Three Habits of Successful People

“Becoming successful is a process that never ends.”
Rick Pitino

Today I wish to go back to some of my “bread and butter”--simply as a reminder to us of how we can reach our potential and be successful in life. Each of these items have been discussed several times in previous blogs on this site throughout the years, but I believe they are so critical to successful living that it is worth repeating over and over again. Today...here are three tips to becoming more successful.

#1 Vision

“Little plans have no power to stir your blood.” Robert K. Cooper

What is your plan in life? What are your life-long goals? What do you hope to accomplish? Where would you like to be in 10 years, 20 years, and 50 years from now? To reach our desired destination, we must have a vision. Without vision, we will wander through life and eventually realize we never accomplished much and only reached a small part of our full potential. Becoming a visionary person is easier said than done as it takes time and discipline. However, a vision is necessary to stir our blood, to motivate us, to help us be focused and purpose driven throughout our life. A vision propels us to stretch ourselves, to work hard, and to enjoy life. I cannot repeat enough that success in life begins with the end in mind. It begins with vision.

#2 Action

"I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor."
Henry David Thoreau

Action leads to success. Without it, we fail. Even having a vision without action is pointless. Often people do not take action because they are uncertain or afraid. The best step to take when facing these feelings is to act. As is often stated, a journey of a thousand miles begins with one first step. If we never take that first step, then we will never get anywhere. Doing something, even if it happens to be the wrong thing, is better than doing nothing at all. Action leads to success while inaction leads to disappointment and failure.

#3 Attitude

“Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal. Nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong attitude.”
Thomas Jefferson

Attitude is everything, literally. Without the right attitude, we will not get very far in life. And the great news is that the only person who has the ability to determine your attitude is you! No one else controls it. More and more it is becoming easier for people to play the role of a victim, to say they are helpless—controlled by their environment—not having the ability to be happy and positive because of things outside of them. This simply is not true. We must stop being victims and begin to see all the possibilities and blessings that surround us. As one of my former supervisors used to say, “Remember, you have the power to make this day and everyday a great day.” This is so true, and it is all determined by our attitude!

These three things, though simple, will enable us to be successful in life. Remember to have vision, take action, and maintain a good attitude. If we are able to do these three things alone, everything else will fall into place.