Have you ever really studied what “success” really means? It’s a rather elusive topic because it’s a term that can too easily be interpreted a number of ways. It doesn’t necessarily always look the same for everyone.
One person may define success in terms of their relationships and connections. Someone else may say success starts with their health. Others may say it involves reaching financial goals. And others may say that spiritual contentment is at the root of success.
And yet, we are all able to detect someone that we would all call “successful.” Somewhere along the line, there is a common thread between all successful people. What is it?
Webster defines success as “The accomplishment of an aim or purpose.” Excellent! What aim? What purpose?
This year, I challenge you to become a student of success. This is not to say that you aren’t already successful in many ways already! But we could all – every one of us – improve in some area of our lives that would make us more successful.
So, how does one study success? Well, here are the top three ways:
- Study Books
Scores of books have been written that can help lead a person to success. So how can you know where to start? Here are a few of the best ones ever written that can get you started:
How To Win Friends And Influence People by Dale Carnegie. No matter how many friends you have or how well you feel that you know people, you can learn about how to relate to and understand people better in this book. Written back in the 1940’s, it’s been a bestselling classic ever since.
The Seven Habits Of Highly Successful People by Steven Covey. Another bestseller, Covey divides success into three arenas: Private Victory, Public Victory, and Renewal. Your habits shape your results in anything you attempt, so this book is a must for studying successful daily habits.
Think And Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill was written back in the 1930’s and it was an instant hit. Hill tackles the mental disciplines of success that can be applied to any area of life.
The Magic Of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz is a must read for everyone, no matter their line of work. Why think anything if you’re not going to think big?
The Belief Zone by myself, Ursula Mentjes. As a student of success myself, I packed as much of the most important things to know about achieving into this book. You will learn to operate in the Belief Zone – the place you need to be to succeed! - Study People
It’s easy to read about a select few people throughout history that have achieved success and see what their results have been. And that certainly has value!
Who do you know in your sphere of influence that you would consider to be successful? Why? Make a list! Even better, schedule a time to meet up with this person and ask them direct questions about themselves, their habits, their worldview, their relationships, and their beliefs.
When you meet with them, be coachable! It’s a good thing to learn from successful people and it’s okay to make changes in yourself for the better! Nobody is born with the traits of success. They are learned, practiced, and disciplined. Studying these from a person you know is a great way to interact with the results of successful endeavors and personal satisfaction. - Study Yourself
What are you already good at? Be honest with yourself. What are your strengths? Why are they your strengths? What do you have to say that is worth others listening to? These are already a part of YOUR success story! Do NOT take them lightly because they are incredibly valuable to someone else.
While we can all improve in areas of our lives, and the fact is that everyone is already successful at something. It’s a good discipline to evaluate yourself and take a serious inventory of what you are good at, as well as what you struggle with.
Let’s start the 20’s with a bang! It’s worth your time to learn what success, what it means, how to achieve it, and how to help others to do the same. There are few things greater that you can do with your life.
Here’s to 2020!
