{"id":258,"date":"2020-01-08T06:09:35","date_gmt":"2020-01-08T06:09:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/robdix.com\/?p=258"},"modified":"2020-04-21T15:27:25","modified_gmt":"2020-04-21T15:27:25","slug":"success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/robdix.com\/success\/","title":{"rendered":"How to be successful"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Standard goal-setting advice is to come up with a definition of achieving your goal that’s specific and measurable, then work backwards to make a plan for how you’ll get there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In most cases, this is great advice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But for one of the most important subjects there is \u2013 the success of your own life \u2013 I believe you should do the opposite. Some degree of vagueness and a lack<\/em> of a plan will actually increase your chances of success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read on to find out how \u2013 and to learn why Richard Branson might be one of the biggest failures in the history of the world…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A 4-step plan for success<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In his book “Sell It Like Serhant”, New York real estate broker Ryan Serhant writes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’ve wanted to be successful since I was about four years old. Did I have any clue about how I was going to make that happen? None whatsoever…It turns out that choosing success first \u2013 and letting the career follow \u2013 was one of the best things I could have done for myself. It forced me to be open about how that success would come.<\/p>Ryan Serhant<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

At first, this sounds crazy. How can you just choose<\/em> to be successful? It sounds way too vague. Isn’t that the very opposite of a SMART goal?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Actually though, as a first step I think it makes a lot of sense: a lot more sense than deciding you’re going to be an award-winning actor, or a high-flying lawyer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s why, and which steps I’d follow it up with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1: Decide to be successful<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

That’s it: decide that success is something you’re going to pursue and achieve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though it’s easy to sneer at for being too vague, it still accomplishes two important things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. You commit to taking responsibility.<\/strong> You’re not going to just accept whatever comes your way by default. You’re going to be the one who does things<\/em>, not the one who things are done to<\/em>.<\/li>
  2. You commit to doing what it takes<\/strong>. What does it take? Who knows! We haven’t got to that bit yet. But you’re going to do it \u2013 not<\/em> just do whatever is easiest, or whatever everyone else is doing.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    2: Define what success means to you<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Derek Sivers<\/a> once said that to know if someone is successful, you need to know what they were trying to achieve. If Richard Branson was aiming for a quiet life where he’d potter around and tend to his garden, he’s one of the biggest failures in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    So, you need to define your version of success:<\/p>\n\n\n\n