1. You must be intentional if you want to succeed. In other words, you need to know what you want to achieve. You must have a goal, a SMART goal. A goal that is specific and measurable so that you know when you have succeeded. A goal that is achievable and realistic within a timeframe that would not unnecessarily kill you.
2. The pursuit of success should not at the expense of your physical and mental wellbeing. You have not succeeded in achieving your goal is at the expense of relationships or bring meaning to your existence. Your successes must make your life meaningful because you learn and grow from your successes.
3. With every success, you must learn why you have succeeded, so that you will uncover your unique way of succeeding. Shiv Khera, a renowned executive coach, points out that “winners don’t do different things. They do things differently.” You have succeeded because you did something different. Do you know what you do that is different that it makes you a winner? In whatever you succeed in you must become more of the person you were meant to be.
4. You are not the only beneficiary of your success, neither can you succeed by your own effort. Know and acknowledge your stakeholders, people who are interested to see you succeed. Invite them to be on your success journey.
5. Do not let others declare that you have failed or succeeded. Remember that farmer whose horse ran away, and his neighbors cried, “O what bad luck!” The farmer replied “Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see.” A few days later the horse returned home, leading a few wild mares back to the farm as well. His neighbours then declared, “What great luck!” and the farmer replied “Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see.” Later that week, the farmer’s son fell off the horse and broke his leg. His neighbors cried, “Your son broke his leg, what terrible luck!”. The farmer replied “Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see.” Then the army came to conscript all the able-bodied young men for the army. The farmer’s son was not conscripted, because he broke his leg. His neighbors shouted, “Your boy is spared, what tremendous luck!”, to which the farmer replied “Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see.” As such whatever happens on your success journey do not judge any event as an “end”. Life does not play out like a work of fiction. There are not definite breaks that separate one moment versus another, and there is not a perfectly formulated end to which everything builds to. So, to be successful is a life. You simply must strive on regardless of the circumstances.

What has your experience been like with success? We would love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected]