In our previous Wisdom Note, we explored five tips to navigate life’s transitions. These bits of wisdom help us to live a rich and satisfying life while creating a living legacy. If you miss any of our Wisdom Notes please go to the blog to read previous installments.
On life’s daily trek you will run into a number of challenges along your journey. You will likely also run into advice from virtually every person or resource imaginable. I have discovered that no matter what your goals are, what your life’s calling is, or what you are looking to achieve, there are some basic principles that always apply. Here are the 10 that I find most important.
1. You can achieve what you thought was impossible.
Along your journey, chances are you will have plenty of people telling you what you can’t do. In fact, you may be one of the people telling yourself that something is impossible. Aim big; you are capable of achieving just about anything, even what you thought was impossible, no matter what anyone says. There is always an investment of time, talent, and resources to achieve what you desire, so the question you have to settle is if you are willing to make that investment. There is always a price to pay but always believe in yourself and never give up. My years of experience have proven to me we are all capable of achieving more than we think.
2. There will be failures.
We all fail, and chances are you will fail a lot before you find any measure of success. The key to finding the success you seek is not giving up when these failures come around. Pick yourself back up and keep working. It will pay off in the end.
3. Success takes time.
You aren’t going to achieve success overnight. There is no such thing as an overnight success. In fact, you may not see significant progress for a few weeks, a few months, or sometimes even years. Real, sustainable success takes time and it happens slowly.
4. Freedom is the best reward for your investment.
There are many people who become financially successful and do not live a rich and satisfying life. They are slaves to their success, their possessions, and their obligations. Seek true success in life that provides you with the freedom to be able to have choices in life. The more choices you have, the more impact that you have on your world.
5. It’s okay to lose that which is not lasting.
There will be times when circumstances beyond your control will cause you to lose money, possessions, and even status. This is not a reason to quit. One thing that you should never lose is that which is most important. Your experience, your integrity, your positive impact on others through your example are the only things that are truly lasting. You can lose. In fact, you can lose a lot of material items, just don’t lose everything by giving up.
6. Successful individuals control their emotions.
Life can be tough at times. It’s overwhelming, and it’s hard. Never lose control of your emotions. Keep them in check, so a cooler head can always prevail.
7. Never be afraid to admit you are wrong.
You will be wrong at some point or another in your journey. No one is ever right 100 percent of the time. Don’t be afraid to be wrong, and take some risks. They may pay off in the end, or they may not. But, either way, it is okay. You become successful through the experiences you are gaining.
8. Your success depends on you.
The level of success you achieve depends entirely on your individual commitment. As mentioned earlier, to achieve success in any area of life requires that you be willing to make an investment of time, talent, and resources. If you are not reaching the success you think you deserve, chances are you are not committed enough to your goals to make the investment needed.
9. Never stop trying to improve.
You must never stop learning and improving. Even when you think you have achieved a desirable level of success, there is always room to work more, achieve more, and improve more. Stretch and grow so that you can have a greater impact on others as you live your legacy each day.
10. Financial freedom can help make a greater impact.
Financial freedom is a powerful thing, but it is important to remember it shouldn’t only be your end goal. Financial freedom provides us with more choices. Those choices allow us to have the freedom to have a greater impact on our world. No matter where you are from or what you are working on, people all over the globe, want one thing: to love and be loved. Love is the most important thing to share with the world, and financial freedom allows you to provide love and happiness to others in a real way. Work toward financial freedom not so you can buy things but so you can have the time, energy, and resources needed to share love and happiness with others and to have a greater impact by spending quality time with those who matter most.
As you pursue and obtain success in all areas of life, keep in perspective what is most important as Jesus taught us in Matthew 6:31-34, “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
Along our trek for this week we discovered the 10 Principles for Success and what is most important when success is achieved. Next week we will reflect on the four truths when life is difficult. In addition to our weekly Wisdom Notes, encourage your friends and family to also join us on our daily podcast – Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.
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