The Five Best Ways to be Successful Without Really Trying
by Everyone wants to succeed in their field or in their personal life. No one grows up and thinks, hey, I want to be a dismal failure!, right? But how to achieve that goal is more elusive than we realize. Just what does it take to be successful?
Do you have to have the money and looks of Paris Hilton? The last name of Rockefeller? The notoriety of Trump? Not really. All you do need is a plan and here’s how to make a game plan that will steer you toward success.
Have a clear idea of what success means to you
Each of us has different ideas of success. You may consider having a life-long marriage and producing well-rounded children the mark of success, while someone else may look at their income as the determining factor in knowing they’ve been a success. Figure out what success looks like to you and create that vision in your mind so that when you get there, you’ll recognize it and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Be the person now that you want to be in your future
If your vision includes family time, then start investing that time in your family now so that you have something to build upon. If your vision includes great wealth, then start now learning how to manage money, budget funds, save money and invest money. If you only have a little bit of money now, this is the time to master the basics. If you cannot be trusted to manage small amounts, how will you manage millions of dollars? Use this time now to educate yourself and learn the skills you’ll need later to complete your vision.
Treat others kindly and with compassion
No matter where you want to end up, do you want to end up there alone? Hardly anyone does, but it happens all the time. People achieve their goals but after years of stomping all over the bodies on the way to the top, they find themselves alone and lonely. Don’t be miserable in your success. Start now by treating others with fairness and being forthright in your relationships. You’ll find that people are more willing to help you achieve and will go the extra mile for you when you need it.
The art of the handshake
Unless you are Donald Trump, you’re going to have to shake hands when you meet people. Learn this art early and you will find that doors open to you that never did before. There is a technique to the handshake that most people don’t learn. A firm handshake does not mean squeezing the life out of the other so that they grunt, “I give.” Just make contact mutually and put a little effort into it. Don’t give someone a limp hand, like a Victorian woman expecting the back of her hand to be kissed. Wrap your hand and the other person’s hand, apply some but not too much pressure, pump two times, and then release. During the handshake, you need to make eye-contact. This isn’t time for a stare-down, just look the other person in the eye, say, “Great to meet you,” and you’re done.
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