What does it look like to be successful? In the end, what do you want to achieve in life? What do you want to do in life? “I don’t know” is the most common response. That isn’t all, either. You can do whatever you want with that. If you have no idea what you want to do with your life, we consider it the worst possible outcome. It’s like, “OMG!” we exclaim. No idea what I’m after! Then comes the full-blown panic. It happens to everyone, let’s face it.
Because seeing your old college buddy get married is even more heart-warming. Your co-worker who started the same day as you just got a promotion or something like that. When we’re weak, we reveal our own lack of confidence in the course of our lives. Thought I needed to know exactly what I wanted to do with the rest of my life was one of the biggest mistakes in my thinking that I’ve made. Ultimately, no one can say for sure what they want.
Don’t Worry About the Unknown
A cow could mutilate you at any time (really happened). On the stock market, you could lose half your money. It’s possible that your house will catch fire. You’re not obligated to hear any of that. However, it is important to remember that we do not know the answers to many of life’s mysteries. What about your health? What will happen to the stock market? Is there any hope for the future of your company?
You don’t know! I think that’s one of the great things about life. In the words of Eleanor Roosevelt: “Life would cease to be life and flavourless if it were predictable.”
“Why do you read so many books?” is a common question. It’s impossible for you to put into practice everything you have learned. “They have a point. My inability to do so is a personal failure. Why do I continue to read about so many diverse subjects? One day, I may find myself in a situation where I desperately need to remember a specific fact. My entire life could be changed by one moment of need. Here is an example of what I’m referring to. When friends and business mentors told me in 2015 that I should share my productivity, life, and business ideas with others, I began to consider it seriously. You can, however, share your knowledge in a variety of ways. Group training and seminars are both options that are open to you. You can work one-on-one with clients. YouTube allows you to post videos. At conferences, you can give speeches. There is no end to the possibilities. In the end, though, I decided to start with written ideas because I’ve always had a strong interest in writing. The quickest way for me to get started was in this manner. In the past, I’d also learned a lot about building websites from the ground up. Because of this, getting started was a breeze for me. There’s a good chance you’ve already built a website. For a month, I wrote every day. As a result, what happened? I wrote a book and numerous articles about it.
Know Where You’re Going. Not the End of the World.
Years ago, I was reading about writing and building websites, but I had no idea that I would one day use that knowledge to create my own personal blog. Actually, I had no idea what to do with my life at the time. I only had a vague idea of where I wanted to go. I was certain that I wanted to make a difference and do something I was passionate about. The ability to articulate a clear vision for your future isn’t critical. People evolve over time. The economic climate shifts over time. “I know what I want!” isn’t even a reasonable claim to make. A sense of direction is the only thing that every person needs. Have a clear idea of where you want to end up. You don’t have to know where you’re going in advance. People who claim to have always known exactly what they wanted are commonplace in the media. A small percentage of the total population, to be sure, but it’s there nonetheless. A person like that has never come across my path. Most of us don’t start out with that level of conviction. It’s a living organism that changes over time. Trying to figure out where you want to go in life is your number one priority if you have trouble making up your mind about where you want to go. What Jay Abraham recommends in his best-selling business book, Getting Everything You Can Out of All You’ve Got:
“The first step is to figure out what you want, and then follow the path that will lead you there. “There’s nothing more heartbreaking than seeing someone reach the age of 75 or 80 and look back on their life with regret because they pursued the wrong target,”
See how he doesn’t say you need to have a crystal-clear picture of what you want? That’s not a possibility in the real world. For starters, we need to know where we’re headed. It’s true, but it’s still a mystery to me. But to date, that’s the only useful response I’ve received.
Invest in the Essentials
In the meantime, don’t waste your time watching endless hours of television or binge-drinking or overindulging in fast food. Make the most of your time. Build a repertoire of skills that you can count on. You’re in need of a little inspiration. Here are a few things I’m always trying to improve on:
Self-Control: Improve your ability to shut out the critical voice in your head. Get up and leave your bed. To get in shape, go to the gym. Take no notice of those who say, “I don’t want.”
Personal Effectiveness: Learn how to get the most out of the 16–18 hours of sleep you have each day. Get more done in a more efficient way.
Communication: We think we’re all excellent communicators, but the truth is that we aren’t. Truthfully, we’re not very good. In both art and science, communication is a two-edged sword. And our ability to collaborate with others is also dependent on this.
Negotiation: Negotiation is a part of everyday life. With your partner, children, parents, teachers, friends, co-workers, and supervisors, amongst other people. In a social setting. Learn how to negotiate in such a way that everyone wins.
Persuasion: Learn how to persuade others in an ethical manner.
Physical Stamina: Increasing one’s physical strength and stamina is a learned ability. Pull your own weight. It is a basic human right to be able to do this.
Flexibility: Being confined to a chair all day can lead to stiffness and a lack of mobility in your body. If you’re a desk-bound worker who has difficulty stretching their hips, lower back, hamstrings and calves, you’re not alone.
If you want to do it right, you’ll be busy for the rest of your life. Pick a skill that you’re interested in learning more about. Improve your skills in this area. Then, select a new one. And keep repeating this process. You’ll figure out what you want in time. And even if you don’t, the world won’t end. Still, there’s a lot to learn.
Building better habits with actionable insights. The blog has become my daily companion.