Ever been jealous of watching that friend of yours roll out in a big car and wonder where did you go wrong? For someone who started out with you, they have gone off a long way and yet here you are still not satisfied with life. Maybe you didn’t have the same opportunities come your way as they did, or maybe you feel you aren’t as talented as they were, and that is where you are wrong. It is our outlook towards life and things that we do and thinks that separate the successful from the struggling and the failures. Not everyone is born with a silver spoon in their mouth, yet some make it far above where they began from, and here are a few things they have given up on that sets them apart.
They have given up on Negativity
We all know fairly well how important it is to stay positive, and avoid negativity of any sort, that which stems inside your mind as well as that which comes from those you surround yourself with. While positive thinking might not mean positive results, at least it motivates one stay on the path they have chosen and give it their best. Those who tell you that you can’t do not deserve to be given a place in your life, for there is a reason they aren’t one of the successful lots. I remember Chris Rock during his monolog at the Academy Awards of 2016 said, “How come it’s only unemployed people that tell you to quit something, you know? No one with a job ever tells you to quit.” A person who is in control of their mind, conquers the first step towards success, for once you conquer yourself, can you conquer all else. It isn’t as easy as it sounds to control your mind especially when things are going south, but your successful friends check their thoughts and don’t let them get the better of them.
They have given up on Doubting Themselves
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither will your dreams. Your successful friends understand that and know that through perseverance they can change the world. They have stopped looking to others for assurance on the decisions that they make, their dreams and aspirations. We are all born with a potential to do something remarkable, and only those who never fail to believe in themselves are able to find a way to channel this brilliance in them. Changing the world isn’t always about being in the limelight, sometimes it’s done in the small things from the small places. It doesn’t matter where you start from, what matters in the destination that you reach and the path you travel to get there. History is filled with the accounts of those who didn’t give up on themselves and ultimately succeeded in their endeavors.
They have given up on Being a One-Man Army
All great endeavors are fulfilled when you have a worthy team by your side. We might believe that we have all the skill necessary to put our plans to work, but too many cooks spoil the broth only when that is the only dish being served, otherwise, you’ll find the kitchen full of cooks. Learn to rely on the right people, for which you need to develop a sense of understanding not only your own strengths and weaknesses but that of those you work with. Being a leader is not what is being asked of you, but being a team player. Learn to get along with people, learn to tap their potential to your advantage, and learn to give everyone the respect they deserve. Depending on others isn’t being weak, it’s about your ability to delegate the right job to the right man, for there are matters where someone else might be better than you when it comes to getting the job done. Also, this isn’t only about helping yourself but helping those you surround yourself with get better in the process.
They have given up on Luck
While giving an interview to the Times, Peter Dinklage said, “I hate that word- ‘lucky.’ It cheapens a lot of hard work.”Coming from a man who made a name for himself in an industry where physical appearance is kept in such high regard, you cannot undermine the power of this thought. Your successful friends know that it is hard work, determination, and finding the right way to do things is what gets you on top. You may have come across many who don’t work that hard but have achieved great heights, this is probably because they worked smart, and not hard. It is undoubtedly important to work as hard as it takes to get the job done, but hard work in the wrong direction doesn’t pay either. Don’t credit or blame luck for your successes or your failures. While it might seem like it plays a part, this is nothing but the human tendency to take the blame off themselves or discredit someone else’s merit when we envy their achievements.
They have given up on Forgetting Failures
The uphill ride is always a delight, the one downhill is what makes you a better human being. Successful people don’t attempt to numb their pain by indulging in things that distract them from their goals. After mourning one failure, they get back on track, assess their failure, learn from it and then start working on the next move. Being frustrated at your situation is not the problem, the problem is what you did wrong. Rather than letting their failures lure them onto the wrong path, they choose to embed the experience into their system so that it serves as a lesson for a lifetime, never to be repeated again. Too much time in mourning the failure on an endeavor leads you towards doubting yourself, which not only deviates you from your path but alters you as a person.
They have given up on Wasting Money
Money might not be the only thing that matters in this world, but it is the thing that matters most, for nothing else can pay the bills or put food in your mouth. Successful people know how to save and invest their money. This doesn’t mean that they don’t indulge in any sort of pleasure but they prioritize their expenses based on the effects that they will have in the future. If they have some to spare, then rather than wasting it on things that will give temporary pleasure, they spend it on what is necessary or invest it to increase it. Of course, investing money sounds like a risky option and not something that everyone likes to indulge in, however, that is where sound judgment comes into play. Enlighten yourself on all the ways that can help you save up and increase the money which isn’t being utilized at the moment and may not find use in the future either.
Successful people don’t do different things, they do things differently. Most people give up when they are the closest to fulfilling their dreams, but what matters most I that you stick by yourself and stay determined. Changes might be needed to the way you work, but if your belief is firm in what you are doing, then even the unrealistic expectation can turn into success.
