HOW TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL
THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT THE ACHIEVEMENT OF SUCCESS IS THAT EVERY STEP IN THAT DIRECTION IS REWARDING IN ITSELF. EACH STEP YOU TAKE TOWARD BECOMING A BETTER PERSON AND ACCOMPLISING MORE THAN YOU EVER HAVE BEFORE MAKES YOU FEEL HAPPIER, MORE CONFIDENT, AND MORE FULFILLED.
YOU'VE HEARD IS SAID THAT "NOTHING SUCCEEDS LIKE SUCCESS" WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT THE GREATEST REWARD OF SUCCESS IS NOT THE MONEY YOU MAKE BUT RATHER THE EXCELLENT PERSON YOU BECOME IN THE PROCESS OF STRIVING TOWARD SUCCESS AND EXERTING SELF-DISCIPLINE EVERY TIME IT IS REQUIRED .
IN THE NEXT CHAPTER, I WILL EXPLAIN HOW YOU CAN BECOME THE TRULY EXCELLENT PERSON YOU ARE CAPABLE OF BECOMING.
TAKE OUT A PEN RIGHT NOW AND WRITE DOWN YOUR ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS BELOW.
1. IF YOUR WORK LIFE AND CAREER WERE IDEAL, WHAT WOULD THEY LOOK LIKE? WHAT ONE DISCIPLINE COULD YOU DEVELOP THAT WOULD HELP YOU TO ACHIEVE IT?
2. IF YOUR FAMILY LIFE WERE IDEAL, WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE, AND WHAT ONE DISCIPLINE WOULD HELP YOU THE MOST TO MAKE IT A REALITY?
3. IF YOUR HEALTH WERE PERFECT IN EVERY WAY, WHAT DISCIPLINES WOULD YOU HAVE THAT MAKE IT POSSIBLE?
4. IF YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION WERE IDEAL TODAY, WHAT ONE DISCIPLINE WOULD YOU HAVE THAT WOULD HELP YOU THE MOST?
5. WHY AREN'T YOU ALREADY AS SUCCESSFUL AS YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE, AND WHAT ONE DISCIPLINE WOULD HELP YOU THE MOST TO ACHIEVE ALL YOUR GOALS?
6. WHAT ONE SKILL COULD YOU DEVELOP THAT WOULD HELP YOU TO REALIZE MORE OF YOUR GOALS?
7. IF YOU COULD WAVE A MAGIC WAND AND BE COMPLETELY DISCIPLINED IN ONE AREA, WHICH ONE DISCIPLINE WOULD HAVE THE GREATEST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOUR LIFE?
"HOLD YOURSELF RESPONSIBLE FOR A HIGHER STANDARD
THAN ANYONE ELSE EXPECTS OF YOU.
NEVER EXCUSE YOURSELF. NEVER PITY YOURSELF.
BE A HARD MASTER TO YOURSELF AND BE LENIENT TO EVERYONE ELSE".
--- HENRY WARD BEECHER,'
NINETEENTH - CENTURY CLERTYMAN
THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHARACTER IS THE GREAT BUSINESS OF LIFE. YOUR ABILITY OF DEVELOP A REPUTATION AS A PERSON OF CHARACTER AND HONOR IS THE HIGHEST ACHIEVEMENT OF BOTH SOCIAL AND BUSINESS LIFE. RALPH WALDO EMERSON WROTE, "WHAT YOU DO SPEAKS SO LOUNDLY THAT I CANNOT HEAR A WORD THAT YOU SAY".
THE PERSON YOU ARE TODAY, YOUR INNERMOST CHARACTER, IS THE SUM TOTAL OF ALL YOUR CHOICES AND DECISION IN LIFE UP TO THIS DATE. EACH TIME YOU HAVE CHOSEN RIGHTLY AND ACTED CONSISTENTLY WITH THE VERY BEST THAT YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE STRENGTHENED YOUR CHARACTER AND BECOME A BETTER PERSON. THE REVERSE IS ALSO TRUE. EACH TIME YOU HAVE COMPROMISED. TAKEN THE EASY WAY, OR BEHAVED IN A MANNER INCONSISTENT WITH WHAT YOU KNEW TO BE RIGHT, YOU HAVE WEAKENED YOUR CHARACTER AND SOFTENED YOUR PERSONALITY.
THE TEST OF CHARACTER
IT IS ONLY WHEN YOU ARE UNDER PRESSURE - WHEN YOU ARE FORCED TO CHOOSE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, TO EITHER LIVE CONSISTENTLY WITH A VALUE OR TO COMPROMISE IT - THAT YOU DEMONSTRATE YOUR TRUE CHARACTER. EMERSON ALSO SAID, "GUARD YOUR INTREGRITY OF YOUR OWN MIND".
YOU ARE A "CHOOSING ORGANISM". YOU ARE CONSTANTLY MAKING CLOTHES, ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. EACH CHOICES YOU MAKE IS A STATEMENT ABOUT YOUR TRUE VALUES AND PRIORITIES. AT EACH MOMENT, YOU CHOOSE WHAT IS IMPORTANT OR OF HIGHER VALUE TO YOU OVER WHATIS LESS IMPORTANT OR OF LESSER VALUE.
THE ONLY BULWARK AGAINST TEMPTATION, THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE, AND THE EXPEDIENCY FACTOR IS CHARACTER. THE ONLY WAY THAT YOU CAN DEVELOP YOUR FULL CHARACTER IS BY EXERTING YOUR WILLPOWER IN EVERY SITUATION WHEN YOU ARE TEMPTED TO DO WHAT IS EASY AND EXPEDIENT RATHER THAN WHAT IS CORRECT AND NECESSARY.
