Rohn: 4 Straightforward Steps to Success

Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines practiced every day.

Jim Rohn

 

Success is neither magical nor mysterious. Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying basic fundamentals.

I’ve said it before, that success is the study of the obvious—but sometimes we need someone to remind us and show us the simplest way to get there.

Here are four simple steps to find your way to more success than you could ever imagine:

1. Collect good ideas.

My mentor taught me to keep a journal when I was 25 years old. It’s the best collecting place for all of the ideas and information that comes your way. And that inspiration will be passed on to my children and my grandchildren.

If you hear a good health idea, capture it, write it down. Then on a cold wintry evening or a balmy summer night, go back through your journal. Dive back into the ideas that changed your life, the ideas that saved your marriage, the ideas that bailed you out of hard times, the ideas that helped you become successful. That’s valuable, going back over the pages of ideas you gathered over the years, reminiscing, reminding yourself. So be a collector of good ideas, of experiences, for your business, for your relationships, for your future.

It is challenging to be a student of your own life, your own future, your own destiny. Don’t trust your memory. When you listen to something valuable, write it down. When you come across something important, write it down. Take the time to keep notes and to keep a journal.

2. Have good plans.

Building a life, building anything, is like building a house; you need to have a plan. What if you just started laying bricks and somebody asks, “What are you building?” You put down the brick you’re holding and say, “I have no idea.”

So, here’s the question: When should you start building the house? Answer: As soon as you have it finished. It’s simple time management.

Don’t start the day until it is pretty well finished—at least the outline of it. Leave some room to improvise, leave some room for extra strategies, but finish it before you start it. Don’t start the week until you have it finished. Lay it out, structure it, put it to work. The same goes for the month ahead—don’t start it until you have a plan in place.

And, the big one, don’t start the year until it is finished on paper. It’s not a bad idea, toward the end of the year, to sit down with your family for the personal plans, to sit down in your business for the professional plans, to sit down with your financial advisor to map out money plans. Plan out your calendar, your game plan, for all of life’s moving parts.

The reason why most people face the future with apprehension instead of anticipation is because they don’t have it well designed.

3. Give yourself time.

It takes time to build a career. It takes time to make changes. It takes time to learn, grow, change, develop and produce. It takes time to refine philosophy and activity. So give yourself time to learn, time to start some momentum, time to finally achieve.

I remember when Mama was teaching me a little bit about the piano. “Here is the left hand scale,” she said. I got that; it was easy. “Here is the right hand scale.” I got that, too. Then she said, “Now we are going to play both hands at the same time.” “Well, how can you do that?” I asked. Because one at a time was easy... but two the same time? But I got to where I could play the scales with both hands. “Now we are going to read the music and play with both hands,” she said. You can’t do all that, I thought. But you know, sure enough I looked at the music, looked at each hand, a little confused at first, but finally I grasped it. Then I remember the day when Mama said, “Now we are going to watch the audience, read the music and play with both hands. Now that is going too far! I thought. How could one person possibly do all that? By giving myself time to master one skill before we went to the next, I got to where I could watch the audience, read the music and play with both hands.

Life is not just the passing of time. Life is the collection of experiences and their intensity.

4. Change yourself.

Learn to solve problems—business problems, family problems, financial problems, emotional problems. The best way to treat a challenge? As an opportunity to grow. Change if you have to, modify if you must, discard an old philosophy that wasn’t working well for a new one.

The best phrase my mentor ever gave me: “Mr. Rohn, if you will change, everything will change for you.” I took that to heart, and sure enough, the more I improved, the more everything improved for me.

You cannot change your destination overnight, but you can change your direction overnight.

Source: https://www.success.com/article/rohn-4-straightforward-steps-to-success

Rohn: How Your Words Impact Your Success

If you have a limited vocabulary, you will also have a limited vision and a limited future.

Jim Rohn

 

Sometimes the subtle difference in our attitude, which can make a major difference in our future, can be as simple as the language we use. It’s the difference in even how you talk to yourself or others. It’s consciously making a decision to quit saying what you don't want and to start saying what you do want. It’s faith—believing in the best, hoping for the best and moving toward the best.

Instead of saying, "What if somebody doesn't respond?" start saying, "What if they dorespond?" Instead of saying, "What if someone says no?" say, "What if they say yes?" Instead of saying, "What if they start and quit?" say, "What if they start and stay?" Instead of saying, "What if it doesn't work out?" say, "What if it does work out?"

When you start thinking and saying what you really want, then your mind automatically shifts and pulls you in that direction. And sometimes it can be that simple—just a little twist in vocabulary that illustrates your attitude and philosophy.

Our language can also affect how others perform and behave around us. A teenager says to a parent, "I need $10." The parents say, "No comprende. That’s not how you get $10. That kind of language doesn't work here. But ‘How can I earn $10?’ might.”

There is plenty of money here. There is money for everybody—but you have to learn the magic words to get it. To get everything you could possibly want, you just have to learn the philosophy. How could you earn $10?

You can't go to the soil and say, "Give me a harvest." You know the soil smiles and says, "Who is this clown that brings me his need and brings me no seed?" And if you say to the soil, "I've got this seed and if I planted it, would you work while I sleep?" And the soil says, "No problem. Give me the seed. Go to sleep and I'll be working while you're sleeping." These simple principles are sometimes just a matter of language.

It is easy to stumble through almost a lifetime and not learn some of these simplicities. Then you have to put up with all the lack and all the challenges that don't work out simply from not reading the book, not listening to the lesson, not studying your language—not being willing to search so you can then find.

But here is the great news. You can start this process anytime. For me it was at age 25. At 25 I was broke. Six years later, I was a millionaire.

You might ask, "What kind of revolution, what kind of change, what kind of thinking, what kind of magic had to happen? Was it you?"

No.

Any person, any six years you go on an intensive, accelerated personal development curve, learning curve, application curve, you can learn the disciplines. Now, it might not take the same amount of time, but the same changes and the same rewards are available for those who pay that “six-year" price. And you might find that whether it's in the beginning to help get you started or in the middle to keep you on track, your language can have a great impact on your attitude, actions and results.

Source: http://www.success.com/article/rohn-how-your-words-impact-your-success

5 Stepping Stones to Overcome the Fear of Success

by Karen Dikson 

You’ve always been dreaming about success. Now, it’s time for that big question: did you achieve it? How did you imagine this very moment ten years ago? You had goals and desires, where are you now?

If you feel like you haven’t tried enough, you have a problem that’s common for many people. It’s called the comfort zone. That’s a nice way to say that you’re actually afraid of success.

At my first job, we were supposed to give a presentation on a very important project. I was working on it for months. I knew I had something exceptional, but the presentation itself freaked me out. Do you know what I did? I didn’t show up.

I decided to delegate the presentation to my colleague. The mere fact of being the center of attention freaked me out, so I avoided that scene even though it led me to failure.

Why do we do that? Why is success so overwhelming to us?

• We’re always afraid of the things unknown. Since we can’t really tell where success will take us, it’s easier for us to stay in the comfort zone.
• People might be jealous of our success. We care about what other people think of us, so we’re afraid that our journey to stardom will ruin the relations we maintain.
• Where there’s potential for success, there’s potential for failure, too. Sometimes we’re so afraid of failure that we don’t bother succeeding at all. That’s what happened when I didn’t show up to give that presentation at college.
• Success demands hard work. It puts us in direct competition with ourselves. That’s another thing we tend to be afraid of: hard work.
• Some people are afraid of success because they think they don’t deserve it. They believe they don’t have strength to carry the burden of success.

Is there a way to overcome this fear? There is. In fact, there’s no other way. Life was meant for going forward. Staying in your current zone is not an option.

“Succeed in not fearing the lion and the lion will fear you.” – Eliphas Levi

Here are the 5 stepping stones to overcome the fear of success:

1. Recognize the importance of success

Everything starts with recognition. What does success mean to you? The answer is very subjective. For some people, success means making more money. For others, it means making enough money to get a house on the beach and a Mercedes Benz. For some people, success is related to professional or personal growth goals.

What does success mean to you? Define it. Be very precise with it. Take a deep breath, clear your mind, and imagine: where do you want to be 10 years from today? What would the ideal situation be? What failures would you regret?

Start from the now and set smaller goals that will lead you to that big goal of success. Believe in yourself. It’s possible! It’s important.

2. Recognize the fear

Fear is a sneaky thing, especially when it comes to this kind of fear that prevents us from doing our best. What fears are related to the goal you envisioned in the previous step? What exactly prevents you from achieving it? Why are you afraid?

Is it the risk? The overwhelming competition? The sacrifices you have to make? Fear of failure and disappointment? Fear of hard work? When you recognize the mental obstacles, you’ll know what to work on.

3. Be aware of the outcome

What will happen once you achieve the ultimate goal of success? How will your life look at that point? Visualize! It will take a bit of focus for you to get a clear vision, but you’ll soon be aware of all possible outcomes.

Write down what you see. There may be negative outcomes, such as a lot of work and less free time for vacations. However, you’ll also see the most positive outcome: accomplishment. When you weigh both sides, you’ll see what wins. You’ll realize that success is worth the risk. It’s worth fighting for.

“What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?” – Vincent van Gogh

4. Create a long term plan

If you keep your vision for success in the limits of your imagination, it will still be scary for you. It will be overwhelming, since you’ll lack the realistic plan that can lead you to it.

When you translate that vision into a long-term plan of clear steps to success, it will seem possible. This is the right approach to have: take that big goal and break it down into smaller, achievable steps. Then, translate those steps into daily actions and start doing something towards that goal every single day.

When you’re that committed, the goal will become part of your life. As it turns into a habit, it will become your new comfort zone. All fears will slowly go away.

5. Don’t obsess over the results

When you’re obsessing over the end result, you become anxious. That anxiety leads to suspicion: “will I ever make it?” That suspicion will lead to more fear. You need a different focus; the journey itself. Be aware of the small, but important progress you’re making every day. Congratulate yourself for it. Do your work and stay focused. The results will come!

Source: https://addicted2success.com/success-advice/5-stepping-stones-to-overcome-the-fear-of-success/

What Does Success Really Mean to You?

Alex Jasin

 

Before you can pursue success, you need to understand what it is and what it isn’t.

We all want success. We want to be successful and feel successful. We chase money, fame, power, education, relationships and a thousand other things without ever stopping to ask one essential question: What, actually, is success?

Few people pause to consider what it truly means to achieve success in their own lives. As Jim Rohn said, “If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.”

If we don’t answer this question, we can end up climbing the wrong ladder and pursue someone else’s version of success. We get to the top only to discover we climbed the wrong mountain. We achieve our goals only to realize they were the wrong ones. It’s a disaster few people are able to recover from.

In Office Space, Michael Gibbons says to his doctor, “So I was sitting in my cubicle today, and I realized, ever since I started working, every single day of my life has been worse than the day before it. So that means that every single day that you see me, that’s on the worst day of my life.”

How do we avoid a similar fate?

Those who have achieved the greatest amounts of actual success are those who are crystal clear on what it means to reach the top, for them. If we want to follow in their steps, we must achieve equal clarity.

What Success Isn’t

Before we can pursue success, we need to understand what success isn’t. If you spend just a few minutes on social media, you’ll realize how many people hold a very narrow definition of success. They think it’s about building wealth, having the perfect relationship, launching a billion-dollar business or amassing a large social media following. And a lot of times, they attach famous people to their image of success.

None of these things or people is wrong, but being like them doesn’t necessarily make you successful. Many people have fought and struggled to the top only to feel miserable and burned out once they get there. They’re unhappy because they pursued the wrong definition of success—one that didn’t match their values.

Throughout childhood and early adulthood, we learn various ideas of success from our parents, teachers and friends. Everyone has their own agenda and idea of who and what we should be. Although it’s OK to value the opinions and hopes of others, we shouldn’t necessarily adopt them as our own. No one can impose their version of success on us. No one can tell us what it means to live the good life.

It’s easy to assume that success means obtaining a specific object, such as a job or social status, and to believe that if we get that thing, we’ll be successful. But some of the greatest successes resulted from the worst failures. Winston Churchill said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.”

For example, before becoming a U.S. president, Abraham Lincoln…

…was defeated for the State Legislature.
…failed in business.
…was defeated for Speaker of the House.
…was defeated for Congress.
…was defeated for the U.S. Senate.
…was defeated for nomination as vice president.
…was defeated again for the U.S. Senate.

If we rest our definition of success on one or two achievements, there’s a good chance we’ll be disappointed.

What Success Is

We must set our goals, objectives and trajectories based on what we desire, not what someone else wants for us.

Some people find that helping people brings them the most joy, and therefore success looks like a life given to others. Some realize that building a business or product brings them happiness. Some prefer isolation and others prefer constant activity.

The simple yet profound truth is that what makes me happy doesn’t make someone else happy, and vice versa. My vision of success probably looks nothing like yours, and that’s how it should be.

If we fail to define success for ourselves and try to pursue someone else’s path, we’ll end up frustrated, unhappy and ultimately feeling deeply unsuccessful. Bruce Lee said, “Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself; do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it.”

The path to success begins by asking yourself, What makes me happy?

It’s also essential to understand that in many ways, we already are successful. If we assume that we are failures until we reach a specific goal, we will never be happy. We have to recognize all we have already accomplished.

Ask yourself:

• Where have I already seen success in my life?
• How can I continue building on that success?
• What lessons have I learned from those successes?
• What have I learned about myself from those areas?

Success is both a goal and a journey. When we reach certain milestones, that is an element of success. But we don’t stop there. We push higher and harder, striving for more and to bet better.

Tony Robbins says, “The path to success is to take massive, determined action.” But how do we find our path? What steps do we take to achieve true success?

We must be able to clearly answer several laser-specific questions:

• What truly matters to me?
• What are the things that set me on fire with passion?
• What do I want to make of my life?
• What lifestyle do I want to achieve?
• Who do I want to be?
• What do I want people to say about me after I die?

The answers to these questions must be ultra-specific. It’s not enough to say, What really matters to me is happiness. If you can’t see clearly, you won’t really know what that means, or what you’re doing or where you’re going. The same is true of your vision of success.

But before you can begin moving forward, you must assess where you’re at now. This is a time for honest evaluation, not rose-colored glasses. Where are you currently successful? Where do you need to grow? What are your weaknesses and strengths? Try bringing in a friend or colleague to act as a real and unbiased sounding board.

After that, it’s time to set some specific goals. These goals should be achievable and concrete, but still challenging. Your goals should also be measurable. Say you want to read more to be successful; set a goal of 50 books per year, not just “read more.”

If you don’t define success, someone else will define it for you. What mountain are you climbing? Is it the right one? Or are you going to reach the summit and see your mountain off in the distance?

Start on the right path today.

Source: http://www.success.com/article/what-does-success-really-mean-to-you

4 Things to Remember When Doubters Tell You “You Can’t”

by Victor Ng

When you have a dream, you will have doubters. It’s right up there with death and taxes – probably because nobody has to pay taxes or die for doubting. These gleeful killjoys shoot us down before we take off. They say “you can’t” when we thought we can. They make us hesitant when we were sure, silly when we were smart.

External doubt feeds self-doubt; the number one dream-killer as shown in studies. Life and success aren’t about what happens to you, it’s about how you perceive and respond to what happens to you. And doubters happen. They happen fast and hard on your unsuspecting dream. Be ready for them. Better yet, benefit from them. Because, as unthinkable as that sounds, you can.

Here are four ways to give your dreams the benefit of the doubters:

1. Doubters actually care

Don’t hate on those who don’t believe in your dreams, because they might be the very people who love you. Oftentimes, it is those who are closest to us that have the loudest voice of discouragement. This could be your father, your partner, or your best friend.

Sometimes, even your dearest ones cannot see in you what you can see for yourself. They unwittingly project their own self-limitations on you to “protect” you from the pain of failure. A father who has failed in business may urge his entrepreneurial son to “be realistic” and get a “proper” job with a steady paycheck.

The good news is, they want you to succeed. This gives you a chance to turn them into staunch supporters after their initial resistance.

Stay true to your course while making allowance for their advice. Earn their approval and support by addressing their deepest fears about your endeavor. As you progress toward your goals, you’re helping them disprove their assumptions and undo their own limitations too.

“I tend to enjoy proving people wrong.” – Hayley Williams

2. Doubters show you where to improve

Put aside the apparent assault on your ego for a moment and consider what your critics are saying. If you can get over yourself, there’s a lot you can learn there. Take the criticism objectively. Try to find at least one valid point in what they’re saying.

For example, if a headhunter dismisses your aspiration to land a bigger job, she could be 99 percent wrong.The other one percent could be the nugget of insight that will help you. This may be a skill you need, a person whose connection you should make, or better timing to make your move.

The next time you hear others doubting you, find the sliver of truth in their words. Build that into your game plan. You’ll be better for it.

3. Doubters make the best motivation

In his Hall Of Fame speech, Michael Jordan thanked his detractors for the motivation. He credited them for being the driving force behind his legendary work ethic. Jordan was a fierce competitor. He hardly needed any push during his playing career. Yet he chose to turn his doubters into demons he had to slay to prove his greatness.

They were his best motivational buttons and he mashed those poor buttons like a teenager playing NBA2K. Be careful not to invest emotionally in the critics, for they will drain you. It doesn’t matter whether they were being personal or not, as long as you don’t take it personally. Don’t burn out trying to manage others’ opinions of you.

Know that your skeptics cannot define you, unless you allow them. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Turn their action into a positive, powerful reaction that works in your favor. The motivation to prove your critics wrong may be exactly what you need to push for greatness.

“When the doubters tell you it can’t be done and all kind of tragedies will come your way, I say nonsense. If you can get to the very root of who you are and make something happen from it, my sense tells me you are going to surprise yourself.” – Vidal Sassoon

4. Doubters can become powerful allies

Naysayers are oftentimes the byproduct of differences. People can harshly judge ideas or ambitions that are not in line with their own beliefs, opinions, or behavior.

If you can bridge the differences to create win-win relationships, skeptics can become strong allies. They’ve already proven they have a voice and they are willing to use it, only this time, in your favor.

In a team setting, you will have to use your communication and people skills to not just win the argument, but to win the sentiment. Sharing your vision and getting others to stand behind it isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth your effort. Creating advocates of your dream can only accelerate your success.

The bigger and more audacious your dream, the more naysayers you will experience. Be like Usain Bolt who said, “To all my doubters, thank you very much because you guys have also pushed me.”

Are you allowing the doubters to control your life? What are you going to do to change that? Leave your thoughts below!

Source: https://addicted2success.com/motivation/4-things-to-remember-when-doubters-tell-you-you-cant/