Because there will be times that involve lots of pedalling uphill. There will be times that aren't a slog up the side of a mountain, but a trek through a barren plain, with no change in sight. It's times like these you've got to be strong enough and committed enough to keep on going. You have to remember why you do what you do.
It's not just about reaching that destination, though. If you want success that stays? You have to be a person capable of managing everything that comes with it. It's one thing to get your foot in the door- but another to keep both feet in when you get inside.
Through the reading material I've studied over the years, I've underlined hundreds of passages from material that either made something go 'click'- or articulated a hunch I had, but connected the dots in a neat, concise argument. Otherwise known as 'Aha' moments!
From all of these passages, below are the quotes I've hand-picked that sum up the most important key principles of staying 'on track'- and becoming somebody who can keep both their feet firmly planted inside the door, once you arrive. Committing these to memory keeps your focus on where you want to be- and what you need to become in order to reach that goal.
To start with, I give you three from W Clement Stones' great book 'The Success System That Never Fails':
"You will keep your thoughts off the things you should not want by keeping your thoughts on the things you should want. And thus you will begin to win over yourself by affecting you subconscious mind through self-suggestion"- W Clement Stone
The more you think about something, the more you aim towards it. The human mind only attracts- it can't consciously repel. So if you think about struggle, poverty and failure- that it what you gravitate towards, regardless of whether you want it or want to avoid it! So the first step towards getting the results you want is to make them BIGGER and bolder in your mind- and the subconscious does the rest. There's work to do, of course- but this is how you get your orientation in the first place.
"And it takes less time to achieve success when you concentrate your thought and effort on learning a lot about a little and becoming an expert than when you dissipate your energies by trying to learn a little about a lot. Therefore, focus your attention and effort to acquire the necessary knowledge, know-how and motivation to become an expert and achieve your specific desired objective." - W Clement Stone
Avoid the mistake I made when I first began writing professionally- don't spread yourself too thin! Not only is your pitch vague, but it takes a lot longer to figure out what you really love doing. And that's usually the same thing people happily pay you top dollar to do for them. Think of it like this: if you spread a single dollop of vegemite over a piece of toast, the flavour is fairly bland. That same dollop of vegemite on a cracker biscuit, though? FLAVOUR HIT! Let other people spread themselves thin trying to cover everybody. Focus on that single cracker instead- because that's where your unique message packs a punch- and that's where the money and your real passion is, too.
"Do what you’re afraid to do ... go where you’re afraid to go ... when you run away because you are afraid to do something big, you pass opportunity by."- W Clement Stone
Remember I told you about the first time I went karting? (scribecopywriting.weebly.com/notes-from-the-scribe/enough-with-the-excuses-your-time-to-go-to-the-arena-is-now-and-heres-why) Or about the specific way I can relate to those of you terrified of public speaking? (scribecopywriting.weebly.com/notes-from-the-scribe/-creepy-crawlies-slimy-toads-gorgeous-girls-and-public-speaking). Stone sums it up completely here. Short, sweet and just as true as the other times I've spoken about this concept.
"I’m going to tell you as much as I can about the job. As promised, it won’t take long. It starts with this: put your desk in the corner, and every time you sit down there to write, remind yourself why it isn’t in the middle of the room. Life isn't a support system for art- it's the other way round."- Stephen King
Obviously for me, this one is more literal (no, my desk is not in the centre of the room). However, metaphorically this serves as a sobering voice, reminding us that life needs to be about more than just our craft or our speciality. A life devoted only to this is a life wasted. Making time for the other parts that having nothing to do with work (interests, those people close to us, our well-being) make the big picture so much better and- in a wonderful twist- are often sources of amazing inspiration that point directly to our business. So many times I've had a creative 'zap'- an idea for a new service or subject to write about- just because I got up from my computer screen and made time to reconnect with the outside world and the people in it.
"The person who stops studying merely because he has finished school is forever hopelessly doomed to mediocrity, no matter what may be his calling. The way of success is the way of continuous pursuit of knowledge."- Napoleon Hill
"Learning is earning", "Readers are leaders"- you've probably heard something like this before. Let me ad another one: Study equals Success. The winners are those who never claim to "know it all" or sit back and decide "that's it". You always keep finding out new little things you'd never stumbled upon, or old information suddenly dawns on you in a way it never did before. The outcome is always getting stronger, smarter, wiser- and wealthier in ways that go beyond just revenue. This is, in itself, the key into the doorway of great opportunities. So- keep searching!
"God seems to throw himself on the side of the man who knows exactly what he wants, if he is determined to get just that."- Napoleon Hill
I've written before about the power behind firm, dedicated decisions (scribecopywriting.weebly.com/notes-from-the-scribe/the-moment-it-all-lit-up-to-me). So yeah, I'm biased with this one. But I just love it when I spent large amounts of time wondering "How exactly do I get this point across in the best way possible, because this is a BIG one"- and then somebody else nails it perfectly in a single sentence. When it happens? I aint even mad- I'm impressed!
"You are one hundred fucking percent in charge of your life. Stop fucking bitching!"- Gary Vee
Need I say more? No- I didn't think so...