After reading so many articles, books, emails, blogs, and a million inspirational quotes on how to become successful in life, I am at once overwhelmed with the amount of information on this topic. Every authority has a different angle on the subject of success. Some view diet and exercise as the key motivator to success while others think a more introspective position is the best route to success. I had to take this information and modify it to suit my life style and my philosophy. I arrived at a few steps that have been helped me navigate the road of success. I cannot presume to think that just by following these steps everyone will become successful, but perhaps, by taking one step and incorporating that idea into our daily lives will encourage us to take the next step. Each step takes a great deal of effort, determination, and will power. We can look at these steps the same way we climb a set of stairs—one tread at a time.
Sharon Lagina
Step 1: Wake up with a great attitude. Easier said than done you say. I agree. Take a few moments before putting your feet to the floor to be grateful and optimistic for the day.
Step 2: Be on time. Being on time says that you respect yourself and others and are committed to the task. Rushing from place to place creates disorganization in your day and plays havoc with your great attitude.
Step 3: Be prepared and organized. This sounds like something we heard from Scouting. Prepare for your day the night before by having materials ready for the presentation, by having your lunch made, or by having the car keys ready. Plan your day the night before.
Step 4: Know where you are going and what you are doing when you get there. Plan your route for the day. Use a GPS when necessary to track your time so that you arrive on time.
Step 5: Create positive energy. Surround yourself with positive people. Avoid “groaners,” “moaners,” “sighers,” and “frowners.” You get the picture. It is not pretty. Choose the “smilers.”
Step 6: Work a full eight hours. Commit yourself to being productive. The clock is our best framework. Create blocks of time in which to work on your goals and projects. Review your activity at the end of the day to make sure you have been productive. Using a goal sheet and hourly chart may be helpful for organization.
Step 7: Take control and apply. In order to make changes in our lives, we must take control and apply certain principles for change.
If only a successful life were as easy as climbing the stairs. If only life provided us with a GPS. If only. . .
We can make changes in our lives; one step at a time.
Recommended reading:
Excuse Me, Your Life Is Waiting by Lynn Grabhorn
About the author:
Sharon Lagina comes equipped for the business world with a Bachelors degree and Masters degree in education. She is a certified ISO QS 9000 quality auditor. With those experiences, Sharon is focusing on appreciation marketing. Sharon was the 2010 Ambassador of the year for the Dearborn Chamber of Commerce, co-founder of Dearborn Chamber Connect and a manager for SendOutCards. You can contact Sharon by email: [email protected]