Before I knew how to run a business, I made a decision that I wanted to be successful – and I don’t just mean financially. Yes, I wanted financial freedom but more importantly I wanted a wife, a family, to travel the world and experience the great things in life that takes money to do.
I’m so happy to say that my “Future Self” I envisioned 4 years ago, I am today. But… it hasn’t been easy! It’s taken a lot of work on my part – work on myself and work on my business.
Today, as I was reflecting back on my life, I asked myself: “Why is it that two people may want the same thing (maybe it’s starting the same business, maybe it’s using the same weight-loss program), and one will succeed but the other won’t?”
Being in a business where I personally help others to create success, this has been the perfect place to see what plays out in individuals that don’t know each other but are on the same path.
Successful vs Unsuccessful
The people that succeed are really no different from the people that don’t succeed. Before they start their venture, both are human-beings with the capacity to think, make decisions, act and both have the same circumstances. Often, the ones that succeed are in worse circumstances than those who don’t succeed.
From my personal experience and what I’ve seen in others, the people that become successful have a few traits they develop, which the unsuccessful don't. And take note that I said “develop” because both might not have had them in the beginning.
Successful traits include:
1. The have a burning desire to create success
2. They know exactly what they want – they have clear defined goals
3. They know why they want it – and their reason isn’t just money
4. They accept that to succeed they need to change the way they think
5. They’re humble enough to accept that they have a lot to learn and they commit themselves to learning whatever it is they need to know to get the results
6. They have a mentor to whom they ask a lot of questions to fast track their results
7. They commit themselves to constantly getting out of their comfort zone and repeatedly do those things that don’t feel easy until they become second nature
8. This is a HUGE one: They don’t give in to the lie that they can’t become successful because of their current circumstances or because of other people
9. They do whatever it takes to become successful
10. They’re consistent – they don’t stop start
11. They start a program or get a coach/mentor and they trust the process from start to end
Unsuccessful traits include:
1. They don’t have much desire or urgency for creating success
2. They have impotent goals (or wants), therefore they’re not driven
3. They might know what they want ($1 million) but they don’t know what they want it for (their WHY)
4. They believe that doing the technical work without making a change in themselves will bring about the results
5. The expect someone else to do the work for them – they don’t take responsibility
6. They don’t ask their mentor for feedback (or ask questions) and then get frustrated when things aren’t working out
7. They mostly do the things that feel comfortable and therefore don’t see any new results
8. They believe that if they didn’t have their current circumstances they could be successful
9. They buy into the lies of other people of why they can’t be successful (Eg. “You don’t even know anything about business… how could you ever be successful?”)
10. They only do small bits of work at a time – nothing significant or consistent enough that will move them forward in leaps and bounds
11. They start a program or get a coach/mentor and soon enough they start having doubts until they quit, start another program, and the same thing happens all over again
I’ve seen (and experienced) that it’s all about making consistent, simple mindset shift that in the end make all the difference. If you believe you’ll be successful overnight – forget even trying. You must be committed to learning, growing and applying over the long-term and soon enough you’ll be seeing life from a whole new perspective. And when you see how your old thinking was holding you back, that’s when the results will start showing up.
Which one successful trait can you start applying today and how?
“Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.”
– Proverbs 4:23
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Alex Ford
Digital Marketing Trainer
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Great share Alex! Asking for feedback from a mentor is such a great way to find out what they did that you should be doing. Being successful is about being humble. thanks!
That’s true Shannon! Very often mentors see things in us that we don’t. It’s so valuable having one.
And I agree… being humble is a massive key to success!
I love #10. They’re consistent – they don’t stop start
Consistency wins the race!
Great post
That’s right Steve. That’s where so many people fail… they go from one thing to the next and never gain any consistency or momentum.
Thanks for your comment
Success leaves clues they say; absolutely pick the brain of your mentor! Awesome post!
That’s one of my favourite sayings, Jeff! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I love surrounding myself with people who have the kind of success I aim to achieve and do as they suggest! As you say, Lots of people want the $$ with no idea what they would do with the benjies once they got them! Great share Alex.
It’s an amazing thing Julie! And when you surround yourself with successful people and action their suggestions, you end up attracting more successful people into your life. It’s amazing how we attract who we’re being!
Thanks for the comment Julie 🙂
This is a superb assessment to the differences between successful and non-successful people. I believe the majority of us can be identified with a few numbers from each category. I know I can!
There are definitely some biggies in the unsuccessful category that I need to shake…right now…which is why this comment isn’t any longer—gotta get busy getting successful! 😉
Thanks for a great wake-up call!
Haha glad the post has challenged you Christy! We all need to be challenged some times 🙂 Even I get challenged on a daily basis but it’s all part of growing, which ends up turning into great results anyways.
Hey Alex, such a great post!! So true, we all start off at the same spot but its up to each individual as to where that path takes them!!1 thanks for sharing
Thanks Diane 🙂 And yes, you’re absolutely right! No one else can create your success… you alone must choose to pursue that path.
Thanks for your comment!
Wow! nice illustration of successful vs unsuccessful people. I have some unsuccessful traits and I am currently working on it to eliminate them. The last line won my heart, “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.”
Hi Selina! I’m glad you got something from this 🙂 Growth is always a work in progress. Even the most successful people read everyday because they know their personal development is the most important part to creating even greater levels of success.
That’s one of my favourite quotes 🙂 And when you think about it.. our best level of thinking has got us to where we are today. If we want to progress any further, then we need to expand our thinking so we can see greater opportunities in the real world.