Success really does start with you. But don’t be fooled by the cliché message here. Realizing there are many levels and aspects to success will help you reach the level you desire. Most of time, success will depend on your personal investment of both time and energy and often times your assets (liquid or otherwise).
Personal Development: With much success comes much responsibility. Growing yourself in a personal manner will help you as you face a variety of new issues in terms of people, time management, stress load, family matters, etc. Growing in this area will help groom you into the type of person you see when you close your eyes. We are always a work in progress, so sit back and enjoy this road.
Professional Development: To be successful takes a lot of time invested in learning and staying current with your industry and other business standards. Keeping certifications current, learning the latest best-in-class techniques or strategies will keep you successful in your field. If you are a pioneer in your field, you must continue to research and promote your findings. Do not fall into the trap that what worked yesterday will work again today. I’m not saying to fix what’s not broken, but I am saying that what’s not broken may become obsolete, so keep current.
Financial Development: The financial tools of the wealthy are not the same as the ones of the middle and poor class. As you gain success, you will need to continue to invest in your financial education to learn the new strategies that become available to your growing income.
Keep in Contact: “Networking” is such an overused term, but is still very necessary to succeed. Leverage your relationships to gain more affluent clients, and to connect to other successful people. Take the time to nurture these relationships. Be genuine. When you reach your height of success, you wouldn’t want fake people with hidden agendas to waste your time. So don’t do that to the people who you are meeting. Take the time to get to know them, learn from them and look to be mutually beneficial to them in some way.
Although lucky breaks can and do happen from time to time, most self-made successful people have had to put in the time themselves, invest in their work and themselves personally to achieve greatness. Success really does start with you.