“There are only two rules for being successful. One, figure out exactly what you want to do, and two, do it.”
This quote, by Mario Cuomo, paints a picture of success in the most simple way possible. Being successful simply comes down to figuring out exactly what you want to do and then doing it. Of course, there are many other steps that go into each of those. Figuring out exactly what you want to do can be a process–something that takes reflection or trial and error. And actually doing it isn’t always straightforward. But when you break things down to these two overarching steps, things suddenly seem more achievable. Moreover, it becomes clear what you need to do and haven’t done. Often, we don’t know exactly what we want. Perhaps…
“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work.”
In 2005, Steve Jobs delivered a commencement speech at Stanford University. It’s a very thoughtful and inspiring speech. To watch or read it in full, click here. This quote is lifted from that speech, stating: “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.” In the speech, Jobs talks about his journey. He…
“To make a change, you need to be aware and acknowledge that something isn’t working first.”
When it comes to changing something that’s not working, you first have to see that it’s not working. It seems like a no-brainer. But sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know. And a much needed change may not be so evident. This quote, by Justin Kan, reminds us of the importance of being aware of and acknowledging that something isn’t working. How do you become aware and acknowledge something isn’t working when you just don’t know? Where do you begin in order to develop that awareness? Here are some things to reflect on. Ask yourself if you’ve put on some rose-colored glasses. There might be some denial happening–Ignoring red…
“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.”
This quote is often attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson. However, it seems to have actually appeared in a 90’s Nike ad by Janet Champ and Charlotte Moore. It’s partly based on the idea of self-fulfilling prophecy. This is the notion that we will try to make our beliefs come true in order to make our perceptions match with reality. This can and often does happen–Sometimes subconsciously. The worst part is when our subconscious belief about who we are and who we want to be is negative. This results in a negative affect on who we are and who we become. This quote also goes beyond the idea of self-fulfilling prophecy.…
“The first step to living the life that you want is leaving the life that you don’t want.”
When we think of living the life we want, our first inclination is to think of all the things we need to add to it or begin. However, as writer Karen Salmansohn suggests in this quote, we might be missing another key step before all of that. Before we start thinking about what to add or start, a more immediate step might be what we need to get rid of, stop, or leave behind. For instance, what situations, patterns, or toxic relationships do we need to leave? Addressing those things first will be the first step in creating a clearer path toward living the life we want.
“Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get.”
Being successful at getting what you want doesn’t always equate to happiness. As this quote by Dale Carnegie reminds us, happiness is wanting what you get. When we examine the idea of wanting what you get, we can break it down in two ways. Sometimes we want the wrong things, thinking that they would make us happy. And when we finally get them, we realize they aren’t the things we really want. Although we may have achieved success and gotten what we wanted, it doesn’t give us the feeling of happiness we had anticipated. So in the end, we don’t want (i.e. desire) what we get. Sometimes we do get…
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“Winning doesn’t always mean being first. Winning means you’re doing better than you’ve done before.”
“If you get tired, learn to rest, not quit.”
“If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. If you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place.”
“If you don’t have time for the small things, you won’t have time for the big things”
Many of us want to achieve and experience big things. However, we often overlook a key ingredient: the culmination of small things needed to get to the big thing. This quote, by Richard Branson, reminds us that there’s no way we’ll have time for the big things if we don’t have time for the small ones. Not having time for the small things is like trying to run a marathon without having time to train. It’s like trying to do anything requiring fortitude without dedicating time for practice, preparation, and even self-care. So what small things make up your big thing? What small things do you need to make time…
“Half the trouble in the world comes from people asking ‘What have I achieved?’ rather than ‘What have I enjoyed?’”
This quote is from Walter Farley, the writer of The Black Stallion books. Farley went on to say that it wasn’t so much the popularity of his books among young readers that brought him joy. Instead, it was that he enjoyed writing them. Often we focus on the outcome, or achievement, and not the way we feel in getting there. This quote reminds us to focus less on what we’ve achieved and more on what we’ve enjoyed. After all, it’s better to have mediocrity than an unhappy road to success. However, if we focus on what we enjoy, the success may come too, but with more joy along the way.
“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing. That’s why we recommend it daily.”
Being intensely motivated to do something is such a great feeling. You feel like you can take on the world. You’re full of energy, inspiration, and spirit. But that feeling doesn’t always last. This quote, by Zig Ziglar, reminds us that being motivated is not something that automatically happens each day. Sometimes, our motivation wanes. Often it’s because we’ve begun to lose sight of why we started doing something. Therefore, we have to come up with ways to re-motivate, re-energize, and remind ourselves of our why. And maybe that needs to happen each day. So, when your motivation begins to fade, remember your north star–your reason. Remind yourself why you…
“The things you are passionate about are the real reason for your existence on this planet.”
Finding our purpose is something we all strive to do. But sometimes, that pursuit can take a whole lifetime. And quite often, when we feel like we’ve found our purpose, we aren’t entirely sure. This quote, by Hiral Nagda, makes the search quite simple. We have to examine the things we’re passionate about. Perhaps the things we are naturally drawn to is our purpose, and they were placed in our hearts for a reason.
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“The heart that gives thanks is a happy one, for we cannot feel thankful and unhappy at the same time.”
“Don’t compare yourself to others. Be like the Sun and the Moon and shine when it’s your time.”
“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is a quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.'”
