Success comes knocking occasionally, but it's important to remember that we need it more than it needs us. We must program ourselves to chase success, but this is not an easy task. We want to drive; not learn to drive. We want to be at our destination; not travel there. We want to be successful; not become successful. The path to success is not a magic contact or contract, but a journey of obstacles and experiences.
I am skeptical of the young lady, however talented, who expects to be discovered singing karaoke at the local bar. To me, this is less realistic than someone who quits a dayjob to write music fulltime. At least the latter scenario requires ambition and action! What is your ambition? What are you waiting for?
If you're like me, you might find that most "tips" for success are no-brainers. On the other hand (again, like me), you might also find yourself following the "duh" with "...yeah, I could do better..." So here are some common no-brainer tips for working toward a goal (and I do mean WORKING), of which we should all be reminded, from time to time.
1. SETTING THE GOAL.
First thing's first. What do you want to achieve? Start at the end and work backwards. If you want to be a chef on a cruise ship, it would be a good idea to know what cruise ships require of their chefs.
2. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TODAY?
Be disciplined. If you are truly passionate about your goal, you should have no trouble getting motivated to wake up in the morning and work to advance your cause. Do something every day, no matter how small or large, that moves you in the right direction. If your goal is to go back to college, you can count researching schools online just as you can count registering for classes. Make it happen!
3. BELIEVE.
All the clichs are true: You can accomplish anything if you put your mind to it; Follow your dreams; Don't give up; etc. Belief coupled with desire and focus will get you there. It is belief that sustains you through the failures (there will be some) and propels you forward to the next victory.
Finally, a word about another clich: "It's all about who you know." This is true, to a point, but listen carefully... it's all about who you KNOW, not about whose hand you shake in chance encounters. A cab driver slipping his screenplay to a film producer during a lucky day on the job makes for a good story, but it couldn't be more unlikely. Most often, valuable contacts are not meetings of happenstance, but relationships that have been built over time, on solid sincerity and trust. If I want to become a television meteorologist, it is plausible for me to work hard at my craft, and get a call from someone I hang out with at annual conferences. It is far less plausible for me to get the same job by bumping into the right person on an elevator. It's about who you know, not just who you meet, so be nice, be real, and be good at what you do. I always liked Steve Martin's response when people ask for his advice in how to "make it." In his words, you should "Be so good they can't ignore you."
We've all heard someone say something like: "I always wanted to, but..." Imagine what you would put in that blank five, ten, twenty years from now. Imagine feeling the way someone feels when they think they've missed their chance. Imagine longing to travel back in time for another chance. Guess what! This is your time machine! Snap back to reality, and realize that your life has a future, and that you are in control! What is your goal? What have you done today to move closer toward attaining it? There is no dream too silly, or too big.
Thoreau writes of "building castles in the air." No problem, he says, "that is where they should be." Perhaps, though, the most important part of his advice is what follows: "Now," he writes, "put the foundations under them."