10 Secrets of Outstandingly Successful People

According to Tactics, the Art & Science of Success, a book written by Edward de Bono, there are many styles of success. It depends both on the personality of the person and, to some extent, on the field of success. In spite of the vast differences in the way they do things and achieve the success they share common traits: 

1.      Energy: Energy derives from a healthy body and a healthy mind. Energy manifests itself in enthusiasm, eagerness, and stamina. It allows a person to work hard under stressful situations. Successful people are bursting with robust energy.

Energy is the essence of life. Every day you decide how you're going to use it by knowing what you want and what it takes to reach that goal, and by maintaining focus.

Oprah Winfrey

2.      Determination:  Failures and setbacks will not deter and discourage them to pursue their goals and aspirations.  They are passionate about what they do and they are working on it relentlessly and patiently. 

“Desire is the key to motivation, but it’s determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek.” 
Mario Andretti

3.      Single-mindedness: They do not have an alternative plan. There is only one goal and one objective. They are focused.

"My success, part of it certainly, is that I have focused in on a few things." 

 Bill Gates

4.      Attitude: They are people with a positive mindset. They are hopeful with an expectation of success because they are confident and optimistic.

“An attitude of positive expectation is the mark of the superior personality.” 
Brian Tracy

5.      Vision: They dream and conceive big Goals. They have clear objectives and their daily activities are aligned towards their goals.   

“The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight but no vision.” 
Helen Keller

6.      Creativity: Successful people are resourceful and innovative. They make things happen and create opportunities for themselves.

“It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.”
Leonardo da Vinci 

7.      See things differently: They look at things from a different perspective. They are curious to learn new things and make changes. They take risks and they do not stay in the comfort zone.

“To change ourselves effectively, we first had to change our perceptions.” 
Stephen R. Covey

8.      Networking: They are collaborative and they believe in a team effort. No one can be successful with the help of others in one way or another.

Unity is strength. . . when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved." 

Mattie Stepanek

9.      Master of time: They follow a productive routine and get things done. They turn their idea into action quickly. They don’t procrastinate or hesitate.   

“Until we can manage time, we can manage nothing else.” 
Peter Drucker

10.  Honest: they have a strong sense of basic ethics and integrity. They are dependable and they guard their reputation.

When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad. That's my religion.

Abraham Lincoln

Conclusion

Abraham Lincoln, the 16^th president of the United States is one such outstandingly successful person who fits in perfectly to the descriptions mentioned above. According to an article, A Great Leader,  these are some of the positive  words used to describe such a  person:   determination, integrity, patience,  vision,  tenacity, confidence, responsibility decisiveness,  enthusiasm, curiosity, commitment,  time management, learning, excel, ambition, resourcefulness, attitude, people-oriented, morality, compassion, communicate, listen, trust and respect.

Emulate the ways of successful people to achieve your goals and ambitions. 

10 Beliefs That Can Make Anyone Highly Successful

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At first glance, highly successful people may seem like they only succeeded in life because of their talent, their great connections, or their family. However, that’s not the case at all! They manage to excel in their industry and make millions of dollars because of their amazing beliefs.

What are some of them? Here they are:

1. Forget fate! Focus on doing what you love.

If you want to be highly successful, don’t just rely on the concept of “destiny”. Don’t even think about fooling yourself by thinking that “fate” will let whatever’s meant to happen.

When Steve Jobs was fired from his own company, he could have just stopped. He could have just told other people that “it wasn’t meant to me.” But what did he do next? Because he was too focused on developing technology to help change the world, he launched NeXT, a new computer company, and he also launched Pixar Animation Studios.

“Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith. I’m convinced the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You’ve got to find what you love.” –  Steve Jobs

2. Fail just means First Attempt In Learning.

Think of every highly successful person you know. Do you know any one of them who got lucky by being successful on the first try? 

Oprah Winfrey was fired from her first television job as an anchor.

Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor as he “had no good ideas.”

Vincent Van Gogh only sold one painting in his life. (The sale was even months before his death!)

So the next time you fail, keep going on. Highly successful people didn’t stop — and neither should you.

3. Never ever doubt yourself.

“Whether you think you can or you can’t, you are right.” – Henry Ford

The road to being a famous and successful person is tough. People will mock you. Strangers will make fun of you. And sometimes, even your loved ones who think they are protecting you will even try to talk you out of doing something that you’re passionate about.

Listen to what they’re saying, yes. But don’t take them to heart if you think that what they’re saying is already hurting you. Sometimes, you have to keep on believing in yourself, even if other people seem like they don’t.

4. Choose to continue, even if nothing seems to be working out.

“It is our choices, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” – J. K Rowling

J.K. Rowling was working on her first-ever Harry Potter novel when she was a single mother who was just living off welfare. Even so, she didn’t let this stop her. She finished the book and asked publishers all over the town. As she wasn’t well-known yet, publishing houses rejected her and even gave her harsh criticisms. Nothing seemed to be working out for her — but she still chose to continue and push through!

J.K. Rowling became the first-ever billionaire author in 2014.

5. Being a genius doesn’t automatically translate to being successful.

“I failed some subjects in exam but my friend passed it all. Now he is an engineer in Microsoft, and I am the owner in Microsoft.” – Bill Gates 

You don’t need to ace all your exams. You don’t need to top every class. And you don’t need to be a know-it-all just to be able to succeed in life. Talent and persistence can always trump intelligence at any time.

6. If you really want it, you’ll find a way to get it.

Walt Disney asked the banks and other lending institutions to lend him money so that he could get started on his amusement theme park. Since he had no credit history and collateral, naturally, they all refused him. He didn’t stop there. He took a loan from his own life insurance policy and made history.

7. Take calculated risks.

“Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.” – John D. Rockefeller

Chess wonder kid Magnus Carlesen decided to be a professional chess player when he realized that he was “quite good.” He didn’t make the decision out of a whim – he initially assessed his abilities and decided based on that fact.

8. Know what you’re getting into.

“If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” – Albert Einstein

Self-made millionaire and highly successful person Warren Buffett always believe that you should never invest in a business that you don’t understand. Simply put, if you don’t know how something operates, how can you figure out how you can make money off of it?

9. Service will always beat selfishness in the long run.

Being selfish and being stingy can help make you money at first but it’s not really a good plan for the long-term.

Focus on serving other people, on helping them, and even on giving them some of your resources. You may not believe in good karma, but belief in this list of highly successful people who give back and continue to succeed:

- Mark Zuckerberg gave nearly $500 million gifts to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

- Billionaire Nike founder Phil Knight and his wife Penelope pledged $125 million to Oregon Health & Science University

- Paul Allen pledged $300 million to give to the Institute for Brain Science

10. Don’t wait. Create.

“The elevator to success is out of order. You’ll have to use the stairs…. One step at a time.” – Joe Girard 

KFC Founder Colonel Sanders drove all over America and offered his fried chicken recipe for a certain percentage of the sales. He knocked on their doors, slept on his car, and wore his white suit even though he already got 1,009 refusals. On the 1,010th time, he finally got a “yes”.

Engrave these beliefs into your heart and don’t stop at anything to reach your goals.

Who knows? You can also be a highly successful person soon.

Source: 10 Beliefs That Can Make Anyone Highly Successful

10 Essential Skills for Success

You need multiple skills to manage every facet of your life. Success in business alone does not mean that you are successful in other areas of your life.  Here are ten critical aspects of your life to pay attention to:

1.      Communication skills: It is crucial to express thoughts clearly in writing and orally in order to get messages precisely and fully. You also need to be a good listener and when you are in doubt always ask questions to avoid misunderstanding. It is more effective to use simple words to convey ideas.   

2.      Manage emotions: The most important thing is to choose happiness. You must enjoy what you do every day or else you will be miserable.  Learn to work, play and live in the moment. Happiness is getting into the flow of what you do.

3.      Decisiveness: Take prompt action as soon as a decision is made. Do not regret later that you have missed a golden opportunity to take action. Do not worry about failures or mistakes. They are all part of the learning process in order for you to progress and grow. 

4.    Technical skills: Be an expert in what you do. You are valued because of your specialized knowledge. Be flexible and receptive to new ideas and changes. Be alert and adaptive to technology advances. Share with others what you have learnt.  

5.    Self-management: You may be able to run a business well, are you capable of managing your own life?  Be productive in your daily activities. Living a balanced life between work and family is a very important part of a successful life. Be an early riser, go to work and attend meetings on time. Keeping promises and meeting deadlines are the way to earn trust and respect.   

6.     People skills: Be respectful of differences such as race and religion. Be cooperative and build working relationships with co-workers. Provide support and offer help whenever necessary. Be approachable, responsive, courteous, cheerful, and diplomatic when dealing with others. Uphold harmony at home and enjoy peace of mind.   

7.      Time management: Manage time and do what is important in your life. Follow your dreams and goals. Planning and organizing is the right way to reach your objectives.  Prepare a to-do list in the evening for the following day to work efficiently and effectively. 

8.      Problem-solving: Be accountable and responsible; don’t blame others when things do not work out. Be resourceful and innovative to overcome problems. Adopt a positive mental attitude and take initiative to look for solutions. 

9.     Personal finance management: The objective of personal financial management is financial freedom.  It is about living within your means and avoid getting into debt. It is also about the smart and wise use of credit cards. Savings is the key to grow your money so that you can invest later and build wealth. Wealth is responsible for three areas of your life: emergency fund, children’s education, and your retirement.

10.  Self-care: Drink water throughout the day, eat nutritiously, taking breaks while at work to sustain your concentration and energy.  Sleep well at night, take time off to relax and unwind.  Exercise daily is an effective way to manage stress and regain your sanity.

What other important skills are essential for a successful life? 

What You Can Learn From Singapore

According to the latest issue of Time (June 25, 2012), Singapore has the world’s highest percentage of millionaire households, with 17% of all households owning at least one million US dollars in net assets.   

  

Singapore is a tiny country in Southeast Asia at the southern tip of Malaysia. You can hardly spot it on a world map. It has no natural resources and there is no way for you to till the land and do cultivation. However, it is a successful country and you can learn a few things from this country which is efficient and effective.

·         Brainpower: In order to survive, without natural resources and limited land, Singapore has, since independence in 1965, capitalized on services of many kinds and achieved what it is today. According to Wikipedia, Singapore is a world leader in several economic areas: The country is the world's fourth-leading financial centre, the world's second-biggest casino gambling market, one of the world's top three oil refining centres, the world's largest oil-rig producer, and a major ship-repairer. The port is one of the five busiest ports in the world. The World Bank has named Singapore as the easiest place in the world to do business and ranks Singapore as the world's top logistics hub. It is also the world's fourth-largest foreign exchange trading centre after London, New York, and Tokyo.

You may think you are unknown when you can think of a big and unique idea you can create an impact in the world.

·         Get educated: Education is of paramount importance in Singapore because knowledge is power. Acquiring marketable skills and know-how is the way to compete with other bigger and resource-rich countries in the world.  According to Wikipedia the country's two main public universities – the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University – are among the top 100 universities in the world.

The way for you to move ahead and stay competitive is to learn and acquire skills and technical knowledge and take a cue from other successful people.

   

·         Be disciplined: Singapore is an organized and orderly country and it has zero-tolerance for corruption. Success is about  planning and organization and doing the  right things consistently

You have to set challenging goals, plan and organize your daily activities to be productive. When you work you plan consistently without procrastination you will meet success.

 

·         Determination and patience: It has taken Singapore close to 50 years since independence to attain its present glory.

It is important to think and work long term because getting overnight success is few and far in between. You will not appreciate things you can get easily.  All good things require personal effort expanding over a long period.  

·         Take advantage of your strengths: Singapore, taking advantage of its strategic location, is a major international transport hub in Asia, positioned on many sea and air trade routes, providing much-needed services globally.  

Focus on your strengths and develop into something useful for others. You will get what you want when you can give others what they want.

Education is important, but creating a workable and original idea will make a big difference in your life.   

10 Things to Learn From Successful Salespeople

Salespeople possess certain positive characteristics that help them excel in what they do.  You may not be a salesperson but you are selling every day. You want to persuade others to accept your ideas.  You want to ask for a raise and you want to negotiate for better terms from your suppliers. At home, you want to motivate your children to study hard and smart in school. You want to convince your spouse not to buy an item.  Here are 10 things you can learn from productive salespeople.

1.       Persistent: They will not take no for an answer. They will review the situation and try and close the deal again. In life, you try to do something and you fail. Just do it in different ways until you get it done.

2.       Confident: They dress smartly and they talk in a firm voice. They are sure of what they are doing.  You have to believe in yourself that you can achieve what you set out to do. Positive thinking is essential to living life and realize your goals. 

3.       Enthusiasm: They are proud of their products and services. They know they are selling something good for you. Are you eager to get to work when you wake up and get up in the morning? Enthusiasm is the fire in you that propels you to take action every day.

4.       Energy: They are energetic and excited to talk to people about their products and services.  They take care of their health and well-being. They exercise, they sleep well and they drink water throughout the day. They need the energy and the drive to perform well. Are you well-rested? Do you maintain physical fitness and mental alertness? To live and work well is to be energetic.      

5.       Challenging goals: Selling is a challenging job. They have targets and deadlines to meet. They are driven by their goals. Do you have written goals so that you are focus on your daily life and do the right things every day? 

6.       Know the customers: To sell effectively they have to know the customers well. They have to find out about their problems and offer suitable solutions. When you want to ask for a raise do you know when the best time is to approach your boss? Is the boss happy with your performance? When the pay increment is justified and you approach your boss at the right time, you will get what you want.   

7.       Hardworking: Successful salespeople work hard.  They are rewarded by their commitment and eagerness day in and day out.  Are you working on your goals every day? It is your daily effort that counts. You may work smart, but working hard makes a positive difference.

8.       Passionate: The job may be tough, but successful salespeople are not discouraged by problems and rejections. They love what they do and they continue to fine-tune their approach to close more sales. When you are passionate about what you do, you enjoy the challenges and the satisfaction of overcoming an obstacle in your life. 

9.       Stay in touch: They pay attention and are in constant contact with customers. When you care about others, they will notice it and respond to you positively.    

10.   Good listeners: Successful salespeople talk less and ask more questions and listen attentively. They want to find out more about their customers so they can serve them better.   When you listen, you pay attention and actively respond to questions.  By listening you get to understand the message fully and act appropriately and avoid misunderstanding. Listen to your children and spouse for a closer relationship.  

What have you learnt from top salespeople?

10 Right Ways to be Successful

Success doesn't come to you… you go to it.

~Marva Collins

Success will not fall into your lap, you have to exert effort and go after it. Here are the effective ways to get what you want in life and attain success:

 

1.      Dreams: What inspires you? You need a unique and original idea that you are passionate about. It is your goal.  Your ambition should be built on your strengths so that you can go after your dreams fervently. Write down what you want to achieve in life so that you can look at it often and be motivated. There is a direction in life when there is a dream to guide you. When life is meaningful, you feel good about yourself.   

Success is the good fortune that comes from aspiration, desperation, perspiration, and inspiration.

~Evan Esar

2.      Work smart: To work smart is to acquire knowledge and learn the essential skills. To be creative is to conceive ideas from the known to the unknown.   

Smarts and action are on the same side of the equation where the sum is success. 

~Garrett Hazel

3.      Work hard: Success is about making a daily effort over a long period of time. Be excited and enthusiastic about what you do and enjoy doing the daily tasks. The key is perseverance; be consistent and persistent.

Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.

~Robert Collier

4.      Focus: Total commitment is mindful of what you do and avoids distractions. Be alert and seize the opportunity when you spot one and get a lucky break. When you are prepared you are lucky.

5.      Believe in yourself: Thoughts are powerful. It shapes your attitude and action. When you think you can, you will, if you think you can’t, you will not.  Read motivational quotes in the morning and think of positive words to develop and establish self-confidence. Avoid negative people whose outlook in life is gloom and doom.

6.      View failures as stepping stones to success: You are going to meet with obstacles and failures in life. Do not be discouraged, these are just lessons to be learnt and be wiser. If you have not failed, you have not tried.

           Success does not consist in never making blunders, but in never making the same one a second time.
           ~Josh Billings

7.      Organized:  Always plan ahead and be efficient. A daily to-do list is a right tool to manage your time effectively. Be proactive and do the most important thing first in the morning. Organize your life and do what is right at the right time.

8.      Lifelong learning: There is no way to be content with what you know because there will be new technology, new products, new ideas, the latest information, and new insights every day. Stay up-to-date to be ahead.

9.      Change: Change is constant.  Technology impacts and changes our life greatly. Be flexible and embrace change to be progressive.

Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.

~ Ronald E. Osborn

10.  Personal care: You will work with zest when you are fit and energetic. Exercise daily to stay calm and composed.  Meditate to get peace of mind and release stress.

Energy is the essence of life. Every day you decide how you're going to use it by knowing what you want and what it takes to reach that goal, and by maintaining focus.

~ Oprah Winfrey

Try to discover

The road to success

And you'll seek but never find,

But blaze your own path

And the road to success

Will trail right behind.

~Robert Brault

10 Motivating Words for Success

These are powerful words that spell success. You will notice that there are no quick and easy ways to achieve it. You will only reap what you have sown.

1.      Dreams: What inspires you? What is in your mind? Success is to follow your dreams and create an idea in your mind.  Do you remember the powerful speech of Martin Luther King, I Have a Dream? Dream on and be inspired.

Nothing happens unless first, we dream. ~ Carl Sandburg

2.      Passion: Turn your dream into your mission in life.  Set goals that you are passionate about.

Follow your passion, and success will follow you. ~Terri Guillemets

3.      Action: When you are passionate about things you want to do, you are energetic, mindful enthusiastic, and excited about it. You will take immediate action.

An idea not coupled with action will never get any bigger than the brain cell it occupied. ~Arnold Glasow

4.      Focus: You are committed and you take pride in your endeavor. You pay attention in the present moment to do the tasks at hand.  

Energy is the essence of life. Every day you decide how you’re going to use it by knowing what you want and what it takes to reach that goal, and by maintaining focus.  ~Oprah Winfrey

5.      Confidence: Be optimistic, positive and have faith in what you do, and do not allow others to dampen your spirits. 

We all have our own life to pursue, our own kind of dream to be weaving. And we all have some power to make wishes come true, as long as we keep believing. ~ Louisa May Alcott

6.      Consistent: Making your dream a reality is working on it every day.  It is your constant effort that is important.

The secret to success is constancy to purpose. -Benjamin Disraeli

7.      Perseverance: Success will come to those who are willing to be patient. It means overcoming obstacles with determination and going all the way.

It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop. ~Confucius

8.      Contribute: You create value in what you do when you can give to others. The more you can contribute, the more valuable is your work.

It is not what we get.
But who we become, what we contribute...
that gives meaning to our lives.
- Tony Robbins

9.      Challenges: Everyone will be successful if you can get it without struggling and putting in hard work. Success is attained by going after challenges bravely and boldly. When there is no pain, there is no gain.

Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful. ~ Joshua J. Marine

10.  Learn: Reading and learning is the hallmark of successful people. It is the way to broaden your horizon and keep yourself up-to-date and be ready to make changes.

Learning is like rowing upstream:  not to advance is to drop back. ~Chinese Proverb

What are the other words that have inspired you to be successful?  

5 Positive Ways to Learn From Adversity

Guide to overcoming adversity
Find your inner strength

There is no education like adversity. ~Benjamin Disraeli

It is not a bad thing to fail and get defeated. After all our life is not smooth sailing all the way. We have our ups and downs. We should take advantage of adversity and learn from it.

1.      Learn what goes wrong: When you do not meet with success, don’t blame others or tell yourself that you don’t have the luck. It is an opportunity to look critically at yourself and analyze the situation. Find out the real reasons for your shortcomings and avoid repeating the same mistakes. You are much wiser when you learn from your failures and how you overcome difficulties.

2.      Need to try harder: You may have started successfully but you are not making progress. It is possible that you are complacent and not trying hard enough. You need to work hard not just once in a while, it is your daily habit of doing what you need to do persistently that counts.

3.      More determined to succeed: Instead of getting dejected, you promise yourself not to give up. You get up and continue to do what is right. Failure is not an option for you. Adversity strengthens your resolve to succeed.

4.      More creative: Defeats make us think more creatively. You want to succeed but you have to be better than the competition. It is a necessary step or else you will be doomed to failure.

5.      Need to change: Failure is also a way to tell you that your approach is not workable and you have to try another way. Keep changing until you have fine-tuned your strategy.     

Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed on an equal or greater benefit. ~Napoleon Hill

What have you gained from adversity in life?