Make a list of what success looks like to you before attempting to define it. These definitions, examples, objectives (both tangible and intangible), and activities you may take to achieve these goals should all be included.
Because it might be fairly daunting, this post will break it all down for you.
Keep in mind that this is a private matter. Because YOU are unique, your concept of success should be as well.
And there’s nothing wrong with being a one-of-a-kind individual.
What Does “Success” Really Mean?
Success is a very personal thing, and it should be. Choose a definition or idea of success based on how it appears in an Instagram video (it was probably a paid ad taken in a rented Ferrari).
There is no right or wrong side to define success, and there is no right or wrong method to obtain it for yourself. Your action plan will need to be tailored the more unique your objectives are.
How to Achieve Life Success
Another fascinating aspect of success is a MINDSET that you adopt to attain your objectives.
It’s also a series of measures you take to reach your objectives. (Isn’t it true that you should trust the process?)
And, like all other mindsets and procedures, it’s not something you abandon after achieving your objectives. Instead, you adopt it and keep it with you for the rest of your life.
Successful individuals don’t simply give up and leave life once they’ve accomplished a goal, such as becoming a New York Times bestselling novelist. (Hint: Ramit has, and he’s not done yet.)
Unfortunately, achieving success is not a simple task. This is why Ramit wants to help you rewire your thinking about achievement and finally break through the obstacles to your success.
Make a Realistic Goal
How often have you make a New Year’s Resolution only to have it fall apart by the end of the year (or, more accurately, by the end of February)?
Maybe you established a broad goal like, “This year, I’m going to become healthier!” Naturally, the prospect of being healthy is appealing at first.
After a few days, you still haven’t purchased a gym membership. And you couldn’t resist the buy-one-get-one-free Doritos deal at your neighbourhood supermarket.
This is the problem with goal-setting: many individuals make objectives for themselves that are just too broad or unclear — and you don’t know where to begin. So you wind up spinning your wheels when you establish a goal like “I want to become healthy.”
Of course, you want to push yourself beyond your comfort zone, but you also want to achieve your goals.
This is why Ramit is a firm believer in SMART goals.
Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-oriented are the acronyms for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-oriented. And you’ll want to ask yourself a series of questions for each aspect of SMART goals to assist you in establishing a goal that you can reach.
- Specific. What exactly am I hoping for as a result?
- Measurable. What does it mean to be successful? How will I know when I’ve reached my objective?
- Attainable. Is the aim attainable? Do I need outside assistance or resources to reach my objective (a personal trainer, a financial adviser, a dietician, etc.)?
- Relevant. I’m not sure why I’m doing this. Is this something I truly want to do? Is it a top priority in my life at the moment?
- Time-oriented. What is the time limit? Will I know whether I’m on the correct road in a few weeks?
Knowing this, we may redefine the “I want to be healthy” aim as “I want to eat three vegetarian meals per week and go to the gym twice a week for 30 minutes.”
Do you notice how effective the SMART goal is than a general aim?
Locate a Trustworthy Mentor
It’s simple to feel overwhelmed when there is so much to choose from and many possible outcomes.
To get over this “paradox of choice,” Ramit recommends finding someone who has previously been there: a mentor. A mentor will assist you in making difficult choices and guiding you along the road to success.
This may be a difficult choice in and of itself: What criteria do you use to make your decision?
It might be a family member or a friend; you could even discover a mentor in someone you’ve never met in person via books or blogs you’ve read.
Be aware of “mentors” who promise unlimited riches or success but leave you with nothing. You may want to look for someone who isn’t advertising themselves as a mentor for hire — someone who is a little more humble but can still provide you sound advice while helping you stay on track with your objectives.
Working with a mentor may grow into a business partnership, but keep in mind that if they will give youe, you must return the favour.
Consider bartering for services if money is scarce. In return for financial advice, you can promise to keep their PC and other gadgets up to date with the newest software and working properly.
Begin to Take Action
True success is determined by the amount of effort you put in. We’d all want to have a great physique or a fulfilling job, but are we prepared to put in the effort?
This is more than just beginning to form healthy habits and develop a positive mental attitude hoping that change would emerge automatically.
Imagine being able to concentrate on only ten high-impact acts every year. What do you think your outcomes would be if you tried 100 different things?
a The majority of individuals have little effect on the world. They work in ordinary occupations, spend and save average amounts of money, and impact an ordinary number of people while they work. This is known as disproportionate effect, and it’s not easy to understand.
Many individuals are satisfied to live average lives (ugh. let that sink in for a moment).
To be successful, you must try to be extraordinary and do actions that regular people would not attempt.
Here’s an example of unequal influence, as Ramit points out, in the area of earning a big raise:
What the majority of folks do is wing it. They construct a list of reasons they should be given a raise — why they deserve it — and then rehearse what they’re going to say many times in their thoughts. They believe that the fact that they have done an excellent job will be enough.
SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE DO THE FOLLOWING: They look at pay negotiations, individuals’ common errors while attempting to bargain, and how to break the code. They prepare a list of all the reasons they DESERVE a raise and devise a plan for dealing with any objections their supervisor may bring. After that, they practise their pitch 100 times. They rehearse in front of the mirror, with their pals, and with random passers-by.
And they provide results, such as Andrew’s almost six-figure pay increase.
Typical Obstacles to Success
While you may be eager to get started on the path to success right now, it’s vital to consider some of the roadblocks to success, those dark periods that might prevent us from genuinely achieving our objectives.
The First Obstacle to Success Is Chasing Magic Bullets
The “ONE THING you want to be successful” is a magic bullet.
At some time throughout our lives, we’ve all pursued — or rather, purchased — them:
- The one study guide that would help us ace the SATs
- The fat-burning pre-workout pill
- The winning investing approach that would more than quadruple our money in a year
Unfortunately, we’ve come to the painful conclusion that magic bullets don’t exist after repeated efforts.
No one piece of advice, over-the-counter supplement, or YouTube video can alter your life overnight, whether you’re attempting to start a company, get a job, or improve your fitness.
This is a difficult pill to take — both physically and metaphorically — since we are constantly assaulted with tales and pictures of individuals, particularly social media, who seem to have succeeded using that magic bullet. We must differentiate reality from fiction and recognise that a variety of techniques, custom-made for us and by us after much trial and error, will lead to our success.
Fear of Failure is the second biggest barrier to success.
Fear of falling is a very real and damaging barrier that prevents many of us from succeeding.
- We don’t apply for that job since we’re certain we won’t be able to obtain it.
- That attractive lady or man is “far out of our league,” therefore we don’t speak to them.
- We don’t stand out for ourselves at work for fear of being fired if the manager or customer doesn’t like it.
- We hesitate to enrol in a course that has the potential to transform our lives because we fear, “what if it doesn’t work for me?”
Ramit confesses that he’s had similar anxieties and bad ideas in the past.
When you live in the future rather than the now, you fear failure.
Rather than being afraid of failure, it’s time to adopt a growth-oriented rather than a fixed attitude.
The fixed mentality holds that intellect and ability are permanent characteristics that cannot be modified after birth. People with a fixed mentality are often preoccupied — if not obsessed — with putting themselves in circumstances where they are either rewarded for what they know or avoided danger and failure.
Those with a development attitude don’t have any concerns or insecurities regarding their IQ. They think that through experience, they will naturally develop and evolve and that failure is merely a chance to learn rather than a failure.
You stop dreading failure and start appreciating the present moment when you adopt a development mentality. Then use each “failure” you have as a source of information and an opportunity to succeed the next time you attempt.
Failure is not an excuse to abandon a project.
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Third Success Obstacle: Allowing Guilt to Control You
How often have you spoken to a buddy about working out, saving money, or preparing for school and heard them say something along the lines of, “Yeah, I know I should be doing that but…” followed by some lame-brained reason for why they haven’t?
“I know I really should be doing it,” just means “I’m not going to do it.”
People with credit card debt are in the same boat; many have no idea how much money they owe. They’d rather bury their heads in the sand than confront the reality of how much they owe than handle the problem.
Being truthful with yourself and keeping yourself responsible does not imply that you should feel terrible about what you don’t do.
And, if you do feel bad, don’t try to hide it. Instead, accept the circumstance and ask yourself a series of why questions: Why do I feel guilty? Why haven’t I been able to finish it?
Write everything down or save it to your phone’s task or to-do app.
Sooner or later, you’ll get to the bottom of the problem and realise that solving it is simply a question of taking a few little measures to start you on your way to achieving your objective.
You’ll also be boosting your mental health in the process, which is a huge plus.
How to Be a Life Success
It’s not about being thrown into the stratosphere overnight to be successful. It’s all about taking consistent action, experimenting with various possibilities, and seeing the outcomes. Fortunately or unfortunately, to be successful, you must work on it every day. You may not receive a reward every day.
That’s OK.
You can begin using some life-changing strategies right now.
Ramit has written a free tutorial on how to complete any task. You’ll be well on your way to being a success if you follow this advice — How to Stop Being Lazy: 6 Powerful Strategies for 2021.
