Dell Crossword said, “Success is not permanent. The same is also true of failure.”  If you’ve failed in the past, that doesn’t mean you have to fail in the future.  If you follow the steps in this article you will begin to succeed.

Today I want to discuss six principles that cause success.

The 6 Secrets to Success:

1. Be Very Selective in Your Task Selection

“Being selective—doing less—is the path of the productive.  Focus on the important few and ignore the rest.  Lack of time is actually lack of priorities.” – Timothy Ferriss

You can do anything, but not everything.  Focus on the critical tasks that provide you with the greatest results.  Ask yourself daily, “What’s the one task that will make this day worthwhile?”  Then be sure to get that task done.

Learn to differentiate between being busy and being productive; time is the most precious gift you have, don’t waste it.

2. Hard Work

“God gives every bird a worm, but he does not throw it into the nest.” –Swedish Proverb

Success requires hard work.  If you’re not working very hard, you’re probably not on the path to success; you may be on a treadmill.  It takes hard work to succeed.  It takes enough discipline to create the right habits, an attitude that doesn’t relent, and a work ethic that few are willing to bear.

3. Take Responsibility

“Possession of the ball is the key to winning in football, basketball, and the game of life.”
–Laing Burns, Jr.

In the game of life you have the ball.  Don’t try to give the ball to fate, luck, or chance.  Take the ball and play the game.

Can you even decide the game you play?  You have the ball, you decide the game, life has been set up for you to win!

4. Act Like You Can’t Fail

“Act as though it is impossible to fail.” –Anonymous

I didn’t say failure was impossible, but you should act like it is.  I didn’t say you wouldn’t fail, but you should act like you won’t.  Why?  Because your attitude will ultimately determine your altitude.  If you see yourself as a success, you will eventually succeed.  Act like the successful do, don’t be timid or shy; play like you’re going to win the game.

5. Fail Miserably

“Unless you’re willing to have a go, fail miserably, and have another go, success won’t happen.” –Phillip Adams

It’s okay to fail; it’s even okay to fail miserably.  The only way to success is on the path of failure.  When you fall, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, learn from your mistakes and keep moving.  You have time to succeed.  If you stay focused in an area where you’re passionate, and where you have a natural advantage, you will succeed.

6. Plan and Succeed

“An Unfailing Success Plan: At each day’s end write down the six most important things to do tomorrow; number them in order of importance, and then do them.” –Anonymous

This is the recipe for success.  Plan your days and then complete your plans.  I would be remiss not to mention that you should complete the most important tasks first.  These are the ones you usually don’t want to do because they require you to leave your comfort zone.  But growth only occurs when you’re uncomfortable, get accustomed to being uncomfortable.  Get comfortable being uncomfortable, soon you will grow, soon you will succeed.

Thank you for reading!