5 Tips To Measure Success

Measuring success, whether at the workplace or at home, can help you figure out if you’re heading in the right direction or if you should turn back and try a different approach. It’s also an indicator of whether you’re reaching your short- and long-term goals.

 

Then, anytime you feel you’re not getting closer to your goals, you can take a step back and readjust.

 

Everyone has a different definition of what success looks like. For example, some people characterize success according to how high their yearly earnings are despite working in an organization where the company culture is stifling and the supervisors are overworked.

 

Alternatively, someone else might be making much less money someplace else, but still feel like they’ve won the lottery because their work environment is positive and engaging.

 

As such, experts have implemented several ways to measure success that work for everybody.

 

In this article, we discuss five ways to measure success in your life.

 

Believe in Yourself

 

Self-confidence doesn’t come overnight. You have to first recognize what your values and principles are, then make a conscious effort to live your life accordingly.

 

When you do that, you’ll enjoy a sense of inner peace and high self-esteem. Thus, you live each day trying to be the best version of yourself, which is one of the highest measures of success.

 

The problem is that sometimes we feel we have to live according to other people’s values to please them or fit in and be accepted. That may be true for a while.

 

But eventually, you’ll end up feeling defeated, worn out, and exhausted, which is the exact opposite of what you would describe as success.

 

Track Your Most Important Tasks

 

How you spend your time during the day is one of the biggest indicators of success. It tells you whether your main priorities are where they need to be.

 

Even if you work most of your waking hours, you may not be getting anything done.

To help you make the most of your time, create a schedule and keep track of how much you spend on the most critical tasks of the day.

 

If you find a task that you can hand over to others and delegate, then great! This means you can free up some time to focus on the tasks that really matter to you and will help you achieve personal and professional success.

 

Compare Yourself to Yesterday’s Version of You

 

Think about your level of learning and knowledge five years ago, last year, and last month. You’ll notice the line moving upward. Even if it’s in small increments, this means that there’s continuous learning.

 

This includes the practical experience you gain when putting your ideas to work. It also includes that some of these ideas will inevitably fail.

 

Yet, you have to realize that failure is part of the learning process. After failing once, or even a dozen times, you now know what not to do, so you have a better chance of reaching your goals and achieving success.

 

Find Your Version of Inner Peace

 

It’s nice to feel like we’re contributing and making a difference in the world. It could be working as a diplomat traveling abroad, making an impact on a global level.

 

Or it could be within our immediate family where we’re helping raise our kids or caring for our elderly parents.

 

It could also be just living an ordinary life, doing the things we love, and enjoying being in the presence of our friends and co-workers.

 

All these scenarios are good measures of success because, through them, we embrace inner peace and feel like we’re adding value to the world around us.

 

Evaluate Your Relationships

 

Whether at work or in our personal lives, we all want to love and be loved. It’s human nature and a goal we’re all trying to achieve, which makes it a measure of success.

 

And when we feel like our emotions aren’t being reciprocated, it can feel disappointing and frustrating.

 

Therefore, one of the best ways to measure your success in life is by the company you keep. Surround yourself with people who lift you up, inspire you to do better, and help you focus on what’s right for you.

 

5 Tips For Chasing Your Dreams

As kids, we had big dreams of how we wanted our lives to turn out when we grew up. Then, slowly, most of these dissipated due to timing and other circumstances far beyond our reach.

 

Yet, that doesn’t mean that, as adults, we should stop dreaming and striving to turn these dreams into reality. There’s no denying it’s a challenge, and the waiting and hoping are difficult as well.

 

But they’re sometimes a necessary part of life that helps us grow and mature. We all have circumstances that make it challenging to succeed. Yet, we can choose to find a way around them if we only put our minds to it and stay determined to reach our goals.

 

We know how difficult and lonely it can feel to keep your dreams alive.

 

So, we’re here today to offer you the motivation you need with five tips that will help you stay hopeful and find the inspiration to pursue your dreams.

 

Stop Making Excuses

 

People give up on their dreams not because they lack the right skills, support, or motivation. They give up because they’re afraid of failing.

 

Fear of failure is a normal human reaction. Everyone is afraid, but it’s only those with enough confidence and courage to take risks who eventually succeed.

 

One trick is to look at failure as a learning experience. Use it to have a better understanding of what not to do and prepare yourself for the next time.

 

Take Action

 

The dreaming part is easy, fun, and exciting. But it’ll get you nowhere. You have to start putting in the work if you want to pursue your dreams any further even if it means stepping out of your comfort zone.

 

One way to do that is by asking questions. Find experts in your chosen field and pick their brains about everything.

 

Remember, there are no dumb questions. So, don’t feel awkward that you’re less knowledgeable about a certain topic than they are. They were once in your shoes, and they worked hard to get to where they are. And so will you.

 

Meet Obstacles Head-On

 

Venus Williams once said, “I don’t focus on what I’m up against. I focus on my goals, and I try to ignore the rest.”

 

If you put your energy into creating goals and working to achieve them, you won’t have time to worry about any hurdles in your path or people who try to knock you down.

 

Then, when something does pop up that you absolutely can’t ignore, you’ll have enough willpower and determination to plow through it.

 

You’ll put more value on reaching your goal that you can’t let anything sidetrack you or throw you off course.

 

Hold Yourself Accountable

 

This is your dream. You’re the only one who can turn it into reality. Plus, no one will ever feel as passionate about your dream as you because everyone else is busy chasing their own dreams.

 

So, invest enough time and effort to see it to fruition. This isn’t just for your sake, but for all the people who will ultimately benefit from your ideas once they become real.

 

It doesn’t matter if your dreams are big like owning a nationwide chain of retail boutiques. Or small like getting a raise to help support your family. The important thing to remember is that they’re your dreams and they make you happy. So, enjoy the journey and have faith that, when you put in the work, things will work out in the end.

 

Put in the Time

 

We’re all eager to claim success, wealth, and fame as quickly as possible. But life doesn’t work that way.

 

Many times, people sabotage their dreams because they want to go fast and find shortcuts so that they forget to build a strong foundation for their dreams. Yet, it’s the best dreams that take the most time, and try as you may, you won’t find an easy way to achieve them.

 

Yet, once you get there, you’ll realize they were worth every ounce of blood, sweat, and tears. You just have to believe in yourself long enough to stick with it until the end. As Eleanor Roosevelt said, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

 

Focus and Action Go Hand in Hand

What good is having focus if you don’t take any action? Conversely, if you take action without a focus, how will you know you are doing the right things? As you can probably surmise, focus and action go hand in hand.

 

The concepts reinforce each other. Suppose you decide that you need to increase sales, or whatever your goal happens to be. You plan out the steps and use that to set your focus. Then, when you execute the plan by taking action, you will learn that your focus was correct. Or, you will learn that it didn’t work out for some reason and that you need to consider alternate plans.

 

The last sentence of the previous paragraph is important. Not everything you plan will work out and you need to keep that in mind. If you find something isn’t working out, and you don’t believe it is going to get any better, don’t hesitate to find something else. Otherwise, the focus-action loop will get stale, and you will get frustrated. This is a negative reinforcement that will only serve to help you fail.

 

Failure is part of the process. Your actions should be iterative along with measures of what is happening. It can’t hurt to have alternative plans defined at the beginning of the cycle if that is possible. If not, just determine those alternatives when they make sense.

 

When you continue in this manner, you will find your focus is more intense. This is because you believe the actions you take will lead you to the desired results and you’ll shift your focus if it doesn’t. 

 

If you need to extend this entire concept to a team, make sure they understand that the possibility of failure exists. This will help you guide them to different paths. Of course, if a few of the team members are not doing their part, this is another path you will need to deal with. These members may not be clear on the benefits of the plan. When that happens, they will lose focus, and they won’t be able to take action. Or, the actions they do take will not coincide with what the team is trying to deliver.

 

When you approach your goals in this way, you will likely excel at your job or business. You’ll have a renewed sense of purpose, and you will bring the business to new heights.

 

Reasons Why You Should Become an Action-Taker

What's stopping you from taking action? Is it fear? Perhaps you're waiting for the right break instead of making your opportunities in life? Or maybe you believe you're not smart or talented enough? These negative beliefs are holding you back. 

 

There's a reason why so many intelligent people fail. They tend to overthink everything and are often afraid to take risks. If that's your case, here are some powerful reasons to become an action-taker: 

 

Get Rid of Doubts 

 

If you don't take action, you'll keep wondering What if? You will struggle with self-doubt and question your decisions. Taking action builds experience and boosts your confidence. It also allows you to discover new resources and information that will contribute to your success. 

 

Your Time Is Limited 

 

Steve Jobs once said that remembering you're going to die is the best way to stop thinking you have something to lose. Your time on this earth is limited. You never know what’s going to happen a month or a year from now on. 

 

You might never get a second chance to rent that perfect office space in your area, go to that meeting you've been postponing for weeks, or apply for your dream job. Take action today! Don't settle for anything less than you deserve! 

 

One Thing Leads to Another 

 

Getting started is often the hardest yet the most important step to success. No matter your plans, you must take action to bring them to life. 

 

Once you make that first step, everything else will fall into place. It may or may not work out as you hope, but it will lead to something new. Think of it as an opportunity to grow and learn. 

 

Let's say you want to apply for a job that sounds perfect for you, but you know you aren’t quite qualified enough. Yes, it’s scary to apply, but what’s really at stake? Even if you don’t get the job, you’ll get practice interviewing for your dream job. You’ll also get feedback on what you need to focus on to get a similar job in the future. When you start taking action, you get results. 

 

Develop Your Skills 

 

Whether your projects succeed or fail, there's always a chance to learn new things. Taking action will help develop your skills, leading to greater confidence. 

 

The next time you want to take action on a dream, you'll feel better prepared and have more experience. On top of that, you’ll approach things from a new perspective and won’t repeat the same mistakes. 

 

3 Secrets to Help You Take Action Now

Some people are just better at taking action than others. At least, that's how it can often seem when you want to take action but can't figure out how you should go about it. The truth is, you can transform yourself from a thinker to a doer using the following three secrets. 

 

1.    Stop Waiting For The Perfect Time

 

The most obvious difference between a thinker and someone who is a doer is that doers don't worry about waiting for the perfect time. This is because perfection is a myth. There is no such thing as the perfect time. You will always have a full schedule; you will always have other things to do. It is time to accept that there is no time like the present for whatever you wish to accomplish. So stop waiting, and start doing instead. 

 

2.    Write Your Plan Down

 

Many people don't take action now because they aren't sure where to start. If your plan is quite large, like a career change, it can be difficult to know exactly where to start. What helps with this is to sit down and make an outline of your plan or goal. Break it down into smaller, more manageable pieces. Then, start with the first manageable piece that you can do. For the career example listed above, the first step would be to update your resume to apply for new jobs. Seems much more approachable than just thinking you want a new career, right?

 

3.    Overcome Your Fear

 

Are you afraid to take action now because you don't think you will be successful? Or maybe you are afraid that you will make mistakes along the way? You aren't alone. Most people who aren't doers don't take action because they are afraid of what could happen. Either way, it's time to overcome these fears so that you can take action now. And the best way to do this is by recognizing that you are human and that making mistakes is part of life. Don't worry about thinking you may fail; this is okay too. Remember that all successful people have had failures too. This doesn't mean they didn't eventually achieve their dreams! 

 

Taking action now can seem like a tall order, but when you have these three secrets up your sleeve, you may find that taking action is easier than you originally thought. So, if you have big plans for your life, don't sit around waiting for them to happen on their own. Take action today and make your dream a reality. 

 

3 Uncomfortable Things That Will Make You More Successful

Doing uncomfortable things is difficult, mainly because they put you in a position where you aren't comfortable. It's hard to follow through on tasks when you are uncomfortable. The harsh truth is sometimes these uncomfortable things can make you more successful, especially if you do the following three things. 

 

1.    Develop Healthy Habits

 

Have you ever seen a successful person that stays in bed all day and eats nothing but junk food? Exactly, they don't exist. The number one uncomfortable thing you have to do if you want to be more successful is to develop healthy habits. These habits include getting out of bed earlier, eating healthy, and exercising at some point during the day. These things aren't fun, but they must be done if you want to be successful. Start developing these habits right away because your old habits aren't good for you anyway. 

 

2.    Taking Risks

 

What do you consider successful? Do you want a different career or live in a different city? Why haven't you done it yet? You are probably still in your current situation because doing either of the above would involve taking a risk. Taking a risk can be scary and quite uncomfortable at times. However, if you never take a risk, you will never be successful because you will remain exactly where you are. 

 

This applies to money as well. Many people think it is safer to store their money in a savings account, or maybe not save at all. But if you can invest your money in something riskier, like your own business, or stocks, this could lead you on the road to success—you just have to take a risk to get there. 

 

3.    Admitting You’ve Made a Mistake

 

This is a tough one, but everyone makes mistakes at some point in their life, and it is uncomfortable to admit that you may have. When you admit to someone you made a mistake, this shows responsibility and increases the persons' respect for you. This can take you a long way in the business world. It can also help you mend friendships and network more efficiently because people will see you as the type of person they want to associate and work with on a professional and personal level. 

 

Are you ready to be successful? Then it's time to take note of the above three uncomfortable things that you will need to be able to handle before you can be successful. If you can manage these three things, then success is probably right around the corner. 

 

4 Tips for Taking Risks and Living Life Intensely

If you really want to live your best, most authentic life, you have to learn to be comfortable with risk. Modern society tends to value security. There’s a lot of pressure to get a good education, find a good job, and stay on the path to homeownership, a family life, and a secure future. 

 

But there’s more to life than the same old nine to five. How will you know what you’re capable of if you don’t break out of the security mold? Living with intensity means really pushing your potential. It means making your mark on the world. Here are some tips to help you make friends with risk and live a more intense, more rewarding life. 

 

1.    Step Away from Fear

 

So many people live a small life, too afraid to step out of line and take the risk of doing things differently. You can decide to step away from fear and worry over the small stuff. Taking risks doesn’t mean being reckless, but it does mean you prepared to live a bit closer to the edge!

 

2.    Get Comfortable Outside Your Comfort Zone

 

It’s called a comfort zone for a reason. It can feel pretty safe and secure inside there. But it can be stultifying and limiting. And, be honest with yourself: how likely are you to reach your full potential if you never step out of your regular routine? Where do your dreams, your heart-centered goals fit into your life right now?

 

3.    Commit to Positivity

 

No one ever achieved anything big with a negative mindset. It’s easy to find reasons not to do something, there will always be a ready excuse - waiting until you get a better job or when the kids go to college. 

 

Take the risk of thinking positively. Focus on success and what you really want from life. Find allies and champions who will cheer you on your way. Look for role models and mentors who will help and inspire you. 

 

4.    Take control of Your Risk

 

Living more intensely doesn’t have to be all or nothing. There’s no rule book, no standards. When it comes to living an extraordinary life, it’s totally up to you where and how much you want to turn up the volume and where you want to do it. You might choose to stick to your regular job but take up skydiving or become an entrepreneur on the side. 

 

Inviting a little risk into your life can be liberating, even exhilarating. All you have to do is decide to make the jump. 

 

Why You Need to Take Risks to Succeed

Taking a risk is scary. Especially because you have no idea how things will turn out, and there's always a big chance that things won't work out at all. However, the reality is you absolutely must take risks to succeed. Keep reading to find out why. 

 

You’ll Miss Out on Opportunities

 

Every time you take a risk, you open the doors to new opportunities that wouldn't appear without risk. If you never take a risk, you may never get the opportunity to do some amazing things. 

 

An example of this would be wanting to quit your job to start a business but being too scared to give up a steady income. However, if you were to take the risk, you would have plenty of hours during the day to seek out customers and be exposed to opportunities that you would otherwise miss sitting in your office job. 

 

You’ll Gain Confidence

 

A major aspect of achieving success is being confident in yourself and your abilities. Is your confidence lacking a little bit? Well, taking some risks in your life can help with this. Although you may not always land on your feet, when you do, you'll learn a lot about yourself in the process and gain lots of valuable confidence in your abilities. 

 

Even if the risk doesn't go well, you can always give yourself a confident pat on the back, knowing you tried your best! 

 

You Learn Lessons

As mentioned multiple times, you can fail when you take a risk. Even if this happens to you, this is actually a good thing because you will learn some valuable lessons when this happens. 

 

The lessons you learn from failure will help you grow wiser and stronger and make better decisions in the future. Plus, now you know one way how not to succeed. 

 

Playing it Safe is the Same as Doing Nothing

 

You’ll never pursue your dreams by sitting on the couch doing nothing. And if you are too afraid to take risks, this is the same thing as doing nothing. Resolve to step out of your comfort zone right away, take a risk, and get moving towards that goal you have always wanted to achieve. 

 

Are you ready to start achieving success in your life? It’s time to start the process by taking a risk. Even if the risk doesn’t end well, you’ll open yourself up to opportunity, confidence, and learning new lessons—all of which are good things that will inevitably lead you to success. 

 

5 Steps for Using Visualization to Get What You Want in Life

What do you want out of life? For some of us, it’s personal improvement. We’d like to lose weight, become stronger and more physically able. Maybe we’d like to achieve something in the world of sports, by winning a race or even running in one. 

 

For others, our goals have to do with our jobs. We want a coveted position, or to seek out something that satisfies on some deeper level. Or maybe it’s to create something, such as writing a book or learning how to paint.

 

Whatever it is you desire most, the question is, how do you intend to go about getting it? The key? Visualization.

 

Visualization takes a goal and makes it concrete and even attainable in our minds. This process is how we bring it about in our lives. How? 

 

Figure Out Your Goal

 

You’ll go nowhere fast if you don’t know where you’re heading. It’s a lot like getting in a car and expecting to get somewhere without a destination. All you’ll do is wind up driving aimlessly and getting nowhere fast. To find your goal, ask yourself what you’re passionate about. What’s the one thing you want to do more than any other?

 

Explore the Details

 

Next, you’re going to want to explore the goal in depth. Experience it thoroughly by using all of your senses. What do you see when you envision it? How does it feel? What does it smell like or even taste like? What do you hear when you think about it? What emotions come alive in you when you think about reaching this goal?

 

Plan for Roadblocks

 

It would be silly to think a goal could be achieved without any kind of trouble along the way. What are the problems you’re most likely going to encounter in this journey? How can you solve them? Include this in your vision.

 

Visualize it Repeatedly

 

You need to be familiar with your dream if you wish to achieve it. Visualization is something you need to practice several times a week. Make a daily practice of visualization. Be consistent in this.

 

Boost Your Success

 

Still floundering? Try starting visualization with a relaxation exercise. Make sure to cut out distractions, whether internal or external, and layer in a little pep talk to bring up your energy. Your best success comes from setting yourself up to succeed from the start.

 

By using these tips, you’ll quickly master the fine art of visualization. Remember, this only works if you’re consistent. Stay the course, and soon you’ll be finding success in whatever it is you wish to pursue.