| A successful life is about finding your true purpose | | | | true. You may have to work for it, however." |
| and pursuing it with all your passion. It is about find | | | | The Empress of the British Empire, Queen Victoria, |
| the true riches of life that lead to happiness and | | | | admonished, "We are not interested in the possibilities |
| fulfillment. It is having goals that drive your life. | | | | of defeat." |
| Many people who achieve fortune in the world are | | | | Do YOU Have What It Takes? |
| not born rich. But they accomplished it through hard | | | | There are qualities of endeavor and achievement |
| work and a plan of action. Every type of person on | | | | that are common to many people who make it to |
| earth can become successful. There are saints and | | | | the top. The following questions are a guideline to |
| scoundrels; philanthropists and thieves; poets and | | | | self-enterprise and attaining your goals. |
| politicians; young and old. There are no limitations or | | | | -Do you prefer to work for yourself than for others? |
| physical boundaries for success. | | | | -Are you well-informed on current business and |
| Success comes to those who deeply think about | | | | political affairs? |
| success and constantly strive for it! Although many | | | | -Are you a leader? |
| rich financiers at the turn of the century had no | | | | -Do you take advantage of opportunities? |
| formal education, they overcame that and went on | | | | -Do you pay attention to what other people say? |
| to great fame. | | | | -Can you finish a job even when it is difficult or |
| Some people strive towards a single goal from early | | | | unpleasant? |
| in life, and often attain that goal while still young. | | | | -Are you challenged by problems? |
| Others are willing to risk new adventures later and | | | | -Do you have a goal you want to achieve? |
| still attain success. | | | | -Do you consider other people? |
| "It's never too late to learn," wrote Malcolm Forbes, | | | | -Do you strive to attain? |
| the money magnate. "I learned to ride a motorcycle | | | | -Can you obey commands? |
| at 50 and fly balloons at 52." | | | | -Can you bounce back after defeat? |
| Whatever your task, whatever your obstacles, you | | | | -Do you believe in yourself? |
| can be as successful as anyone else. Study the | | | | -Can you stand by your actions in spite of criticism? |
| people who accomplished recognition in the areas of | | | | -Can you follow instructions? |
| your pursuit. How did they achieve their goals? And | | | | -Can you respond to the needs of others? |
| don't be afraid you don't have what it takes. | | | | -Will you give credit to others? |
| As Daniel Webster wrote, "There is always room at | | | | -Can you make your own decisions? |
| the top." | | | | -Are you determined? |
| Forming Conviction- | | | | -Are you ready for success? |
| The single attribute that every successful person has | | | | Establish a Goal- |
| is the one pointed devotion to attain a goal."There in | | | | -What do you want? |
| the sunshine are my highest aspirations," wrote | | | | -Are you looking for financial security, |
| Louisa May Alcott, "I can look up and see their | | | | professionalacknowledgment, spiritual attainment? |
| beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where | | | | -Do you want to fit better socially, or become more |
| they lead." | | | | expressive creatively? |
| What are your desires? How can you form them into | | | | Establish the goal that's right for you. |
| definite goals that you can attain? | | | | Then turn that goal from a dream into a desire. You |
| Lawrence Peter wrote, "If you don't know where | | | | want to realize that goal, not just wish for it. Aesop |
| you're going, you'll probably end up somewhere else." | | | | said, "Beware that you do not lose the substance by |
| Maybe you're studying a craft or skill. Perhaps you're | | | | grabbing at the shadow." |
| caught in a rung of the corporate ladder. Or, you | | | | -Know exactly what you want, then go for it. |
| might feel constricted by your family and the | | | | -Don't be tricked by your own procrastination- |
| environment around you. | | | | especially if you want to achieve something artistic. |
| Which star are you reaching for? | | | | The writer Thomas Wolfe wrote, "I had been |
| "Ours is a world where people don't know what they | | | | sustained by that delightful illusion of success which |
| want and are willing to go through anything to get it," | | | | we all have when we dream about the books we |
| wrote Don Marquis. | | | | are going to write instead of actually doing them. |
| Take the time to think about your own aspirations. | | | | Now I was face to face with it, and suddenly I |
| Look inside to find what feels right. Almost everyone | | | | realized that I hadcommitted my life and my integrity |
| entertains the notions of fame and fortune, but put | | | | so irrevocably to this struggle that I must conquer |
| on the 'costume' that fits you. Conviction requires | | | | now or be destroyed." |
| certain qualities of action. Successful Living requires | | | | Can you see what you want? If you want the |
| that you be sincere and be willing to assume | | | | abundance of material wealth that money provides, |
| responsibility. And you need the self-discipline | | | | what goal will give you that money? |
| necessary to work towards your goals. | | | | -Do you want the prestige of owning your own |
| -Are you prepared to achieve your dreams? | | | | business? |
| -Can you form their reality in your mind? | | | | -What business do you want to begin? |
| -Will you devote your entire being to attaining what | | | | -Where are the opportunities for you? |
| you want?!? | | | | Talk to everyone in the business you want to join. |
| On Your Own- | | | | Make friends in the literary or art societies in your |
| Most millionaires are non-conformists. So are the | | | | area. Read books and articles about your field of |
| most famous actors and actresses; and the most | | | | endeavor. How can you attain your goal? |
| prominent artists. Writers are known for their | | | | "If you don't want to work, you have to work to |
| individual traits and eccentricities. Your convictions and | | | | earn enough money so that you don't have to work!" |
| goals are your own business, even when you find | | | | wrote Ogden Nash. Money makes money; success |
| help along the path. | | | | breeds success. |
| Mentors often take people under their wings to | | | | But not always. |
| nourish and teach. Or spiritual guides will show you | | | | How can you break through those thoughts to help |
| the path to attainment. But you're on your own to | | | | yourself to the rewards? |
| achieve. | | | | Henry David Thoreau wrote... |
| Cultivate a sense of justice and an ability to make | | | | "I have learned this at least by my experiment: that |
| decisions. Cooperate with everybody and develop | | | | if you advance confidently in the direction of your |
| your own self-respect. And follow good criticism and | | | | dreams, and endeavor to live the life which you |
| advice after you've judged carefully. | | | | imagine, you will meet with success." |
| J. Paul Getty said, "I advise young millionaires to be | | | | Think BIG and passionately visualize success, |
| skeptical of advice. They should advise themselves; | | | | consistently and without ceasing: |
| they should form their own opinions." | | | | -Do you see yourself in a big house? |
| Lord Byron wrote, "There is rapture on the lonely | | | | -Maybe you picture your artwork hanging in a gallery. |
| shore." And if you attain your goals with poise and | | | | -Can you feel your book in print and in your hands? |
| sincerity, you'll find warmth and love at the top- not | | | | -How does it feel to be a person of success?!? |
| the cold loneliness pictured by the jealous. Put on | | | | Affirm- |
| blinders to negative comments and criticism meant to | | | | To make firm. |
| hurt you. | | | | Make firm that you are; know that it is in your grasp. |
| About the people who criticize, Voltaire wrote, | | | | That's what the others did, and that's how people |
| "Never having been able to succeed in the world, | | | | make it to the top. Then get down to basics. |
| they took revenge by speaking ill of it." | | | | Be precise. |
| Seize the Day! | | | | Exactly how much money do you want, and by what |
| People are judged by what they think and what they | | | | date? |
| say. But the true measure of their character is what | | | | And exactly what are you going to do to earn that |
| they do. Anyone who has achieved success and | | | | money? Be realistic, but give yourself short-term |
| fortune in the world has done it by action. William | | | | goals. Write it down. In six months or one year, you |
| Jennings Bryan wrote, "Destiny is not a matter of | | | | will have how much money. And repeat it until it feels |
| chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be | | | | good. Then repeat it twice a day until it swirls in your |
| waited for, it is a thing to be achieved." | | | | subconscious, until it becomes your one-pointed goal. |
| The choice of the path you follow is often put | | | | "The goal stands up, the keeper stands up to keep |
| before you as opportunity. "Few people recognize | | | | the goal," wrote A.E. Housman. |
| opportunity," said Cary Grant, "because it comes | | | | Keys to Successful Living- |
| disguised as hard work." | | | | -Make people feel at ease- They will respond to your |
| Don't let opportunities slip past while you're still | | | | needs as you respond to theirs. |
| considering them, and create new ones as you see | | | | -Share the spotlight. |
| them. "Wise people make more opportunities than | | | | -Give credit to those who deserve it- and to those |
| they find," said Francis Bacon. | | | | who strive. |
| What opportunities can you act upon? Woolworth | | | | -Don't grab praise away from other people. |
| saw a need for small inexpensive items and opened | | | | -Have confidence in your own value. |
| the chain of stores that grossed billions. Wrigley | | | | -Don't do anything that won't credit your own |
| started giving gum away as a bonus from a supplies | | | | self-respect. |
| wagon he sold from, and saw the opportunity to | | | | -Follow up your actions as they reflect your own |
| make money from the gum that became in high | | | | self-worth. |
| demand. | | | | Listen well to others' comments. Then weigh your |
| All successful people the world over have found the | | | | own actions. Cultivate relationships with people who |
| opportunities for their own special talents and acted | | | | have good and important things to say. |
| upon those ways to achieve. Why wait for the time | | | | Participate in life. |
| to pass? There's never a better time than now. | | | | Be active in business meetings and endeavors; |
| Lewis Carroll believed as many as six impossible | | | | volunteer to be part of organizations and groups. |
| things before breakfast. Take your own impossible | | | | Social interaction will boost your sense of well-being. |
| dreams and make them become reality. | | | | Feel worthy of your own goal. |
| How They Think- | | | | Know that you can attain it and that it is right for |
| Thousands of potential millionaires are born every | | | | you. Grasp your own challenge. Don't give yourself |
| year. And making a million dollars is coming closer to | | | | impossible goals, but always reach higher. Relax and |
| everyone's pocket. What advice did the | | | | be yourself. Each person is different and just as |
| money-makers follow? | | | | wonderful as the next. Don't be plagued by what you |
| Aristotle Onassis worked eighteen hours a day to | | | | think others think of you. |
| maintain his fortune. He started as a welder and | | | | Don't bathe in success- use it. Once you achieve your |
| aimed for the top. "You have to think money day | | | | first goal, go on to others. Use the money you earn |
| and night," he said, "you should even dream about it | | | | for the rewards you look for. Then go on to the |
| in your sleep." | | | | next endeavor. |
| John D. Rockefeller, Jr., said, "I believe in the dignity | | | | Be slow to criticize others' achievements. Find out |
| of labor, whether with head or hand; that the world | | | | how they did it and learn from them. Never use |
| owes every person an opportunity to make a living." | | | | subterfuge. Don't go behind someone's back. Speak |
| And J. Paul Getty acknowledged his hard work: "I | | | | your mind and earn respect. Banish negative thoughts |
| have no complex about wealth. I have worked hard | | | | and traits. Restructure your life to exclude bad habits. |
| for my money, producing things people need." | | | | Believe in yourself and what you are to accomplish. |
| Even Proverbs advises: "In all labor there is profit." | | | | All the power in the world is within you to achieve. |
| Richard Bach, the author of the best-selling "Jonathan | | | | Success in life is attainable for everyone who follows |
| Livingston Seagull" wrote, "You are never given a | | | | their dreams and passions. |
| wish without also being given the power to make it | | | | |