Try not to become a man of success.
Rather become a man of value.”
Sometimes it isn’t about what you do not know. Often, it is more a matter of being mistaken about the things you are dead certain are true. Misconceptions create challenges for all of us. So, what if your preconceived notions about success are incorrect? How might your beliefs about your likelihood of being successful change from that point on? If your beliefs are accurate, you may find that achieving success, by whatever definition you choose, is a lot easier than you originally thought. With a fresh set of beliefs, new actions and outcomes can be expected. Success starts with you!
Look at these 9 misconceptions of success:
1. It is too late to reach your goals. Many of the world’s most successful individuals did not get started until later in life. Consider Colonel Sanders, who started Kentucky Fried Chicken in his sixties. Age is simply a number. Lolly Daskal recently did a post on this issue: 41 Reasons You Can Accomplish Great Things at Any Age.
2. Successful people have to work insane hours. While many successful people do work many hours, that is primarily because they enjoy what they are doing for a living. But it is unnecessary to focus all your efforts on work. It is vitally important to spend time doing things that help you move forward in a positive direction. Sometimes, that even means doing things that make you feel a bit uncomfortable.
3. It takes a long time to become successful. It depends on what you are doing. If you want to become a physician, it does take a while. But many things can be accomplished quickly with a good action plan.
4. You have to play by the rules to succeed. The alternate, “You have to break all the rules to succeed,” is equally as false. Each situation is unique. You can make up your own rules, as long as you avoid hurting anyone or breaking any laws.
5. Money is not important. Money is very important for those things that require money. Money will not provide you with emotional support, but it can do a whole lot for you. If you are unable to pay your bills or buy food, you already know the importance of money.
6. Success is only about making money. Yes, it is important to have enough money to support your idea of success. But money is not everything! Perhaps your version of success is about having freedom and enjoying life. Having more money than you need is of questionable value.
7. You will be more successful if you do it alone. Success rarely happens in isolation. You will probably need a little help along the way. Partnerships, joint ventures, favors, and mentors are often part of becoming successful. Hopefully, you’ll be able to pay it forward and help someone else on their road to success someday.
8. If you lack education or come from a certain background, you will not find success. Successful people come from all backgrounds and levels of education. In fact, a disproportionate number of highly successful people did not complete high school! Having a certain background and education can provide different opportunities, but there are alternative paths to success. History is filled with success stories of those with serious disadvantages.
9. Success is the goal. Success is the condition of having met your goals. It is not a goal in itself. Success is frequently different than what we think it is. You have learned to talk, walk, and read. You have made friends and achieved many other things. Use those experiences to lead you down the path to success with your bigger goals.