8 Steps for Success in Life
The definition of success according to the dictionary is (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/success) “A. degree or measure of succeeding, B. favorable or desired outcome also: the attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence.” There are countless strategies for how to achieve success in life, but the strategy that works for you depends on your interpretation of success (i.e., excelling at work, earning a high wage, etc.). For others, success is about other areas such as relationships or academics. The answer differs depending on who you talk to! At the end of the day success in life is reaching your individual goals.
That said, what can you do to increase your odds of achieving your goals?
Let us share our 8 steps to help you achieve success in life -- however you define it!
Pursue What You Love
If you’re spending every day working towards goals that you don’t care about, it’s likely that your motivation is pretty low. If you focus instead on things that you love, you’ll start to find new curiosity and excitement that lead you to spend more energy pursuing that goal! Enjoying what you’re doing can not only lead to more success in your career or monetarily, it’s also proven to be more fulfilling emotionally. If you are passionate about your work, you’re more likely to pursue learning opportunities, take on additional projects, and stay engaged in your job. When you enjoy your job, it doesn't feel like work!
2. Create a Support Network
Whatever successes you’re striving for, having a strong support system can make achieving it easier -- and more fun! Calling on mentors, friends, colleagues, and loved ones for support can be pivotal in your journey towards success. You never know who might have the connection you need to your next great work opportunity, the right words to cheer you up when you’ve encountered a stumbling block or a creative solution to an issue that arises!
Success is NEVER achieved all alone. So welcome contributors and cheerleaders onto your team! Don't fear competition, because while there may be people out there trying to reach the same goal as you, you have something unique to offer.
3. Put in the Work
Dreaming big is wonderful, but it’s important to take the first step -- from thought to action! Putting time, energy, and hard work into your goal will mean you achieve success much faster. As Pablo Picasso said, “Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.” Commitment to your goals is more important than feeling constantly inspired.
Take time to research your goals and challenge yourself to gain more knowledge as you work towards achieving them! Build your expertise by learning new skills, exploring, and experimenting. Develop knowledge and tools to overcome issues when they arise. Believe in a ‘Growth Mindset’ -- that your effort and hard work can lead to meaningful growth!
4. Stay Focused
Whatever success you’re working towards, keep your focus on it. Remind yourself often of the success you want to achieve. Try staying focused on your goal by creating a vision or quote board filled with images and words that inspire you. It can be easy to get distracted from your goals, and this can really set you back in your journey towards success! Another great way to increase your focus is by eliminating distractions in your home or workspace. Perhaps turn your phone on airplane mode while you’re working, work in a quiet space, and turn off any distracting noises such as TV’s or radios.
5. Set Many Small Achievable Goals
When we spend a lot of time focusing on one single goal and pinning all your success to that one thing, it can often times feel overwhelming and make us want to quit. I always say, “What we focus on, expands.” So let’s focus on achieving goals and we can best do that by making lots of small specific goals. Attainable, yet challenging goals that you work towards each week can be extremely helpful. The more specific the better! Set time aside on your weekly calendar, build out detailed to-do lists and monthly goal lists that can help you stay on task.
6. Give Yourself a Break
When you love the work you’re doing, and you’re extremely motivated to succeed, it can be easy to work too hard and get burnt out. Make sure you take some time away from striving towards your dreams! Notice when you’re feeling tired and unmotivated. When that happens, schedule some fun time into your schedule. Take time to meditate, do yoga, or try a breathing practice. Relax and rejuvenate your mind so that you can come back to your goals with renewed excitement.
7. Believe in Yourself
Success is attainable for those who are confident in their abilities to achieve it! Believing in your own abilities will keep you positive and working towards success -- no matter what challenges come your way. When you’re afraid or doubtful, you will likely feel stuck and unable to keep moving forward. But when you focus on the positive: excitement, curiosity, passion for your work, etc. you’ll feel motivated to keep moving towards success. Try cutting out any negative self-talk, and instead encouraging yourself with positive affirmation, confidence, and support!
8. Get Back Up Again
When you’re working towards your dreams, it’s likely that at some point you’ll experience failure. When you fall down, get back up again! View failures as learning experiences. Don’t feel as though that failure is a reflection on you or your abilities. Instead, think of it as a way to gain knowledge and be more prepared next time! Keep trying, even when setbacks come your way -- and you’ll be sure to succeed!
If you want to take a deeper dive to discover where your passion lies, face your biggest fears and cultivate a plan to achieve your loftiest goals yet, click HERE to learn about the Champions Advantage program from Team Empower Hour! We give you all of the tools and insights that allowed us to stand on the Olympic podium and we fine them specifically for YOU and your own success journey.