There’s no such thing as an overnight success. You don’t just wake up one day, decide to do something extraordinary and the very next day you’re on top of the world with everyone singing your praises.
Becoming successful is not a fluke. It’s not as simple as buying a ticket and winning the lottery. Success comes from slogging away day after day. It comes from continuously putting into practice everything that you’ve learned. It comes from learning and improving—every day. It comes from having a real purpose in life.
When others have gone to bed, successful people are often still at work. When others are still sleeping you get a head start on the day. When others are playing golf you’re doing research.
When others are wishing that their dreams will come true, you’re making your dreams happen.
Success is a daily habit because it’s the things you do each and every day that lead to lifelong success. It’s a discipline. It’s a calling. It’s who you are. It’s in every fiber of your being. Day in and day out. You can’t be a part-timer and expect to be a winner. You have to be prepared to give much more than 100 percent.
Ask yourself at the end of every day: What have I accomplished today that takes me closer to achieving my dreams? What did I do that generated energy and excitement? What did I do that will motivate others to join me on my journey? What did I do that will improve the lives of others? What did I do that will bring the blessings of the universe into my life and the lives of those I love?
Success comes when you consistently continue to do the things that you know get the results you want and when you set new horizons for yourself. As they say: You’ll be successful when you want to succeed as badly as you want to breathe. Do you want success that much? Do you want success with every pore of your body?
Success comes when you set daily goals for yourself and achieve them, even when major fires blaze up and get in the way and have to be extinguished.
The most important thing every day is doing whatever needs to be done to keep you on the path to victory; to attain the ultimate prize.
Surround yourself and spend time every day with other people who want success; avoid those who are negative and may want to drag you down.
No doubt you’re familiar with the saying about not needing to work hard but work smart? In my book you need to do both. Every day. Someone once said that 80 percent of success is showing up. And, to a large extent, that’s also true. But you not only have to show up every day, you have to perform. And you have to out-perform your competitors.
No-one achieves greatness without a lot of sacrifice and a lot of hard work. Sometimes that means doing things that aren’t much fun. It means taking risks and overcoming obstacles. That’s the price that has to be paid. It also means having the character and the confidence to prove that you’re in the right. And at the end of each day my philosophy is that you need to be able to look in the mirror and know that you have conducted yourself in an honorable and ethical manner. You have to be authentic. You have to be consistent, day after day.
Having said all of that—remember that happiness is the key to genuine success. Reach into your inner core as you start each day and remind yourself of the journey you have undertaken. Just imagine how you will feel when you make success and happiness a daily habit!
You have one life to live. Live it with purpose. And, both success and happiness will find you.