This is a guest post by Paul Sabaj, a loyal reader of Success Circuit. He has previously written Fortune Favors The Bold.
I often see people who have no idea of what success means to them, when they might have achieved it and what their role and set of values can bring to the world. As we get older we often think of what of a legacy we will leave behind.
Again without having goals and the idea of what you want to achieve to keep you grounded you can lose sight and direction. I often wonder if this was the problem of some of the stars that died too soon like John Belushi, River Phoenix and the list can go on.
When you look at those that give back to the world, they stay a little more humble. The likes of George Clooney and U2 whom while fame has given them riches they also manage to give back to the world in a big way.
Keeping you eye on the prize and knowing what you want along with a game plan to get there is a must have in my book. Without direction how will you know when you have gotten to where you want to be?
If you have no idea where you want to go, anywhere will do. Ok, that may have come from Alice In Wonderland.
When I read all the multiple books on people and success they have all found a way to give back to society. One of the true greats is Sir Richard Branson who has more money than he could ever hope to spend in three life times and yet he still finds the time to take on great causes and is a leader not just manager who has a big picture view of life. I have never read a unkind word that was in print from the likes of the man.
I love the story of Steven Spielberg where at a young age he went and worked his way onto the movie lot and found an empty office where he set up shop. He would go there and dress like he belonged and found his way to meet the people who would later hire him. He knew what he wanted and had the end in sight and worked it backwards to get to where he wanted to be. I get the feeling that the dreams we have in our youth get diminished by the failure of others to achieve what they would have like and they tell us all the negative things that take the spirit out of us and leave you with the feeling that you can’t do it.
When I see the likes of Collin Powel who came from the poor side of town and set a standard for himself that helped drive him to the top of the ladder in the military and on to Secretary of State of United States of America, I wonder what it is in a person that drives them to the point that they finally make the decision to go for the gold and keep trying. I also read about the trials and hard road that helped Sir Winston Churchill get to where he made the top of the ladder of success and is now a part of history.
The things that I see that all the people mentioned had in common were great self esteem, desire, and action to get to where they wanted to be. The old saying of when you find your reason to get to where you want to be the rest will come to you. While I don’t like all of Madonna’s music she still is a inspiration as a success model in that she never let failure get in her way. In her youth she lived on other people’s couches and in her car whiles she made her way to the top. Her determination to get to where she wanted to be drove her to stardom.
In one of the books I read there was a part that talked about taking a weekend to decide just what it is you want out of life. Create a journal and review it often and keep a small list of what it is you want to accomplish. Just the act of defining what it is you want will allow you mind to keep it at the forefront and help you towards your goals.
Read the books by Napllolian Hill and others to inspire you along the way. Just as a spiritual person needs to go to church once a week to keep spiritual direction, you need to keep reminding yourself of why you want to achieve what ever it is you want and keep your batteries charged up. The wonder of books, DVDs and seminars allows us to do just that. Get the journal. Take the weekend and define your success path, be bold. Get around like minded people. Ask the people you hang around with what their goals are. If they have none consider who you’re out with and if they might hold you back from growing. I’m often told of how lucky I am to have gotten to where I wanted to be. They never saw the hard work and the volumes of books read, seminars and tapes I listened to. Define your success so you can be THE LUCKY ONE.
Get inspired and find your why! I look forward to the posts from Success Circuit and love the inspiration I find here. Fortune Favors the Bold. Be Bold!
Note from Shane:
What a great post by Paul Sabaj! It really is true, you need to know what you are trying to achieve and the direction you wish to head. Even if you have decided this in the past, go back and check again. Things may have changed. I know I plan to really have a look at the direction I am going to be taking Success Circuit, and indeed the rest of my life, as I believe there is always more I can achieve! I recommend reading an article written in the first week of Success Circuit which was called What Is Success?
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Paul,
What a wonderfully readable and inspiring post. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It reminded me so much of the message from Stephen Covey, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”. In this book he devotes a chapter to, “Begin with the end in mind”.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Thank you Shane for inviting Paul
Regards
Paul
sana galingan ni pacman para msaya at maipanalo nya ung laban
You raise a very good point. Thanks for bringing it to the surface and adding to the conversation. We’ll discuss your point in an upcoming show.
Good point of view. Yes, its right without goal how can define what you achieve. I inspire with this post. Thanks.
Can you read the paragraph and tell why the listener can't see what is taking place?
There are few sounds so exciting in Manhattan as those of fire apparatus dashing through the night. At the out- set there is the tentative hint of the first-due company bully- ing its way through midtown traffic. Now a fire whistle from the opposite directionaffirms that trouble is, indeed, afoot. In seconds, other sirens converging from other streets help the skytop listener focus on the scene of excitement.But he can only hear andnot see, and imagination takes flight. Are the flames and smoke gushing from win- dows not far away? Are victims trapped there, crying out for help? Is it a conflagra- tion, or only a trash-basket fire? Or, perhaps, it is merely a false alarm
You feel insulted and “dehumanized” when scientists say that people evolved from other life forms, but you have no problem with the Biblical claim that we were created from dirt.
It's really good post by Paul Sabaj. It's really basic and important factor in the life.
I thought to feel successful I would need to do things that would make a difference. I step out of my comfort and take on projects that I am passionate about and that I know will make a difference. I just don't feel the satisifaction of making a difference.
What is the republican definition of socialism?
This word is used constantly by them. Could someone please define what they mean by it? Thank you.
Many people fail in life, not for lack of ability or brains or even courage but simply because they have never organized their energies around a goal.
I really need your help guys, this project is for tomorrow and is worth 100 points, i also have to do an interview but i can do that by my own. I just need this little help from you all.
Whatever they want to hear. Would vary enormously in interviews for positions with a U.N. agency, an aggressive merchant bank or a publicly-funded theatre company.