If you want to be successful in life there are simply three words you need to remember. These are not lucky numbers that you should use on your next lottery ticket nor are they randomly picked letters from the alphabet that we casually threw together.
These are the same three words that have been used by celebrities before they were celebrities, by world leaders before they were world leaders, by Olympians before they were Olympians.
Determination. Discipline. Diligence.
You must be determined to win. You cannot give up on yourself. As Jack Canfield writes in The Success Principles, you must understand that you are 100% responsible for your life. This means that today is the day that you stop blaming everything else and everyone else for your current position in life. You control your destiny and no one else; if you are not here for your success then know that no one else will be. Stop choosing to watch ratchet television every night and spend that time reading books that can help you build financial wealth. Stop allowing fear to keep you from attending networking sessions that could help you meet that person who could take you to the next step in your carer. You must also remember that rejection is a myth. Don’t be afraid of a “no”. You must weed through a sea of them to get the “yes” that will change your life. Show up. Be present. Be determined to win.
You must be d-i-s-c-i-p-l-i-n-e-d. You cannot reach a goal without a system. If you are aiming to win, write down specific goals for yourself. Don’t just say, “I want to make more money this year.” Tell yourself that you want to make $10,000 extra dollars in revenue by December 31, 2014. Then break this big goal up into smaller tasks that can be completed over time. Create a system for yourself to accomplish these small goals; if you need to lose 20 pounds, then set a time for yourself to go to the gym each day and work it into your routine. You cannot be successful if you do not focus and center your time around smaller goals to reach the big one.
You must be diligent to see progress. Nothing good comes of laziness. Nothing good comes from excuses. In order to win you must simply DO. You must be willing to work hard. Never give yourself a chance to half-ass anything. If you know you cannot follow through on a commitment, then do not commit. Stick to your word and always overproduce on anything that has your name on it. It is better to give more than to give less. By putting yourself in a mindset where you refuse to settle and always give 110% to your commitments, you undoubtedly will set yourself up for success. Be here to win. Give it your all and believe that your hard work will pay off.
Some might say that there’s a little bit of luck involved in reaching success. And to some degree being in the right room at the right time with the right person could catapult you from nobody to somebody on any given Sunday. But that boost won’t happen if you have nothing to give and nothing to show for yourself. Start today by being present. Are you ready to win?