused on long-term outcomes.

I experience setbacks and obstacles like most people, though I don't allow it to consume me. When I find myself stuck in a situation, I consider it a minor speed hump in what is a long journey.

I enjoy author Whitney Johnson's view in Disrupt Yourself: Putting the Power of Disruptive Innovation to Work: "As I have grappled with my own failures, and as I have watched others dealing with setbacks, I have observed several responses that seem to ameliorate failure, transforming it into a stepping-stone to future success."

This is the framework of this article: using your setbacks as a stepping stone for future success.

It is what esteemed Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck calls developing a Growth Mindset. "It's difficult to maintain confidence in a fixed mind-set without distorting the world, such as acting defensively or blaming someone or something else for setbacks," says Carol Dweck.

To overcome setbacks, recognise it as a minor blip in what is a greater plan unfolding. Deal with what is taking place by all means, but use the lessons to develop a Growth Mindset instead of a Fixed Mindset.

Consequently, I invite you to focus on the long game for your life and not get mired in your short-term setbacks.

It was Charlie Chaplin who once said: "Nothing is permanent in this wicked world ­- not even our troubles.

The gift of your hard work and commitment requires seizing opportunities as they arise instead of dwelling on your past mistakes.

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How Do You Cope in a Crisis?

There are times when we may feel world-weary, overwhelmed and jaded. Something has gone wrong, or perhaps yet another crisis has occurred in our lives. It may be as a result of one specific incident, life has thrown us a curved ball. Or there may have been a sequence of disasters and now the final straw, something seemingly minor has landed and our resilience has folded.

How is it that some people seem able to take crises and testing times in their stride, whilst others really struggle to cope?

- There are people whose mindset always seems to anticipate setbacks and disaster. They can seem overly enthusiastic about catastrophizing situations, looking at the potential for rejection and misfortune with their 'what if' or shocked 'that could have happened' attitude. They speculate about things that haven't happened, the 'what if he'd fallen and broken his arm', or 'what if she'd let your secret out of the bag?' This mindset predisposes them to negativity, panic and a desire to be over-cautious, even though caution's not always the most helpful or effective approach.

- Having a more relaxed approach to life can mean that if something bad does happen or a situation doesn't work out as planned it doesn't have to spell crisis and failure. In fact, people who have a more positive, receptive approach to life and the difficulties they encounter are often more upbeat and not as easily deterred. They usually have a positive outlook and see beyond any immediate problems to find alternative ways of resolving things.

Setbacks, viewed from a different perspective, can reveal interesting options and may in part result in important lessons, insights and new opportunities. But we have to be receptive to the signs. When something doesn't work out as we'd hoped it may be that another unexpected door can be opened. I've certainly found that some of my 'great' ideas that crashed ultimately resulted in outcomes that I'd never have anticipated at the outset. But there had to be a preparedness to discuss and negotiate in order to reach that resolution.

- Remove 'I should, I ought, I must' from your mindset. The pressure of other people's hopes, expectations and disappointment can turn a setback into a crisis and seriously affect your ability to think clearly and move forward. Think through what's right for you, be clear about your own talents, abilities and interests and remember that successful people often work long hours and deal with setbacks because they are motivated and enthusiastic about their goal. Working to someone's agenda rarely carries the same passion.

- Crises can provide the people in your life with the previously unconsidered opportunity to step up and demonstrate their potential. Family, friends and perhaps even business colleagues may offer a valuable supply of strength, understanding and support when crises happen or things go wrong. Be big enough to share the load with them, they're your 'team'. Do them the courtesy of letting them in on your struggles and be prepared to accept their help when they are there for you. They often appreciate being included, and may be able to suggest some great ideas!

- Breaking down a crisis into 'bite-sized' chunks can be a useful approach. Then you can discover that it's unlikely that every aspect will be equally troublesome. By taking a step back from an 'insurmountable' problem it's often possible to scrutinize the various parts that combine to make it so serious and list each specific, individual element.

I find that there are often five 'chunks' to a serious problem. Chunk one, what you can deal with now; two, the part you need to do some work on before having to pass it on to someone else for their input; three, what's already in hand and being dealt with, four; what is finished with and can immediately be passed over to others; five, what you can do nothing about. Let go of what you can do nothing about and determine the best order to start dealing with the other matters that you can influence.

When you apply this calmer approach you may discover that you're less overwhelmed than you initially thought. This enables you to then start resolving parts of your crisis, reduce its intensity and so regain some semblance of control.

- In any crisis situation it's important to look after yourself too. Be committed to regular sleep times, eat as well as you can, stay clear of drowning your sorrows in booze, sugar binges or worse. Turn off your technology each evening and allow yourself some quiet time, as well as time for fun, friends and exercise.

Be genuinely interested in other people and what is going on in the outside world, away from yourself and your situation. These healthy distractions can stop you from becoming too self-absorbed and introspective and so become better able to cope in a crisis.

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This Is Why Working Harder on Yourself Than Your Job Is The Key to a Great Fortune

A Powerful Inner Resolve

The late American motivational speaker Jim Rohn knew something many people don't: success is an inside job.

A good deal of your future success will arise from your mindset.

It is no surprise that those who are successful encounter frequent setbacks and failures.

To the uninitiated, failure may represent the absence of success. However, the person with a growth mindset knows failure is an opportunity to improve on their last attempt, drawing them closer to success.

If success is a journey then it comprises valleys and peaks, notwithstanding the many setbacks.

Gary Keller and Jay Papasan write in The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results: "Extraordinary results aren't built solely on extraordinary results. They're built on failure too. In fact, it would be accurate to say that we fail our way to success."

The key to success lies in your willingness and determination to prevail, even in the face of adversity. It is an inner knowing, despite evidence to the contrary, that you will overcome your obstacles and silence your critics.

The right mindset and a powerful inner resolve are required on the path to success.

Setbacks are not intended to discourage you from attaining victory. They are orchestrated to enrich your personal growth and lead you closer to success if you stay the distance.

Working harder on yourself than your job requires paying attention to your mindset and nurturing your inner most thoughts.

Every failure, every obstacle draws you closer to the person you must become to realise victory.

Success is the sum of your personal growth. The person who attains outstanding success has cultivated their inner world and surmounted the challenges imposed upon them.

"Success builds on success, and as this happens, over and over, you move toward the highest success possible," write Gary Keller and Jay Papasan.

Upgrade Your Mindset

Those who work hard on themselves instead of their job are invested in their personal development. They are committed to reading books, attending seminars and lectures, working with the right coaches and mentors and are lifelong learners.

They are humble in the face of victory and gracious in defeat. They realise life is about constant learning, developing and nurturing their greatest asset - themselves.

They do not have all the answers, but are willing to step out of their comfort zone and try new things, knowing the slightest information will create a snowball effect in terms of success when the time is right.

It was the French poet Victor Hugo who once said: "Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come."

The person who works hard on themselves is a leader who helps others succeed before them. They understand that in giving, they receive greater abundance and prosperity. This is a universal law and principle that whatever you sow, you shall reap.

A job pays you wages and if you are involved in sales, a commission. Nevertheless, it was Jim Rohn who reiterated in his talks: "Profits are better than wages."

He understood that when a person develops their greatest asset and their innate strengths, he or she can create unlimited income. A wage is the fee you receive set by your employer, based on the exchange of services rendered.

Profits are unlimited only by your earning potential.

Jeff Olson explains in The Slight Edge: "Every day, in every moment, you get to exercise choices that will determine whether or not you will become a great person, living a great life. Greatness is not something predetermined, predestined or carved into your fate by forces beyond your control. Greatness is always in the moment of the decision."

As you upgrade your mindset, so too does your bottom line.

Many people are unwilling to develop their greatest assets because they need certainty in their lives by way of a weekly income. It is this want for security that is their downfall because the harder you work on yourself, the greater your fortune because the sky is the limit.

You will only soar as high as you believe yourself capable of.

Therefore, your self-worth will determine your net worth.

As you develop a superior mindset, your net worth skyrockets because you are invested in your greatness, which yields far greater returns on your income.

The greatest fortunes are those developed over time, because success is a journey and requires staying the course.

Success requires a growth mindset that leads to the greatest victory and fortunes.

It is the pay-off of devoting time and energy on yourself, rather than simply working harder in your job.

http://ezinearticles.com/?This-Is-Why-Working-Harder-on-Yourself-Than-Your-Job-Is-The-Key-to-a-Great-Fortune&id=9782655

Money And Power: Master The Games

Start with the smallest unit of power and end with the largest units of power. Work with everything from atoms, groups of atoms, energy and money to understand all of power for, indeed, life and existence are mentally controlled, not mentally created. When you seriously consider things, a primacy of competitive consciousness does not work, but the primacy of creative reality does work. The primacy of creative reality is what this article will be about.

Sure, I can say the standard, you have to work hard, get lucky and all else will be added argument, but, that would not go with the primacy of reality argument I have in any way.

We all have temporary setbacks or failures until we do genuinely succeed succinctly and fully with full understanding of what we are doing and why. Why is that? It is because of the primacy of creative reality I am writing about. Let me explain:

Life is like a combination lock, if you do not put in the right combination numbers into the lock, you cannot open the lock with the tumbler in the lock whatever you try. Sure you can break the lock, but the lock is still not legitimately opened. Indeed, when you understand the combination, it is genuinely time to open the lock and succeed. When you do not know the combination, it is not time. Sure, this sounds like a bit of Oriental philosophy and "belly button contemplation", but this is how the primacy of reality really does work. Without that understanding, nothing is done, nothing is created, and all reality will not work as desired or needed.

So, let me explain something here: I am seemingly being vague to make you think about reality in a different creative way and I am explaining this fact here after I wrote the bulk of the article to give you that "Oh, I get it!" feeling that makes you put together the pieces of the puzzle coherently and consciously. Sure, I could be less vague, more "organized" and more obvious. Indeed, I would be depriving you of finding your own answers and genuinely appreciating them genuinely.

To win the games, you must play yourself, and blaze a trail of your own with help that is genuinely understood, appreciated and consciously accepted. Otherwise, all you can say is "What is this?" without getting the clue at all. After all, applied knowledge consciously used is power. Knowledge without consciousness is just a useless dusty encyclopedia that never gets used.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Money-And-Power:-Master-The-Games&id=9523197

Message From the Universe: Expect Massive Positive Changes Coming Soon

"Time out! Time out!

What do you mean you can't see it? You don't know? You aren't sure? You're scared?

This is an adventure, you're an adventurer, uncertainty, fear, and even setbacks happen. Besides, "easy" has never been your style, and just because you can't see the miracles doesn't mean they aren't happening, doesn't mean you're alone, and doesn't mean you're on the wrong path.

The day your ship arrives, and it now swiftly approaching, the confusion, fear, and setbacks will be among your fondest memories.

Today, you're exactly where you most need to be - 

The Universe"

Aren't you feeling it yet? Your vision of success and wealth is materializing right in front of you. No more of the guessing game, but you need to put your share of effort into it. What kind of effort? Well, the feeling of it already happened is the type of effort you need to focus on. It may be hard when you don't see much happening in your life at that specific moment, but it is because of its uncertainty that you should keep moving forward and not let setbacks deter you from your path.I know it is hard because I live it every single day. Every time I feel down or depressed as to where I am going wrong, there is the little voice inside me telling me that all will be alright and that I need to fight through it and come out a winner. Just look at Indiana Jones movies when he never let these cave traps stop him from getting the artifact for the museum. I agree that some tried to go for it and ended up as corpses but he took calculated steps when it came to take a step forward knowing that his life was in danger. I am not saying to put yourself in that position but risks are imminent, especially if you want to experience great success.

Fear will always be there and will always try to stop you on your track. Yes, you might fail, but you may also succeed. This is definitely a risk you would want to take as your life is not ending if you fail at your venture. The "Easy Path" is for the lazy people, and you are not lazy so forget about living an easy life. Miracles are happening everywhere around you but you need to open your eyes to see them clearly as they may not appear the way you anticipate it. The Universe is with you all through your journey so it is crucial that you trust yourself well enough that you will arrive at destination. Once you do get there, you will look back and smile, just like what rock climbers do once they reached the summit. You will forget the pain, forget the sorrows, the many disappointments you've experienced but you will also enjoy where you are today. Get out there and be ready for the journey of your life and trust yourself a little bit more, because the Universe trusts you a lot.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Message-From-the-Universe:-Expect-Massive-Positive-Changes-Coming-Soon&id=9690063

Message From the Universe: When Setbacks Are Just Temporary

"Since you're in a position to help so many, please remind them, when necessary, that setbacks are only ever devastating when one thinks they'll last forever.

They never do.

Thanks,

The Universe"

There is always an end to everything, including both the good and the bad times. When you travel to tropical destinations for vacation, that will also end, even though it can be very hard to come back to frigid cold temperatures. The same goes for hard times. The storm can only last a little while but at the end, when you are stronger and can get back on your feet after that storm, you can be proud of your accomplishments.

Many let life take control of who they are, and when the going gets tough, they break and let themselves venture into a path of self-loathing which ends to self-destruction (alcohol, drugs, crime etc..). It doesn't need to be this way. We all go through hard times in life, and even the most successful people can and will suffer from that same predicament. No one is waived from uncertainties in life. We all have to walk that same path sometimes in our lives. There is no escaping it, just like taxes or death. Since we all know we will have to go through this crap eventually, sooner or later in our life, there are really no surprises. So come on, what are you waiting for? There are so many opportunities out there waiting for you. Get up! Get moving! Get doing.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Message-From-the-Universe:-When-Setbacks-Are-Just-Temporary&id=9651939

The Number 1 Golden Rule To Get Yourself Highly Motivated

A great writer once said, "The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight, but they while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night." For this reason, I resolved to work through the challenge of being consistently motivated despite the potential setbacks and hardships I was going to endure down the road

Having goals in my life has been a matter of principle. While having and setting goals is one thing, implementing the goals and seeing to their fruition has been another. I observed that I needed to work myself out if success was going to be within reach. Besides a few other things I needed to do, I had to apply a golden rule to remain highly motivated all the time.

Always being highly motivated is central to success. Although it is not an easy undertaking, it is not impossible either, especially with the application of some very basic tenets.

At one point, for example, I went on a very stringent diet, it was all fun and exciting during the first few weeks but as the enthusiasm started to fade and the toll of the rigid diet started to set in, I knew I needed to keep myself motivated otherwise I was going to lose my entire focus and determination,of course, without applying the Golden Rule I ended up losing my motivation and going off course my long-term goal of losing weight.

The Golden rule: What it is and how it presents itself?

I need to mention first that, before I knew this principle, the more I encountered tough times and obstacles, the more my motivation levels dwindled, thus impeding more and more my ability to fulfill and accomplish goals.

Realizing this has been the foundation for me to appreciate the importance of getting highly motivated all the time, notwithstanding the fact that scientific research has consistently proved that setting out challenging but manageable goals is significant to staying focused and achieving goals. This principle often called the "Goldilocks Rule", is the Golden rule to constantly and consistently being highly motivated. The rule states that, that "our ability to stay motivated will falter when pursuing goals that are outside of an optimal range of difficulty."

To highlight this rule, let's further consider the example I gave on starting a diet. I was able to see myself loose considerable weight and achieve my set initial target in a short period. However, as the progress slowed down to reach a constant, I noticed how my motivation took a downward trend. In like manner, colleagues whose goals were to lose substantial amounts of weight often lost the drive to achieve this goal, they struggled to stay motivated just from the beginning because the task ahead seemed mammoth and outwardly impossible. The good news here is that this golden Goldilocks rule can be used in the pursuit of any goal, moreover, morals and values still remain in check while applying this golden principle.

Using this Goldilocks principle and learn how to get highly motivated

The Golden rule helped me set out a fine range of progressive and achievable goals and cut away from impossible tasks. This draws from the psychology that "humans are at their most driven phase when they assume tasks that are at the very edge of their ability, as they seek a balance between challenging themselves and making progress along their specific course."

If I am accomplishing manageable milestones that are able to make me joyful, I always have the drive for the next one. Additionally, this presents me a chance to make progressive strides and experience the development process. From the time I started deliberately measuring and celebrating each step to success and personal improvement regularly, I have been able to achieve a positive psychological function that has enabled me to boldly face and defy challenges, steadily push forward my performance and achieve my goals within time.

For me, appreciating this rule was the first and just about the most fundamental part of motivating myself and fruitfully pursuing my goals, otherwise I repetitively found myself either failing in intellectual motivation or just stand astounded by the work before me.

Sticking to this golden rule has also helped me to apply other motivational keys, the keys can equally be considered as golden because they always go in tandem with Goldilocks rule. One such key is the ability to measure and celebrate progress and individual development against an ideal.

There is ONE rule to be highly motivated, if mastered, you will be able to easily accomplish all your goals!

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Number-1-Golden-Rule-To-Get-Yourself-Highly-Motivated&id=9567373

Why an Indomitable Will Is the Key to Success

The Power of Resilience

A young man asked Socrates what the key to success was. So he invited him to meet at the river the following morning.

There, he asked the young man to walk into the river with him.

As the water made its way up to their necks, Socrates suddenly ducked him into the water. He struggled furiously, but Socrates kept him under until he turned blue in the face.

The young man struggled to free himself but finally came up, gasping for air.

"What did you want most when you were under water?" asked Socrates.

"Air," the man replied.

"That's the most important key to success. Wanting it as much as you want air. For only then will it be yours."

This delightful tale underscores the message that success emanates from strong desire and inspired action.

Success is a tough game because we assume it is linear. However, in real life it involves setbacks, failures, detours and minor victories.

But the failures and setbacks deter people from realising their dreams.

Mental and emotional resilience is essential to overcome these obstacles.

"Resilience and Motivation are two of the critical abilities for which Winner's Brains are wired," state authors Jeff Brown and Mark Fenske in The Winner's Brain: 8 Strategies Great Minds Use to Achieve Success.

Resilience is associated with the Navy Seals who undergo rigorous training known as BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL) during their initiation. The training eliminates a large portion of candidates due to the mental, emotional and physical demands placed on new recruits.

It is this same resilience that must be summoned to chase your dreams.

You must develop an unquestionable will to succeed, no matter the setbacks that will arise.

A strong determination is fuelled by a powerful force encouraging you to endure in the face of setbacks.

I call it having a compelling Why?

Your Why is your motivation to succeed. It is the reason you rise above your challenges when it matters most.

I don't believe life tests us so much as it prepares us for what is to come.

"If you rise from a fall once, you become that much more confident you can rise again," affirms author Sam Weinman in Win at Losing: How Our Biggest Setbacks Can Lead to Our Greatest Gains.

Obstacles force us to take massive action or regrettably, concede defeat.

It the same process the Navy Seals undergo. The commanding officers test their resolve to decide if the men can deal with dire conditions.

Life prepares you for success by forcing you to reach beyond your comfort zone.

It poses challenges to nurture your resilience, though you may realise at some point that the goal or dream is not what you really want.

Most people have dreams they aspire to, but few have the indomitable will to succeed in the face of obstacles.

Success Shapes Character

As the saying goes: to the victor go the spoils.

The human will compels you to persevere in the face of adversity.

It lights up the flame of your spirit and sends you forth to meet challenges armed with courage, strength and resilience.

Without these powers, you are at the mercy of conceding defeat because of weak motivation.

With a powerful will, there is determination and decisiveness to your actions. You are resolute, firm and compelled to overcome life's obstacles, knowing they are placed in your path to nourish you.

"It's not what happens to us, but our response to what happens to us that hurts us," avows the late author Stephen R. Covey in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

You should avoid short term disappointments and smaller prizes to achieve your long-term goals.

It is said success is a journey not a destination. Whilst an overused cliché, there is merit to its meaning.

Without setbacks and failures, you are unable to develop the fortitude and strength to meet your dreams when they arrive.

Success shapes a person's character. It sharpens the saw as Stephen R. Covey states.

Therefore, connect with a powerful Why and nurture it if you wish to succeed. I assure you, when the time is right you will be greeted with the finest victory imaginable.

Remember: what you seek is seeking you, as long as you stay committed to the path.

The will to succeed is apparent when you face your challenges and setbacks. No one grows in perfect conditions. In moments of darkness, you either rise above your impediments or cower in defeat.

The American New Thought author, Napoleon Hill, writes in The Law of Success in Sixteen Lessons: "Until a man selects a definite purpose in life he dissipates his energies and spreads his thoughts over so many subjects and in so many different directions that they lead not to power, but to indecision and weakness."

An Optimistic Outlook

Success coaches refer to will as grit: the inner resolve, courage and strength of character to persist through adversity.

To develop an indomitable will and harness an optimistic outlook, irrespective of what transpires. Optimism is an inner knowing that conditions will turn out for the best regardless of what lays ahead.

Similarly, develop a powerful will through your accomplishments and seeing the process through to completion.

I'm reminded of the story author Napoleon Hill tells of a prospector who spent months digging for gold, before giving up and selling his equipment to a junk man. The junk man made millions soon after discovering a trace of gold less than a metre from where the prospector had stopped digging.

An indomitable will is essential for success otherwise you succumb to the pressures of life. The will lights the flame of hope and courage and encourages progress.

It is the American author and speaker John C. Maxwell who captured it perfectly in his book The Difference Maker: Making Your Attitude Your Greatest Asset: "Most people want to change the world to improve their lives, but the world they need to change first is the one inside themselves."

So, do not wish for better conditions or an easier path because you will become listless and discouraged.

Persevere and endure your challenges.

It would be remiss of me to come this far and not mention Professor of Psychology Carol Dweck who states in Mindset: How You Can Fulfil Your Potential: "The passion for stretching yourself and sticking to it, even (or especially) when it's not going well, is the hallmark of the growth mindset."

An indomitable will to succeed will lead you far in your journey of self-discovery.

The desire must emerge from within and be matched with the same need for air, as told in the opening tale.

Only then will you realise the narrative of your success story is far greater than you ever imagined.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-an-Indomitable-Will-Is-the-Key-to-Success&id=9640191

The Longest Journey Starts With A Single Step

To become successful, you have to start at the beginning because it is a process. To finish any great endeavor, you have to start first at the very beginning and work throughout the end. Remember a winner never quits whatever setbacks are there along the way.

The success in every undertaking takes one step to arrive at the next one to move on without fail. Always strive for more, build and expand your career and yourself as an individual. The more you develop yourself, the more the possibility for you to succeed in any given area of your life. To get from where you are to where you want to be. It should be aligned with the direction of your dreams. Map out the circumstances you need in order to get ahead in your life. Create a door by taking actions in the direct pursuit of your goals and by being passionate about what you want.

Make realistic goals. A taste of success in one of your goals will motivate you to achieve the next goal. Either right or wrong, you start moving forward. That's the time that you learn because each right or wrong step will provide you wisdom and direction.

Make yourself accountable and push through any habits of laziness or negative thinking. Track every action that pertains to an area where you want to see progress such as your finances, health, career, or relationships. Noting your progress and missteps is the path to step up the ladder of success which forces you to be conscious of your decisions.

Once you have become cognizant of the steps, move towards producing a very powerful side effect by being committed, you attract others who are committed. If you're growing, you attract other people who are growing too which puts you in a position to start creating a network of like-minded people who help each other to succeed. Be willing to pay for your personal growth by visualizing your desired outcomes at all times, involving yourself in personal development to feel a sense of accomplishment in every tangible area of your life.

You need to have authority and power over your own emotions to succeed. You may not have completely understand how much your energy level would go down as a result of your commitment. But success is more than worth all the great sacrifices you undergo in starting your first step to reach your journey.

This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. Take your first step now before everything's too late.

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Longest-Journey-Starts-With-A-Single-Step&id=9711630

All Misfortune Is A Stepping Stone To Fortune

No matter how many setbacks you encounter in life, just consider them as part of your stepping stone to your fortune. You will realize how fulfilling it can be when you focus your mindset on the positive things that life brings instead of the problems.

People who were able to make a difference in the lives of others have legacies that last for a lifetime. They won't become what and who they were if not because of the hardships and struggles that they encountered in life. They rose from failure to failure before they succeed.

Failure can in fact be an impetus to success if we use it to our advantage. When we welcome trials as something to be learned from, we become our best version. Though it is not easy and it really stings but if we look at it in a different light, we are not wasting our valuable time because overcoming one misfortune to another will make us stronger and more determined.

Sometimes, we feel impatient for the wasted time we spent on something but oftentimes there is always better out there waiting to be discovered and explored. We can't change what happened in our lives but definitely the way we react to those circumstances impact on what will happen next in our lives.

We cannot decide the time and place of our misfortunes. These happen when we least expect them like an unexpected guest who comes to our home surprisingly. We can do nothing about it but accept and embrace it as part of life. Who knows, it might offer us a good fortune.

I believe that everything happens for a reason. Instead of whining, we better move forward and do something to turn it into a good fortune. Misfortunes can only become stepping-stones to success when we welcome them with enthusiasm and hope in our heart. When we don't complain, there is a chance for us to understand why something needs to happen. By doing so, we are able to handle our misfortune better than we expected.

When are able to grasp the lessons that misfortunes offer, it can help us become more conscious of our life. Living with awareness is a vital step to seeing misfortunes differently. When we don't blame others for our bad luck or fate; we realized that the rest will follow. Blaming others for our circumstance won't help us grow; the very reason why misfortune keeps on repeating one after another.

The disappointments that we overcome prepare us to adjust to whatever misfortune we will encounter in the future.

http://ezinearticles.com/?All-Misfortune-Is-A-Stepping-Stone-To-Fortune&id=9821055

Trouble, the Transportation to Transformation

Just in the midst of our gentle walk through life along comes trouble, trouble everywhere; the shortest walk we ever take in life is the walk towards trouble. The one constant is that it never arrives alone. Everyone gets their turn at meeting this undesirable companion; it happens when we are being remodeled to become something more. Trouble is the method of transportation.

Many times trouble is accompanied by losses, one right after the other. It is a shedding of the old that will no longer be needed as we become the new. What is without dispute is that a multitude of methods may be employed to take what you have but no one can take what you are destined to become. This is the joker in the deck that can trump every other card! By whatever method Is available, we all become what we are being reshaped to be.

Being forced to travel a road that is particularly difficult signifies the depth of the change we are being prepared for. It is also an indicator of how far off our chosen path we may have strayed. There are very definitive steps in the process. Just as a package is dropped into the mailbox, picked up, dropped at the post office, sorted and transported to the next facility and then on and on until it arrives at the desired destination, there are short, temporary stays on the way for humans. There will be times when the package will be temporarily out of place until it is delivered. So too is the human who is becoming; the life path will make short stops to readjust and be rerouted in order to be successfully delivered. This may leave one feeling like they are totally out of place. It is a part of the plan on the way to being delivered to the destination. Setbacks are set ups for success!

Take heart if you are in this process. Trouble prods you on down the road and forces turns that you may not have dared in the past. Those uncomfortable places where you feel stalled and stuck are the times to pay close attention. Even though you are certain you have no need to learn the lesson before you rest assured that just down the path you will need everything you have learned there to successfully navigate to your destination. You are on the way to a successful delivery to your highest and best good!

Perhaps the best part of this transformation in knowing that once you have learned these lessons and become balanced and confident in the 'new you' life will have prepared you and made you strong enough to charge the gates of hell with a water pistol... and win!

http://ezinearticles.com/?Trouble,-the-Transportation-to-Transformation&id=9680436

Apply These 3 Simple Rules to a New Undertaking and Ward Off Failure and Heartbreak

You're starting something new and interesting but have you painstakingly thought it through? If you haven't, I strongly suggest that you continue reading.

Free Advice: Apply the following 3 points of introspection to your new venture or your new situation now, before you move it forward, in order to provide clarity and transparency for you and anyone else going along for the ride.

This exercise is valid for a new personal relationship as well as a new business venture, a new partnership or a new corporate position. The degree of research and the pursuit of the facts may not be as intense as it would be for a new business venture or a new career move but the objective is the same.

The Objective: This exercise is about giving you the opportunity to see what's possibly coming at you and giving you the time and ability to modify or change your course of action in order to protect yourself or better position yourself:

1- "Accept the fact that your life will change"

"You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself. That is something you can take charge of." Jim Rohn

Any time you're going to make modifications or adjustments in your life, the change process kicks in. That's guaranteed.

You must also accept the fact that you're never the only one affected by these changes.

There exists a phenomenon that I've dubbed the "Ripple Effect Conundrum."

The Simple Definition: Whatever actions you take on a particular day will not only affect you, it will affect many more people on that day, the next day and possibly for years to come. There are no mechanisms or resources to determine the impact or influence of your actions on the future.

The Caveat: Shortcuts are forbidden. Do your homework. Proceed with great caution.

Change is inevitable. Change comes of its own volition or change occurs when prompted by your actions. Either way change is coming no matter what happens. Change begets change.

Change is a state of potentiality. You owe it to yourself to at least try to maintain some authority over it by determining the following:

• What is going to change?
• How's it going to change?
• At what point could it change?
• Who's it going to affect besides me?
• Can these changes hurt me or the people close to me?
• Am I willing to accept and live with these changes?
• What kind of ripple effect could this change initiate?

I suggest you become a "googlearian" immediately and start your research. The fact remains that you need to rustle up some answers for these questions. Do anything you need to do to generate this information even if you have to use your imagination to create scenarios. Yes, make them up. Apply the time-worn saying "expect the worst; hope for the best" to your imaginary exercise. All information counts. You never know when your imaginary scenarios will rear their ugly heads and come alive.

2- "Accept the fact that you're not so smart"

Your chances of success are much more powerful if you ignore everything you know and become a beginner.

Start all over, dumb it down, play "make believe" and assume you know nothing. Feel blessed if you're really not up on all the information that you need. Feel blessed if you're truly a beginner and have to dig deep for the information. This is a great time for you.

"If your mind is empty, it is ready for anything. In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities; in the expert's mind there are few." Shunryu Suzuki (Author of Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind)

The number one stumbling block to success in life or business, the absolute number one obstacle, is "Not Knowing What You Don't Know."

Only diligent research and extreme scrutiny can help get many of the answers you need to "know what you don't know."

Thinking you're very smart and have all the answers has a way of hindering and distorting opportunities for sound decisions and judgements. Intelligence or "I know everything I need to know" is a dangerous attitude to have and life's highway is littered with people with self-inflicted, sometimes fatal, "smart" wounds.

Do not assume anything. Take nothing for granted.

Thinking you're the smartest and the greatest will bring many detrimental distractions to your new venture, including but not limited to, over-thinking, over-analyzing and over-estimating. The combination of all or any of these could lead to significant setbacks or worse, total failure.

A few words of advice: Be a Beginner + Be Humble = You'll Be OK. To be successful and stay successful in life and business, being a "beginner" should be a daily exercise for you, your team, your family and your friends. A simple way to achieve this is to, even if you know the answer, always ask: Who, What, When, Why, Where and How.

3- "Accept the fact that you cannot fail if you refuse to give up."

This is a given! This should have a calming effect on you. You could be like the rest of us and look foolish, make mistakes, have hissy fits, be afraid, be engulfed with anxiety on a daily basis and still go on to be wildly happy, healthy and successful. You can start fresh every morning and adjust your methods and approach.

"There is no failure except in no longer trying." - Chris Bradford

Whatever journey you're embarking on cannot and will not fail if you absolutely refuse to give in to obstacles and setbacks.

"Never give up." What does it really mean? It means your desire to succeed is much greater than the discomfort that you're experiencing and that there's nothing you want in the world more than making your dream come true.

Obstacles? Go around them... go through them... go over them, but never let them stop you.

Ask for help, be creative, be assertive and just do whatever is necessary to overcome and move forward.

You will never ever fail if you relentlessly refuse to give up. You're not alone. We're all out there trying to do what you're doing. Ask for help.

Good Luck. Stay safe out there. Never give up on your dreams. Never.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Apply-These-3-Simple-Rules-to-a-New-Undertaking-and-Ward-Off-Failure-and-Heartbreak&id=9391145

How To Gain The Confidence To Live A Remarkable Life

On A Wing And Prayer

A remarkable life begins with the intention to cast away the bowline on your former life, in exchange for new beginnings.

Whilst you may not know the steps required, you recognise your current experience is not what you want.

Once you state your intention to change your circumstances, the pieces of the puzzle will come together.

Most journeys are lined with detours, dead ends and eventual success. Our voyage comprises peaks and turning points where we confront our demons, only to rise above them.

"Your attitude and how you respond to both opportunity and setbacks are critical to pivoting. You need to develop habits that help you foster a positive mind-set, help you understand yourself, and increase your sense of control over your life," affirms author Adam Markel in Pivot: The Art and Science of Reinventing Your Career and Life.

We must assume responsibility for our future which means accepting everything that arises along the way.

Nothing is gained overnight. Where success comes fast, it can be easily squandered, so don't be in a haste to upgrade your life sooner. It's not how fast you reach your destination, but the lessons and experiences that matter.

The Value Of Connections

We cannot create a remarkable life without the help of others. As social creatures, valued relationships can propel us to new heights.

My greatest life experiences resulted from connecting with people whom I thought had little to offer. However, they imparted precious wisdom and knowledge when I needed it most.

Similarly, it's vital you surround yourself with people who sympathise with your cause and don't sabotage your plans.

The world is full of detractors and cynics, unable to pursue their dreams. They may have failed and will insist you cannot succeed either.

Steer clear away from them. Grave diggers, as I call them, will find every excuse to convince you it can't be done.

"The truth, in spite of what we might believe about remarkable people, is that you cannot master a skill on your own. Finding your calling will not happen without the aid and assistance of others. Every story of success is, in fact, a story of community," states author Jeff Goins in The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do.

Humility and kindness will take you far because you never know when your circumstances will change. To repay the services of those who help you or by paying it forward, is something we must take into account.

Unearth your innate confidence, irrespective of the reality you face. This leads to a resolute conviction because you discover the essence of your nature in moments of determination.

Failure and rejection become your allies since anything of value requires: commitment, dedication and time.

Fear vs Faith

Don't allow your fears and insecurities to cripple you.

Ninety percent of the world's population don't take action on their dreams because their fears overpower them. Gradually, the years slip away and they've achieved little, much to their regret.

They entertain disempowering thoughts that keep them safe within their comfort zone.

Yet, a safe refuge will seldom award you a remarkable life. It's the assurance of an average life which I'm sure is not what you want.

"Who we are and where we want to go determine what we do and what we accomplish. A life lived on purpose is the most powerful of all- and the happiest," state authors Gary Keller and Jay Papasan in The One Thing: The surprisingly simple truth behind extraordinary results.

An extraordinary life is created by conceding parts of our life that are not working while attaining something greater.

To discover your calling is essential if you seek to align with purpose. Hidden in these treasures lies your passion, instead of a career or a job you loathe.

Those who pursue their purpose have an unwavering commitment to serve others and are pulled by the exuberance for life.

"You're either remarkable or invisible," declares author Seth Godin in his bestselling book, Purple Cow.

Follow Your Calling

I appreciate the notion to answer our calling since it's grounded in purpose and intention, key aspects of universal wisdom. A calling can be as minor as writing poetry for family and friends or as grand as humanitarian efforts in third world countries.

Don't succumb to those who advocate your calling is less than glamorous because if it resonates with you, there's a good chance you're following it.

There's talk nowadays of pursuing happiness, that it's now become a first world problem. At least we've reached the consensus, material possessions do not equate to fulfillment.

The greatest source of happiness arises from a focused purpose. It entails attending to big picture issues instead of trivial ones that occupy your time and energy.

You must trade the familiar for the uncertain and be guided by the appeal of the journey. For when you jump, the net will appear, but not a moment sooner until you take the plunge.

The promise of a remarkable life is a journey of self-discovery. It sets the intention and the seed of opportunity for the next phase of your life. You won't know what the imminent future holds until you start out on the path.

Author Michael Neill reminds us of a wonderful message in his book The Inside-Out Revolution: The Only Thing You Need to Know to Change Your Life Forever, "How things ultimately turn out isn't up to us. It never was. But if we do our bit and play our part, it's remarkable how far we can go."

You Have What It Takes

Don't despair, you're well adapted to surmount any circumstances life presents. All your needs have served you from birth until now and will continue to serve you as long as you maintain trust.

It's not important what a remarkable life looks like, however we must believe it's attainable. We should allow life to show us how to merge into this future and be willing to embrace what arises.

Don't become a bystander, waiting for circumstances to change or improve. Enter the arena as a gladiator and assuage your fears while silencing your doubts.

To the victor goes the spoils.

Spectators are self-imposed critics who sit on the side-lines, while others take massive action to create extraordinary circumstances.

Life is too precious to be an onlooker.

Author Jeff Goins reminds us again that the luck is something we create, "What makes a person successful, then, is not the luck, but what he or she does with it. Opportunities come. The question is what will you do when they arrive? Successful people are just as "lucky" as the unsuccessful. The difference is they do something remarkable with their lucky moment while the rest of the world sits around, waiting for the next lucky streak to come."

To live a remarkable life entails immense personal growth and self-improvement. The person you are now, is not the person you will become.

For success is a by-product of inspired action.

So, cast away the bowline and set your sail to navigate towards a prosperous future.

You never know where it will take you and that's the greatest adventure we can embark on - trusting in ourselves and living to serve our needs.

http://ezinearticles.com/?How-To-Gain-The-Confidence-To-Live-A-Remarkable-Life&id=9515923

10 Ways to Become a Millionaire in Your 20s

Imagine if you could become a millionaire. How great would it be to have the money you need to live the lifestyle you have always wanted? Now imagine if you could do this in your 20s?

Even if you think it sounds like a stretch, it is possible to become a millionaire at a young age. I became a millionaire by age 21. My second millionaire student who followed my program became a millionaire by the age of 23. The most impressive part? He did it all by trading penny stocks. It didn’t require years of school or training, just hard work and the right approach. He proved that it is possible. Also please note that these rules can be followed at any age. When followed properly, they can help you become a millionaire sooner than you ever imagined. Here are some steps to follow in order to start your journey towards becoming a millionaire.

1. Focus on profiting from boring niches.

So many people today think that if they want to become a millionaire, then they need to do so by following boring, widely accepted niches. It will take ages for you to become a millionaire through traditional occupations like becoming a lawyer, doctor or banker (in fact, these occupations usually have earnings limits that are very difficult to break through). Push past these pre-conceived notions of what it takes in order to become a millionaire. You don’t need to spend years in school to be a millionaire.

2. College and graduate school are irrelevant.

If your number one goal is to become a millionaire, not to hold a specific type of job, then college and graduate school are pretty much irrelevant. They cost money, they can put you in debt and if you want to be a millionaire, you can learn everything you need to know online about most things without the big tuition costs.

3. Sacrifice your social life to study.

It can be really hard to want to sacrifice your social life, especially when you are in your early twenties. However, if you want to truly become a millionaire, you need to be willing to sacrifice your social life in order to focus on your career. Spend this time studying, perfecting your talent or working on your skills, product or developing your company. The more you can focus on working on your talents instead of being out socializing, the better your time will be spent on becoming a millionaire.

4. Accept defeats and mistakes along the way.

No matter where you are looking to go with your career, chances are you are going to face a number of defeats and setbacks. These mistakes are completely normal. What is important is how you handle them. My first millionaire student Tim Grittani actually lost a lot trading stocks for the first few months until he got the hang of it. Mistakes are normal. How you handle them is what sets you apart.

5. Aim higher than one million.

Money shouldn’t be your endgame. Rather, you should focus on making the best product or service possible, and the money will come as a result from that. Your goals should always be growing and you should never feel like you are done working towards your goals. If you want to make $1 million, the second you reach that goal, you should be looking to your next one.

6. Don’t scam people.

The key to making millions is patience and honesty. You need to be forthright when it comes to working with others, or you will never make as much money as you want to. Criminal or unethical money never lasts and it will never give you the type of professional reputation that you can use to create millions.

7. Take advantage of hot sectors.

When certain sectors are really hot, you need to get in early to make your money. Take advantage of these hot sectors to start making your millions. Right now one of these hot sectors is social media, specifically Instagram, Snapchat and Periscope. These hot sectors can lead you to the millions you want to make.

8. You don’t need to focus on next generation technology.

Many aspiring millionaires — especially young aspiring millionaires — think that they need to focus on next-generation technology in order to make their fortunes — this isn’t the case. Even merging something old and boring with a fresh take is what led to the creation of eBay.

9. It doesn’t matter where you live.

One of the great things about the Internet is that it allows for sales, commerce and profits to come from anywhere. You can run your business anywhere that you have an Internet connection; you don’t need to physically live in a big market to make money. This is a great opportunity to live somewhere you actually want to live while still making a great deal of money.

10. Your business doesn’t need to profit for you to succeed.

So many people are only focused on creating a business that has profits. Businesses don’t need to have profits — they just need growth, users and some edge. Many businesses are acquired just for their attributes other than profit margins (just look at how many Internet startups get sold). Focus on user growth rather than raw profits. No one pays for a good idea that’s lacking in users.

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/270253