In my last blog post I shared 3 of my personal breakthrough moments that shaped who I am today and helped me to find my unique path in life.
But those were still just the breakthroughs of one person.
What I wanted is to see if there’s a pattern of defining moments and learnings people made in their lifetime, that had the power to take them to the next level.
If we understand which breakthroughs have the biggest impact to create a successful life, maybe we can accelerate reaching them.
So I thought: Why not ask people I know are the most successful people in their field about their breakthroughs in life?
So I did a little case-study and talked to people who are thought leaders in their field. May it be personal development, online marketing or even relationship experts.
Here are 4 of the results to asking:
What was your critical personal breakthrough on your path to where you are today?
1. „Everything is Learnable“
Brian Tracy, who had also a decisive impact on my life, is extraordinarily successful in personal and business development for decades now. Brian Tracy has consulted for more than 1,000 companies and addressed more than 5,000,000 people in 5,000 talks and seminars. He is the top selling author of over 45 books and has written and produced more than 300 audio and video learning programs.
He told me:
„Myrko,
It was when I learned that all business, personal and success skills are learnable through hard work and diligent application, over and over.
Good luck!
Brian“
Learning is the key to changing yourself. You can basically learn everything you want. And you can also relearn and change what you don’t want (for instance bad habits, limiting beliefs).
The message is this: Dream about what you want to become, believe that it’s possible… and then just learn the skills that will get you there.
2. „Start Now, Even If You Don’t Know“
Chris Brogan, who successfully blends business strategy with powerful personal development, is a sought-after keynote speaker who has addressed crowds of thousands and has consulted with companies like Disney, Microsoft, Coke, Google. He is the New York Times Bestselling author of seven books.
He said to me:
„Hello Myrko,
I worked. I simply accepted that I didn’t know what I was doing, but just started in somewhere and built from there.
If you’re not afraid of not knowing, you can accomplish a lot more than other people.
That plus being helpful are the only formula I’ve ever needed.
–Chris“
Too many are afraid of feeling incompetent and exploring the unknown. But what do you really have to lose?
The key for you is to get started and take one baby step forward. You’ll be amazed by what you can accomplish by diving into what you don’t know (yet) and consistently going small steps forward.
3. „Seize Your Opportunities“
Neil Strauss, is a multiple best selling author of books as writes also for Rolling Stone and The New York Times. He is famously known as the pick-up artist ‚Style‘. After going undercover in a secret society of pickup artists, he finally started leaving the house, then wrote a book about it called [amazon text=The Game&asin=0060554738] that became a New York Times bestseller.
Neil said:
„Myrko,
my biggest breakthrough came when I realized that I should just say „yes“ to all opportunities.
It has made all the difference.“
It’s not so often that real opportunities present themselves, but if they do, you got to seize them.
When you’re facing a crossroads in your life, say „Yes!“ and choose walking down the path that lets you grow the most.
4. „I Am Responsible“
Steve Pavlina, is one of the first and most recognized personal development bloggers, who has written the powerful book [amazon text=Personal Development for Smart People&asin=B001FA0TJG].
His response:
„Hi Myrko…
I realized, finally, that I was the one who put myself in that cell — that no one else had done it to me. Not the security guard who caught me. Not the officer who arrested me. Not society at large. I wasn’t even a victim of my own bad habits. I did it to myself.
And that sense of responsibility finally came crashing down on me. No one was coming to save me. If anything in my life was going to change, the impetus for that change would have to come from me.“
You’re the creator of your world. But to use this power you have to claim it.
By accepting full responsibility for yourself, you’ll be empowered and take control of your life.
What’s Your Breakthrough?
These were the 4 most critical breakthrough moments successful people experienced in their lifetime.
- I Am Responsible
- Everything Is Learnable
- Seize Your Opportunities
- Start Now, Even If You Don’t Know
So I’m very curious. What about your defining moments?
Please share what shaped you in the comments.
Or,
let me know about your current goals. Where would you like to break through to?
Thank You! I really enjoyed reading this. I look forward to more posts.
I am in love with ur infopages…they r truly inspiring and keeping me completely engaged as i feel it is very interactive.
I am in pursuit of setting up my social entreprise for supporting children with special needs.
Archana Rao
India
Hi Myrko, interesting post. In my recent book Brian Tracy allowed me to feature his „Swallow The Frog“ advice. Why? Because I asked him. There is power in seizing the day, taking a chance – just asking sometimes. In the end, I asked 25 people to contribute and a dozen agreed including John Assaraf, Brian Tracy, Hale Dwoskin, Frank Kern, Brian Johnson, amongst others. Keep up the good advice. :)
hi Myrko
thank you so much for you impressive and greatly useful website..your advice really gives me motivation and help me to do some thing to fulfill my wishes instead of chasing miracle as i always did…
Thanks for your feedback Eva.
That’s right, it just happens that these people where closest to me at this point.
I know that for instance around 55% of all who are signed up on my lists/social media sites are female.
You know what.. maybe I do a post about the defining breakthroughs of successful woman soon! Good idea, thank you!
(comment moved)
Dear Myrko,
I was wondering whether you could also share successful stories of women and not just men.
Thanks for your hard work.
Oh yeah, thats a big one. Not chasing that one big success, but instead putting one baby step on top of the other makes success real.
If you’re going, learning, adjusting.. and keep going, driven by the right goals, eventually you’ll break through.
It’s never one sudden event. Its always an accumulation of small steps into the right direction until you hit a threshold.
Thats in fact the perfect metaphor for the whole idea of breakthrough!
Thanks, Frankie.
I am not „highly“ successful yet, as a matter of fact, I failed more times than I can keep count. But within each failed attempt, I discover a piece of puzzle that mean nothing to me. Regardless, I kept this piece of puzzle in my notebook.
When you have fail enough time, you will accumulate enough puzzle pieces to sum up a sizable picture of what success really meant.
If there is any defining moments for me, is that the realization of success doesn’t need to be grand and glamorous crashing down on humanity how the media portraits it. Acknowledge that success is the accumulation of smaller successes over a long period of time.
I think I have written something similar here.
Hey Dragos, „you are also the solution“ is the key realisation. That’s why taking responsibility is that empowering and necessary shift.
Good to have you here! :)
Wow. Awesome post here Myrko. I really love what Steve has to say.
The worst thing anyone wants to hear is that they are the problem. But the truth is, you are also the solution. You have to make your own way, and the sooner that’s realized, and lived, the better one will be.
Glad I found your site, looking forward to more!
Cheers,
Dragos
Yes, well, hustle.. or maybe in slightly moderate words: just move forward.
Hey Myrko,
Nice job on contacting these guys. I thought Steve Pavlina had the most interesting answer. But what I get from all of them is this: „Just hustle, man!“
:)
That’s a powerful insight, Abderrafie!
I asked a famous coach about his success, and he replied: I had and still have a very effective coach.
Here the relationship is crucial.
Here is a breakthrough I learned from my experience: take your dreams seriously, but don’t take yourself seriously!
Most people do the opposit: they take their dreams lightly ( oh! that’s just a dream…) but they take themselves too seriously: I’m a procrastinator…I’m a lazy man..!
@Myrko Thum: sorry my mistake :)
Indeed taking personal responsibility is the starting point for real growth.
PS. What you quoted was what I said as a reply to Brian Tracy’s answer.
Hi Myrko,
Great post.
I liked what Brain Tracey said here…“Dream about what you want to become, believe that it’s possible… and then just learn the skills that will get you there“.
Very sensible and practical advice.
But what is most personal to me is ‚I Am Responsible‘ and although I’ve never been arrested or anything like that… I too know what I feels like to experience that defining moment when you realise you are responsible.
And until an individual accepts this, they are pretty much doomed!
Naomi