Making your way in this world comes with a heap of challenges and conquests along the way. The thing is, we all want to be successful in our own way. So, what can we do to make the journey a little easier? Here are some ways to success that will get you there faster.
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Attention to detail
It might be tempting to focus on quantity over quality, but anyone who is successful will tell you that it is the attention to detail that counts. This does not mean never finishing a project because the fear of perfectionism stops you from moving forward. Get it as close to perfect as you can, you can always change things later. Holding yourself to a high standard will help you create a name for yourself, just don’t go overboard.
Read read read
If you follow me on Instagram, you will know that I read a book or two a month. I read for pleasure. I read at bedtime instead of scrolling on my phone. The main reason that I read is to learn. Reading about other people and experiences can help create new perspectives to challenges that I face in my life. It doesn’t matter what you read, every book contains a wealth of information that will help you grow as a person. If you are stuck for reading ideas, give me a follow over there (or sign up for the weekly emails) and you will get plenty of fresh ideas.
Know how to hustle
If there is one thing I hate, it is the word “hustle”. By definition, the word means “to push along”, and that is what you have to do. In order to be successful, you need to know how to push yourself. A lot of people think this means that you have to work 24/7 but that sounds like a terrible idea to me. Work hard, show up every day and give it your best. Most importantly, when you feel like giving up, dig deep and keep going. That is what hustle is about.
Have a hobby
When you have your eye on a prize, it can be tempting to throw everything else out the window. Having a hobby will help keep your mental health in check. Do not be afraid to set aside some time during the week (or weekend) to do something for your pleasure. This does not include doom scrolling on your phone or binge watching TV. This is about doing something different. Fishing is a great hobby that will get you outdoors and can be done alone or with your family. I am a fan of crafting, knitting, and art. I take some time in my day to do something in this wheelhouse. Just the other day, I put a TV channel on (not Netflix) and watched two movies with ad breaks while I crocheted some wonky squares. Find something for you that will bring you joy.
Learn everything you can about your chosen area
When I decided to become a writer over a decade ago, I wasn’t going to half-ass it. Since I made this choice, I studied for a degree, now I’m on my Masters. I’ve studied SEO, social media, and took blogging courses. I read every day. In a nutshell, I take time out of my day to learn as much as I can about writing and running a blog. You can do this too in whatever area you want to be successful in. Want to be a doctor? Start with science books in the library and find out what courses you need to take to get that DR at the start of your name. Want to start your own business? Start learning about the business codes for your country and area. Learn about taxes and how to launch your business. Research your rivals and learn how to spot gaps in the market. Never stop learning about your chosen area.
Beware of coaches and gurus
There is a reason why I don’t have courses and packages for sale. Because I’ve been burned by a few “industry experts” who knew nothing and I prefer to share my knowledge for free. If something sounds too good to be true, I would book a free call with a coach before I hand over my money. There are a lot of people who create businesses out of nothing, with no experience in the area, and market themselves as an expert. Be careful with the advice you take and who gets your money. There is a lot of free information out there that can help you more than these coaches can.
Face those fears and conquer those mountains
I’m not going to lie to you, there are days that I wonder if I should keep going with my work. There are days that the to-do list for the site is long and there isn’t enough time in the day to make a dent in it. But I keep going. Every day, I post on social media, write a blog post, and get some words from my brain to the books I’m working on. It is tough. And it can be tough when you see people become overnight successes with hardly any effort. However, if you are in it for the long haul (which I know you are) you will face your faces every day, stare down that mountain of a to-do list, and make your dreams come true.
Know what you can and can’t control (including how hard you work)
This can be a tough one for people to get their heads around but you need to understand that you cannot control everything. There will be days that you have to drop what you are doing and deal with something in your family, tossing your work plans out the window for a few hours. It’s ok to have days like this. On the flip side, if you are doing the bare minimum, you have no right to complain that you aren’t rolling in dough. Learn your limitations and understand how you can make them work for you.
Self care
Taking time out for self care is one of the most important things that you can do. Like I said earlier, you can’t chain yourself to your work 24/7. Take time out of your day for a shower and brush your teeth. Please, do not skip showers in favour of working! Once you have this as part of a daily self care routine, think about other ways that you can take care of yourself. This can be anything from the food you eat by cooking healthy meals for yourself, to having a bath once or twice a week with a fancy bath bomb, face mask, and some Enya playing in the background. I do this twice a week and I’m not one bit sorry. Learn what works for you but I defo recommend a hot bath with a cold beer and Enya on the stereo.
Be yourself
Be warned, some people can smell a fake from a mile off. There is nothing more off-putting than discovering that the person you looked up to was a phoney. If you want to be successful, then be yourself. If you are a big weirdo, other weirdos will want to be your customers or clients. Lean in to who you are. In the words of Oscar Wilde, “Be yourself; everyone else is taken”.