The Fundamental Factor To High Achievement

Is it possible to summarise success in a few words? What can I offer to all those individuals who so often stop and ask what one piece of advice I can give regarding high achievement? Here it is then in six words. The shortest seminar I can give you. Capsule form.

Do what you resolve to do!

Most human beings suffer from psycho sclerosis…. a hardening of the psyche, leading to an inability to try something new, just out of reach, something challenging. On the rare occasions where they do try something, they often give up at the first obstacle.

Fact is that winners get clarity on what they want, then get up early and work away at the little things that the majority just seem to neglect through a lack of focus and perseverance to see it through.

In one of my recent programs in the Middle East, a humble gentleman wanted my view on where I thought the best place was to educate his two children. The U.K or the U.S? Unbeknown to me at the time, this Kuwaiti entrepreneur had launched and fully owned a chemical corporation with over 3000 employees. Intrigued as I am by what drives such individuals, I queried as to what he thought was most important to his success.

His answer resonated with our topic today. He said, to move forward without the guarantee of success. Sure, he had faced some mighty challenges and setbacks throughout his journey, but the key was that he kept moving forward, despite them.

Harvard University tracked their students for a total of 50 years following graduation. What they found was that the common, and only denominator to the high achievement was an almost immediate call to action.

Whenever opportunities presented themselves in life, the winners acted very, very quickly. Even though they faced many failures along the way in their attempts to move forward, they learnt and persisted far longer than most.

Winston Churchill, who in his twilight years mentored Aristotle Onassis, had given the Greek shipping tycoon the following advice. “The gods favour those few who have the courage to begin and the resolve to complete.”

Action Exercises:

• What one thing can you begin, see through and accomplish in the next 12 months that would have the greatest impact on your life? Think about it. What can you get into, out off, accelerate, and focus on?

• Once you have decided what it is, ask what steps are required to accomplish this objective? Write them down, and begin with the first step, then the second, and so on. You will be amazed at your progress.