Success does not belong to the elite, or the highly esteemed.  It belongs to the individual who is willing to look fear in the face and act anyway.  It belongs to the individual with courage. 

Mark Twain said, “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear – not absence of fear.  Except a creature is part coward it is not a compliment to say its brave.”  There will be things to fear on the path to success, but the courageous will resist fear.

5 Critical Keys to Success

1.  Accurately Aim

“Our plans miscarry because they have no aim. When a man does not know what harbor he is making for, no wind is the right wind.” –Seneca

What are you aimed at?  There’s a famous anonymous quote that goes, “In the absence of clearly defined goals, we become strangely loyal to performing daily acts of trivia.”  Are you performing daily acts of trivia instead of using your days to get you closer to your goals? 

Get crystal clear on what you wish to accomplish, and by when, and then use your days to gradually get you there.  If you accurately aim, you greatly increase your chances of success.

2. Overcome Difficulties

“The more difficulties one has to encounter, within and without, the more significant and the higher in inspiration his life will be.” –Horace Bushnell

Difficulties make you better!  The saying is true, “if it doesn’t kill you, it will probably make you stronger.” 

Don’t have a “why me” mentality?  Why not you?  Would you recommend anyone else? 

Your difficulties will position you for success, if you overcome them.  You have to pass the test to succeed.  Go through the storm, and emerge stronger!

3. Dream

“Don’t bunt. Aim out of the ballpark.” –David Ogilvy

Life is short!  If you’re going to play the game, play it with everything that you have.  Success requires all that you are; you can’t give a half-effort.

Aim out of the park, believe in your dreams, Lanston Hughes said, “Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly.”

4. Convert Your Ideas

“The ability to convert ideas to things is the secret to outward success.” –Henry Ward Beecher

It’s not enough to have a good idea; you must convert your ideas into reality.  Start with a small idea, a small vision, and work to turn it into a reality.  Then get a slightly larger vision, and turn that into reality.  Create the habit of turning your ideas into reality.

Your thoughts pre-play your future.  Don’t use your thoughts to re-play your past mistakes, use them to map your future path.

5. Concentrate

“The ability to concentrate and to use your time well is everything if you want to succeed in business–or almost anywhere else for that matter.” –Lee Iacocca

Focus!  Focused energy is power.  Don’t divide your attention among twenty tasks.  Focus on one item at a time.  One focused person can do more than 100 individuals who are merely interested.  No one succeeds without focus.  Get focused today, and we will see you succeed tomorrow.

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