No matter how you define success, there are certain things almost all successful people know.
Successful people know that success is not a straight line. It is more like two steps forward, one step back. Two steps forward one step back. They know that setbacks are learning opportunities, and if they get back up again and again, they will get to where they are going. (From the baby steps chapter in my book, The Snowball Effect:How to Build Positive Momentum in Your Life.)
Successful people are willing to learn from people less educated than themselves. They know that every person has worth no matter how much education he or she has received. They know that a parent can learn from a child, a teacher can learn from a student, a doctor can learn from a patient, and a CEO can learn from an employee who was hired to mop his or her office floor.
Successful people don’t like getting out of their comfort zone, but they do it anyway. They know that if they always do what they have always done, they will always get what they have always gotten. They know that they must put up with the temporary anxiety that accompanies change. (From the pushing past fear chapter in my book.)
Successful people know to pause and respond rather than immediately react. They know there is power in a pause. When strong emotions are triggered they know to pause and think about how to respond rather than reacting off of pure emotion alone. They know that a well thought out response is almost always better than an immediate reaction. (From the stopping explosive reactions chapter in my book.)
Successful people don’t allow others to discourage their vision. They know that people who may lack vision themselves will be unable to support their vision. They do not let discouragement stop them. (From the living with vision chapter in my book.)
Successful people know that they must treat the people around them with respect if they want to be respected themselves. They know that they cannot just demand respect. People respect people who treat them with respect.
This post was written by Kristin Barton Cuthriell, MEd, MSW, LCSW. Kristin is a licensed psychotherapist, speaker, and author of the book, The Snowball Effect: How to Build Positive Momentum in Your Life. To find out more, click here.
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