Maybe you have watched someone else succeed and quietly wondered what they had that you do not. Connie takes that question seriously below, and the answer may be closer than you think.
Key Takeaways
- Other people’s success shows what is possible for you, too.
- Connie names three ingredients: perseverance, determination and commitment.
- Successful people start with a vision and a plan, then refuse to quit.
- Failure is information. Edison’s 967 attempts are the proof.
- Passion plus persistence, and the courage to grab an opportunity, can change your tomorrow.
I love to read about the success of other people, especially if I know those people. The one thing that goes through my mind is that if this person can do it, that means that everyone else can do it. And, if everyone else can do it, that means that I can do it, too.
Okay, so I’m not Madam Curie and I will never win the Nobel Prize for discovering anything resembling Polonium or Radium but what did she have that you and I might also have? By all rights, she could have just sat in her lab making these discoveries and no one might have ever heard of her. And isn’t that the way it is with most people?
No. Madam Curie had what most people could also have if they truly desired to make a name for themselves. She had perseverance, determination, and commitment, attributes that seem to be in short supply today.
Why are Bill Gates and Warren Buffett so wealthy today? Do you think it was luck? Do you think money was just handed to them? Think again. They didn’t only work hard for it, as millions of other people who also work hard but live almost in poverty can attest. No, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett started with a vision and then they made a plan, and then they were like a dog with a bone. They didn’t give up. They were tenacious. They were determined and persistent, and they worked very hard to bring their plans into existence. I can’t imagine the sacrifices they made but I’m sure they made many.
For the rest of us? I think we give up too soon when things don’t go as we planned. Perhaps we don’t have the same level of commitment that truly successful people have. Perhaps we have too many distractions in our lives or not enough interest or commitment to see it through to the end.
The one thing I consistently hear from successful people is that there is no such thing as luck; they make their own luck. They look for opportunities and they grab those opportunities with both hands and they take risks and they are not afraid of failure. Confucius said many things but two things stand out in my mind. He said, “Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.” And the other pearl of wisdom he’s known for saying is, “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
And, if you stop to think about it, aren’t those words the ingredients of success? Isn’t that what Thomas Edison proved? He was once asked how he felt about failing 967 times to make the electric light bulb, to which he answered, that he didn’t fail 967 times, he just learned what doesn’t work 967 times.
I’m going to add one more ingredient to the mix. If you feel passionate about your work, have determination, persistence and commitment, and don’t give up, you can’t help but succeed. Very few people get money for nothing, so when you see an opportunity. grab it with both hands and don’t be afraid of failure. There’s always tomorrow, and if you keep at it, tomorrow may be the day success falls in your lap and people may believe that you got money for nothing, but you’ll know the truth behind your success.
If you would like schedule a counseling session with Connie go to: Book a Session with Connie
Written by Connie H. Deutsch
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Where to Go Next
If this post stirred something, here is where to take it. Pick one, and let it be small.
- The mindset that helped Hal Elrod survive death, cancer and depression. A conversation about carrying on when life asks the most of you.
- An Evening with Alex Ferrari: The High Cost of Chasing a Dream. A look at what it takes to chase something big.
- Manifestation Techniques: 15 Grounded Practices. Practical ways to turn a vision into steady action.
- Dark Night of the Soul: Meaning, Signs and How to Move Through It. For the days when giving up feels close.
- The Mental Magic Audio Course, available on Next Level Soul TV.
- The Next Level Soul Podcast. New episodes every week.
Try this today: write down one thing you want and the next small step toward it. Then take that step before the day ends. You are already enough to begin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Success Really Just Luck?
Connie shares that the successful people she hears from say there is no such thing as luck. They make their own by looking for opportunities and grabbing them.
What Did Thomas Edison Say About Failure?
In the story Connie tells, Edison said he did not fail 967 times to make the light bulb. He learned what does not work 967 times.
What Qualities Does Connie Say Lead to Success?
Perseverance, determination and commitment, plus passion for your work. She also encourages grabbing opportunities and not being afraid of failure.
How Do I Keep Going When Things Do Not Go as Planned?
Connie believes many of us give up too soon. A practical way to start is to write down your plan, pick the next small step, and take it today.
Can I Book a Session With Connie?
Yes. The post includes a Book a Session with Connie link that leads to her counseling session page on Next Level Soul.
Where Can I Listen to the Money for Nothing Episode?
The episode is available on the Next Level Soul Podcast. You can watch or listen on this page.
