“If you don’t know where you’re going, then any road will take you there,” said the Cheshire cat in Alice in Wonderland. That is so true! Some people just wander aimlessly through life, living one day at a time. Then they wonder how they ended up where they are – stuck in a rut. These people lack purpose, direction and vision.
True success is following and achieving your dreams in life. It starts with a dream. Having a clear vision of what you want out of life is the first step towards success. You need to know what is important, what motivates you, and what you want to achieve. Every successful person starts with a vision. They visualize their desired end result in every venture. This applies to all facets of life, from a completed project to a successful business or a happy family. Stephen Covey, author of “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” calls this Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind.
What do you want to accomplish? Visualize yourself getting your book published. Visualize yourself getting a patent for your invention. Visualize yourself taking a trip to Europe. Your vision gives you a sense of purpose and direction. It provides focus and acts as a motivating force to help you succeed.
Our minds are very powerful. Oftentimes, what we focus on is what we get. So focus on success. Visualize yourself achieving your goals. Do so in great detail. For example, visualize yourself earning the recognition of your peers at an awards banquet when you receive the Top Employee of the Year award. The Master of Ceremonies has called your name, everyone is applauding and you walk up to receive your plaque. How do you feel? Probably pretty proud of yourself! Not only see yourself being successful, but feel it too.
When you stay focused on a positive outcome, opportunities oftentimes come your way. Jim Carey, comedian and actor, took this a step further. He wrote himself a check for ten million dollars for “Services Rendered”, dated it, and kept it in his pocket. When times were tough he would sit on a hillside overlooking Hollywood and imagine himself as a famous movie star. Then he’d reread his check as a reminder of his goal. A few years later he signed a deal for more than ten million dollars to star in The Mask. The date? Almost identical to the one written on the check that he kept in his pocket. This shows the power of visualization combined with an intense focus on your goal.
Visualization can be very powerful indeed. What do you want out of life? Visualize yourself living the kind of life you want. Having a crystal-clear vision is the first step towards success. Visualize your desired end result, stay focused on your goal, and you will achieve it. And you’ll experience the satisfaction that comes with achievement.
For more information on goal achievement, listen to the CD “Beyond New Year’s Resolutions: How to Set and Attain Your Goals“
How do you define success? Do you define success as making a certain amount of money? Having a certain job title? Awards for professional achievement? Or do you define success in terms of your relationships with others – family and friends? Or service to others?
Here are some definitions of success:
“Success is being the best in your chosen field.”
“Success is serving God and your fellow man.”
“You’re not successful until someone brags they sat beside you in grade school.”
“She has achieved success who has lived long, laughed often, and loved much.”
Thomas Wolfe defined success this way: “If a man has a talent and learns how to use it … he has gloriously succeeded and won a satisfaction and a triumph few men ever know.”
Do you agree or disagree with any of these statements? Which of these statements resonate with you?
You need to determine how you will measure your own success. How you define success determines how you live your life. Your mission, values, and definition of success translates into everyday decisions. Decisions such as what job you’ll pursue, how much overtime you’ll work, how much time you’ll spend with family or friends. It also determines what time you’ll devote to community projects or to self-improvement. When you’re clear about what success means to you, then you’re able to make decisions more easily about how to spend your time and what activities to get involved in. Ultimately, your quality of life will depend upon your pursuit of success as you define it.
Reflect on your life. What would you like to have? What would you like to accomplish? Who would you like to become? Jot down your thoughts, and then synthesize them into an axiom you want to live by. By doing so, you’ll feel a sense of purpose and mission.
How about you? How do you define success? Please share with other readers.