We all want to be successful in life – be it success from our careers, our business ventures, our family life and relationships. Of course, who does not want success in everything? We all want to find ways to be successful in life and probably, we are searching here and there and looking at how people we consider successful strive their way to the top.
Although we are all unique and live different lives, have different abilities and purposes in life, we can probably agree on the ways to be successful in life. These may not be a secret but sometimes we just refuse to follow it.
Here are some lessons to learn on the journey through life
1. Be visionary:
Have a clear vision of what you want to do with your life. Every
successful career begins with a decision of what you want to be or to do
with your life, goals that you want to achieve, short-term, mid-term,
long-term. It must be your vision and not that of your parents, peers or
spouse because ultimately it’s you who will have to bring it to
reality. Without a vision for your life you will easily drift through
life, resentful and feeling as if you are simply existing and life has
short-changed you.
2. Be resourceful:
Make the most of the opportunities and resources that life has given
you. In a given position, take time to gather all the skills, knowledge,
experience that the position offers. There is no such thing as useless
skill or experience. Gathering skills and experience often entails
spending several years in the same line of work. Remember that a rolling
stone never gathers moss! In my experience I consider a minimum of
three to five years in the same line of work absolutely necessary.
3. Be daring: Life
is about taking risks, and having the faith and courage to follow your
dreams through. Don’t be afraid to take risks. I particularly want to
challenge you lady lawyers to start your own private practice, rather
than seeking to be hired by your male colleagues. Remember they had the
same opportunities and training as you. Think outside the box of looking
to be employed by someone all the time!
4. Be tenacious:
You need not be an intellectual genius to succeed in this life. You
simply need to work hard and to diligently pursue your dream with
unwavering courage, fortitude, steadfastness and tenacity. You see there
is a big crowd of enemies waiting to see you fail and sometimes
actively working to pull you down. If you are not tenacious you may
easily give up. Let no one despise you on account of your age, gender,
tribe, race or any other stereotype out there.
5. Be ambitious: In
everything you do strive for excellence! If you want to leave your mark
in life you cannot afford to settle for mediocrity. Do not do something
simply because “everybody does it” or do it a certain way just because
“that’s the way everybody does it.”
6. Be discerning:
It is important in life to focus on those things that matter most. For
example, in a job, money is not everything. There are other
considerations such as job-satisfaction, opportunities for scholarships,
exposure and experience. While we all long for well-paying jobs, you
must accept that you may have to start with humble beginnings and that
instead, the skills and experience you acquire from this seemingly
poor-paying job are priceless! Money is good but the danger of making
money your objective is that after a while, it will surely choke and
overtake your dream and vision.
7. Be resilient:
In life, ugly things happen. You may meet situations where you suffer
racial, gender, tribal, religious or other kinds of prejudices. Believe
you me, prejudice comes in as many shades as the colours of the rainbow
with those who reckon themselves higher up the pecking order, lording it
over those they reckon are lower down. Never allow these prejudices to
stand in our way! Through sheer resilience, you can face up to such
challenges and instead of wallowing in self pity you can choose to turn
those mill-stones into stepping stones to success.
8. Be humble:
Arrogant people tend to rub everyone the wrong way. On the other hand,
there is nothing that impresses me more than people who are high
achievers and yet remain humble. Humility simply means learning to keep
your success in perspective. Remember you are neither the first nor the
last to reach where you are!
9. Self-Critique: For
one to grow in one’s career, you must learn periodically to audit your
performance. Take stock of your achievements, failures, short-comings
etc. with a view to identifying those areas that need improvement. We
all tend to stagnate at times.
10. Worship: Honour
God and honour your profession by serving your fellow man faithfully. I
believe the majority of us here do believe in a power higher than
ourselves. You achieve success in my not by your own strength but by God
who guides your choices, blesses and rewards your efforts.
In my line of work, I never walk into a courtroom trusting in my own
abilities. I pray and ask God to give me “the wisdom of Solomon” (i.e.
knowing what to do in a particular situation); to grant me favour
amongst my peers and to walk with me each day.
Courtesy of Career Point Kenya
very effective post...i follow this thanks fentonce
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