„Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.“ ~ Winston Churchill
Ok, you know what you want from life. You know what you want to do. It is something that you really love and where you’re good at. Also people need what you would offer. You have made your plans and have set your goals. You invested your time and started taking action. But somehow …, something is still noi working out. Have you been in this situation? I know I certainly have.
In a way this is a followup to my guide on how to be successful in life from last month (if you haven’t read it, do so) and here I want to take a look at what still might hold you back from having the success you want.
Answer the following question for yourself:
The reason I’m not as successful as I might be is ________________.
My Boss, My Family, My Environment, Other People, Competition, Google?
No Money, No Time, No Knowledge, No Drive, No Courage?
This may all be very true, but I’m telling you that this is not the REAL reason.
The Mindset of Successful People
„I’ll do whatever it takes to win games, whether it’s sitting on a bench waving a towel, handing a cup of water to a teammate, or hitting the game-winning shot.“ ~ Kobe Bryant
The real cause of why success might not yet have knocked at your door is that you haven’t said to yourself:
„I will do whatever it takes!“
What does that mean?
This is a mindset you have to develop. It is the mindset of the winner.
The winner figures out what he has to do to get it, and then does that, whatever it takes.
Also the winner doesn’t care what it is, that need to be done – or what obstacles come up and block the way. The winner has a strong goal and whatever it takes to get there, will get done.
(Disclaimer: Now by that I obviously don’t mean that you should do anything unmoral or illegal, right? Ok, I’m just saying…)
A Shift in Thinking
When you say that you’ll do whatever it takes, that NOTHING will get in your way, something changes.
It is a shift in thinking.
1. Now it is not so much about how to get there exactly, because that becomes a flexible construct then. You will figure it out and find a way. So the mindset of „I’ll do whatever it takes“ gives you more flexibility.
2. The other aspect is that it takes you to the real of absolute certainty that you will succeed. Success is not in question anymore. You will do whatever is needed to make is a success. That’s why it is a very uplifting and motivating state in itself.
3. The next advantage of that kind of thinking is that this mindset also helps you to get more resourceful. It raises your energy level and gets you excited and energetic, because you feel that you will need that energy.
4. When you say to yourself „I’ll do whatever it takes“ it opens up all kind of new possibilities: new ideas come, you don’t feel as boxed in anymore as before. Maybe you start looking at areas for help that before just weren’t on your radar screen. This also gives you more freedom. Freedom in thinking and freedom in acting.
5. It also creates the urge to act. You just can’t wait to get going and make the positive changes that came from your new thinking.
Applying the Success Mindset
Basically this mindset is giving you a new way to look at your situation and challenges you in a very positive way to grow. Are there any practical exercises you can take to train your mind for success? I would simply start to internalize the idea that „I will do whatever it takes“ and condition myself with this new mindset. Then see where this takes you from there.
Make sure to lay a nice foundation by going to the sweet-spot of success where you match your passion with your skills and what people need. I’m sure it will help you to do what you want to do and get where you want to go.
Great post. Mindset is so important. I am writing on it, internalizing it and it is still a challenge to do. I see this was written 5 years ago. Hopefully it is still getting read!
Thanks a lot @Rohit!
In punjabi my language “ mai kea bai tera blog att ae. Kamal da dimag hai tera eni sonia gallan kise di b zindagi badal dave“
In English. You are so nice . Your blogs may change anyone’s life. You write quite and clear truth. Really awesome brain you have. Am really inspired alot. It really helps for upcoming generation to grow. Your blogs is just like a medicine for a failure.
Am feel lucky to meet you.
Keep it up. Spread your blogs everywhere. I also posted on my facebook wall.
Thankx friend.
From India, Punjab.
Rohit bhatia
Thanks for this great post! It came at the right time.
Hey Johnny, sorry you feel that way. I went through a depression myself, you can read it over here if you are interested. Sometimes you just can’t help it at the moment and that’s fine. All I’m trying to bring across is that we can take responsibility for ourselves, which is the only thing that gives you active control over what is happening.
We live in a world of cause and effect. There are causes outside of your influence. But you can take the responsibility for your reaction to it. This is were you are in control and that’s a very empowering thought and a place to start from.
One last thing: it’s always good to really understand why something is happening. I’ve seen people sabotaging their efforts because of things they weren’t aware of. Finding this and having the courage to face it is a start too. I’m not saying it’s easy, I’m only saying it’s worth it.
It appears that what you are trying to get everyone to agree to as are all the self help people is to accept that there difiiculties are there fault. Which is easy enough, I guess eventhough it is not always true. I can prove it very easy. But what I have a problem with is you don’t have the decency to tell how to correct the problem.
Its really depressing as hell reading shit like this. I starts encouraging and end up hopeing. And naturally nothying I hope for does happen. And mother fuckers like you are more than glad to validate my belief that I am a hopeless looser.
I am so dpressed now it will take 2 days to get out of it.
@Amit, GTD is a sophisticated yet sometimes a bit complicated system, still great to get results. Today I personally like it a bit more simplified. Thanks for participating.
You nailed it man, like your way of selfless explanation. Every single detail has been covered, how to approach it and all.
„Getting things done“ a book, has helped me a lot in concentrating on my work, though, taking small steps to success daily, but that’s how the way it works for me.
Thanks for sharing your fundas. :)
Have a great day.
Hi Jason, great to have you here.
Commitment: „the moment one definitely commits oneself“ is synonym to „I’ll do whatever it takes!“ W.H. Murray is right, something changes and the dust clears out of the air when we commit 100%. New perspectives come and the journey continues …
Great post Myrko,
It’s difficult to see beliefs and fears holding you back, until you take the option of retreating off of the table. I’m sure that you know the W.H. Murray quote :
…Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way. I learned a deep respect for one of Goethe’s couplets:
Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it!
The think that always make me laugh about the quote, is the rarely quoted beginning… „We had put down our passage money— booked a sailing to Bombay. This may sound too simple, but is great in consequence.“
Lol. They put down their money, so they had to go ;o)