The ‘Two’ Most Important Ingredients for Sustained Success
You Will Fail 99% of the Time Without These
We all strive for success in life. The definition of what constitutes a successful life will vary depending on who you talk to.
An anarchist needs to operate outside the hegemony of societal conventions. A Wall Street banker chases after some above-average degree of financial wealth. A spiritual leader needs some connection to a higher power. A caregiver’s fulfillment comes from meeting the needs of her wards.
However you see fit to define notable achievement, the basic fact stands — we all want it.
It goes beyond mere desire, humans have a need to succeed. Our fundamental make-up relentlessly drives us towards fulfillment of a set purpose.
Without a purpose to succeed at, we are in danger of losing our joie de vivre. Studies show that most retirees die soon after leaving full time employment. A common reason sited is the onset of depression caused by the loss of a daily goal.
If you need to strive towards a goal then it makes perfect sense to set yourself up to succeed at it.
The Road To Success
I used to measure my success in life by popular materialistic metrics. We all know them — they are fed to us daily.
They are reinforced every time we walk down the street and look up at a billboard. Whenever we browse the internet and an advertisement pops on our screens. Just switch on your television and receive an automatic primer for what your goal for the day should be.
- Buy this product
- Travel to this destination
- Learn this new skill
- Try this novel process
- Get this crucial data
- Be part of this important movement
It is so easy to get swept up in the relentless bombardment of subliminal messaging. Before we know it we have bought into someone else’s notion of what we should be striving for in life.
You will never succeed in life by allowing someone else to impose their view of a fulfilled life on you.
‘Secret’ Ingredient 1 — Define Your Own Success
Many of our younger selves buy into the view of stellar academic careers leading to stellar office jobs — resulting in a magically successful life. My thirteen-year old self certainly did.
Thirty-five odd years later and I am still discovering on a daily basis what a colossal mis-education that was.
The interesting thing is that this path did deliver on part of its promise — it led on a trajectory that did get me six-figured jobs that brought the house, car and vacations.
However the consequences — left unexamined in the fine print — are long term debt, ongoing stress and a lack of fulfillment.
This track is designed to create perpetual consumers. It keeps you plugged into the capitalist machinery through your addictions and commitments.
Now there are some who want nothing more than to live a lifestyle fueled by consumption. In my experience, this eventually starts to feel hollow and leaves most people with a sense of emptiness.
If you are making all the right moves but doing the wrong thing your staying power will wean until you eventually have nothing left to give.
You see, doing things right is a far different animal from doing the right things.
When you know better, you do better.
— Maya Angelou
If you want the right life — one that suits your unique desires and purpose — you cannot let another person define it for you. You must have the courage to search your own heart, mind and soul for it.
Then you must find the fortitude to make it happen.
‘Secret’ Ingredient 2— Consistent, Persistent Effort
I know that you have probably heard this time and time again. Trite, cringy, one-liners about importance of following your passion and escaping work. Quotes like: “If you do what you love then you will never work a day in your life”. I call BS.
This is another part-truth spiel, do NOT fall for it!
If you have ever tried take this advice in a practical way, you very quickly realise a huge chunk of the puzzle that has been left out.
The fact that you have landed on that one thing that makes you spring up in the morning — your life’s purpose — does not exempt you from hard work.
Yes, you will likely find flow more easily in the course of your work. Yes, you will again find more fulfillment than you ever have. But also yes, you will need to work your butt off to be successful — same as with anything else.
You will wake up some mornings demotivated. Some days you will doubt the path you have chosen. Other days you will long for the false safety of a more traditional path. Your confidence will be shaken more times than you expect when you set off on the journey.
On those days the difference between making a success of your life is simple. Get out of bed,put one foot in front of the other and keep going.
This is the single most important thing that distinguishes successful talent from unfulfilled potential. Hard work. Persistence. Plain old elbow grease.
In summary
Success on anyone else’s terms might satisfy in the short term. But live long enough and find that regret and discontent will expose the downsides of such an existence.
To be successful…
Define your own success in the way which resonates most strongly with who you are. Next, find the courage within yourself to chase this dream.
Then, apply your efforts persistently and consistently by showing up even when things get hard. Keep your eye on the ball and keep moving forward.