“Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”– Winston S. Churchill
When seeking success in our lives, we must consider some important questions:
1) What is our personal definition of success?
2) What are our personal habits?
3) Are we finding any success(es)?
4) Why or why not?
In my own life, I have heard comments like, ‘You think too much John’ ‘You are way too deep’ ‘Why so cerebral John!’ ‘Who thinks about such things!’ On the outside, I usually shrugged them off with a snicker, especially when I was younger. But on the inside, I really thought something was wrong with me. Well, that is the not the case with me. I honestly do not believe there is anything wrong me anymore. I realize my contemplative and inquisitive nature is just who I am. This habitual behavior is some of my greatest strength.
Make no mistake, every single one of us is journeying through life. For me, as each day passes on my own quest for self-discovery, the methods to reach personal actualization have helped me to find successes along the way. Perhaps, the constant thing for all of us is trying to determine our own definition of success. In my own experience and research, the reasons for people attaining personal success appear to be variations of similar behaviors, beliefs, and practices.
“Nothing I have is truly mine.”– Dido, “Life for Rent”
Visit any self-help section at your local bookstore these days. There are literally hundreds, maybe even thousands, of books available for us seeking to find success in our lives. When we delve into their pages, most of them reveal simple and/or complex variations of similar habits. These comparable habits are based on universal wisdoms being passed along by previous generations to the next.
Undoubtedly, for many of us, it seems like it could take us an entire lifetime to find ultimate success. As we grow older (and supposedly, wiser), our beliefs and our practices will continue to adjust and evolve to our lives unfolding around us. Yet, despite these changes, if we stay convicted to a core set of habits, then we give ourselves a greater chance to find success.
“Everything I say is not wholly mine: It is the re-phrased wisdom of other warriors who’ve come before me.”– John T. Krotec
Here is my personal list of habits that have worked for me to find the successes in my own life. They are based upon long-established cultural and theological wisdoms:
1) Seek self-improvement continuously (books, workshops, seminars, coaching, therapies, exercise).
2) Concentrate on personal strengths, not on weaknesses.
3) Create a list of Personal Mantra Buzzwords (PMBs)-words that reflect your core values and memorize them (i.e. loving, integral, gracious, tactful, hopeful, compassionate, judicious, loyal, persevering, industrious, etc.)
4) ‘Live’ and ‘Breathe’ your PBMs. Concentrate on them. Stay the course.
5) Make conscious choices & know your options.
6) Use positive words and phrasing in your speech.
7) Maintain awe & enthusiasm for daily living.
8) Avoid bickering, blaming, & complaining at all costs.
9) Develop a network of supportive people.
10) Seek sacredness, align with the spirit.
In closing, we need to understand that every single one of us has the potential to create personal success. To get there requires us (among other things) to define our success, envision life fulfillment, identify core habits, develop a plan, execute the plan, experience trial-and-error, make adjustments, and to solidify a firm belief in ourselves that we can attain the success seen in our personal visions.
Some recommended reading:
“The Leader In You: How to Win Friends, Influence People and Succeed in a Changing World” (1993) by Dale Carnegie
“The Science of Getting Rich” (1910) by Wallace Wattles
“The Rise of Superman: Decoding the Science of Ultimate Human Performance” (2014) by Steven Kotler
“Something Deeply Hidden: Quantum Worlds and The Emergence of Spacetime” (2019) by Sean M. Carroll
“Think and Grow Rich: The Landmark Bestseller Now Revised and Updated for the 21stCentury” (1937/2005) Original Book by Napoleon Hill; Revised Edition by Arthur R. Pell, PhD
“Mental Toughness: Train Your Brain- Improve Focus, Brain Secrets, Peak Performance, How Campions Think, Critical Thinking, Self-Confidence, Powerful Habits, Mental Resilience Like a Spartan” (2019) by G.S. Baker
“The Amy Vanderbilt Complete Book of Etiquette, 5oth Anniversary Edition” (1952/1995) Original Book by Amy Vanderbilt, Revised Edition by Nancy Tuckerman and Nancy Dunnan
“The Conscious Millionaire: Grow Your Business by Making a Difference” (2014) by J.V. Crum, III
“The Code of The Extraordinary Mind” 10 Untraditional Laws to Redefine Your Life and Succeed on Your Own Terms” (2016) by Vishen Lakiani
“#Girlboss”(2014)by Sophia Amoruso
“The 21 Most Powerful Minutes in A Leader’s Day” (2001) by John C. Maxwell
Some bonus book recommendations:
“Leaders: Myth and Reality” (2018) by Jason Mangone, Jeff Eggers, and Stanley McChrystal
“Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALS Lead and Win” (2015) by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
“The Leadership Genius of Julius Caesar: Modern Lessons from a Man Who Built an Empire” (2016)by Phillip Barlag
“The Monk and the Riddle: The Art of Creating a Life While Making a Living” (2000)by Randy Komisar
My book:
“Fractals: A Poetic Journey for Acceptance” (2020-Kim Richardson Publishing)by John T. Krotec
#leadership #vision #success #corehabits #unnlockyourcells #habitsmatter #higherconsciousness #wisdom #warrior #overcome #keepgoing