When it comes to success, you may wonder if it is entirely random i.e. due to the luck of swimming at the right end of the gene pool or if it could be that it is entirely predictable.  Could it be that success is reliant upon having the right family name, going to an Ivy League school, attending the opera and visiting the latest installation at your local museum or gallery?  According to economists Stephen Dubner and Steven Levitt, authors of Freakonomics, success, it would seem is somewhat predictable. 

            Dubner and Levitt, economists, pulled data from thousands of students in Chicago during a time of public school integration.  The sum of the data confirmed some interesting correlations.  For example, a child living in a home with books was more likely to achieve higher grades than one without books.  Whether books hold some kind of mysterious cache or if the factor was merely due to the likelihood that educated parents would read more and take a keener interest in their child’s upbringing remains to be seen.  Either way, books were indeed a factor.

            Levitt and Dubner also found that children who were more highly motivated had a greater likelihood of academic success.  This would seem undisputable on the forefront, however I would wonder whether a child who is motivated to win a video game would receive the same academic excellence as a child who is motivated to make the debate team.  Interestingly enough the economists found that watching television did not factor into academic success and neither did reading to children despite the presence of books in the house.

            In the wonderful world of quantification and data Levitt and Dubner are not alone in their quest to discover what makes a successful individual tick.  Malcolm Gladwell, in his book The Outliers, studied some of the most successful and wealthy people in the world.  He found that time spent at one’s craft and a certain amount of inherent luck factored greatly in determining success.  Gladwell proposed that people like Bill Gates and Tiger Woods are not born geniuses with a high degree of talent, it is simply due to repetition and lucky circumstances that both became so successful though the later was his own worst enemy in his self destruction.

            Not only have the economists been crunching data to see what makes a person success, authors like Jim Collins, in his book Good to Great, have studied companies and their C.E.O.’s to understand what makes an individual outperform his or her peers.  Interesting, in Collins’ research it was found that C.E.O.’s who had high egos and arrogance tended to be the demise of a good company while their counterparts with high motivation and a modicum of humility tended to take a company to the stratasphere.  Think about the brilliance of Sam Walton who, despite his millions, continued to drive an old Ford pick-up truck or Warren Buffet who openly admitted to his shareholders that he had made some mistakes in 2008 and 2009.  Collins also found that the great C.E.O.’s put the good of the company or organization before the good of the individual.

            Success, it would seem, does have some cues.  Over the course of the last two decades I have been privileged to meet, study and collaborate with many multi-millionaires.  Some were born to wealth while others made their own way.  What the majority had in common was that their initial circumstance, that is whatever financial position they were in as they entered adulthood, was bettered as they developed themselves.  In looking at these people in retrospect it is easy to see why they seemingly soared to a higher level of success.

            There are five key principle keys to achieving the success that has been placed within you.  I believe you are destined for greatness; you have already had that million dollar idea, have started a business, have an extra stream of income, are working towards your health goals, and believing for that relationship which will fill your heart.  To test one’s metal, is to test their resolve.  I have come up with the acronym M.E.T.A.L. to assist you in solidifying your success in 2010.  I encourage you to go for your dreams with passion, enthusiasm and faith; you are magnificent and now is the time to go for your best year ever.

The Five Key Elements to Success – M.E.T.A.L.

Motivation

            Successful people are highly motivated.  In Napoleon Hill’s Book, The Magic Ladder of Success, he identified the key factor to achieving wealth as motivation.  Whether it is wealth, health or a better relationship, you have got to be highly motivated to get something done.  There will be times when your motivation is tested, these are always opportunities to grow and truly test your resolve.  Think about someone who is working toward releasing 30 pounds.  Once that decision is made and the motivation is there, inevitably that will be the time when a slew of dinner party invitations and colleagues bringing brownies to work will occur. 

            Get super clear on your motivation.  Why do you want to succeed?  How long have you wanted to achieve this goal?  Who else benefits when you become successful?  Motivation is the key to staying on the journey.  Make sure your motivation is strong enough to keep you going in challenging times.

Education

            Accomplishing anything worthwhile requires education.  By ‘education’ I do not refer to degrees or doctorates, I am referring to practical and experiential education in the form of books, seminars, audio programs and the like.  Education is essential to achieving anything.  Education provides the blueprint to success.  It is rumoured that noted personal empowerment trainer, Tony Robbins, read 800 books before starting his seminar business.  Jack Canfield, author of Chicken Soup for the Soul books, reports reading at least one book per week.  A good friend of mine, with a high school education, earns over $2 million/year in network marketing.  He has read hundreds of books on the subject and is one of the most giving, authentic individuals I know.  Leaders are readers.  I encourage you to read biographies, books on success, ‘how to’ books and also attend seminars and listen to audio trainings. 

Time

            It takes time to achieve success in anything.  Whether you want to release body fat or make millions of dollars per year, it will take time.  Noted economist and author, Malcolm Gladwell, suggests it takes the application of one’s craft over time to be highly successful.  Gladwell studied some of the most successful, affluent people on the planet and found that genius was born after 10,000 hours of practical application.  In a society of instant gratification it is no wonder that people tend to give up too early on their goals.  If you want to succeed, it is going to take some time.  Give yourself years to achieve you goal and you will be pleasantly surprised at the rate at which it occurs. 

In my last business venture, I gave myself 7 years to become a millionaire and did it in 3 ˝.  The reason for this was indeed motivation, education and the being patient enough with myself to become more skilled which took time.  Anyone who becomes good at anything does so on the heels of being bad enough at it to know what ‘good’ feels like.  If you speak another language or play an instrument, remember when you first tried.  Likely you were not that good.  Over time, with practice, you became better until you got to a place where it felt very fluid.  Repetition over time is a wonderful master teacher.

Attitude

The attitude of success is one that is unfailingly positive and has a heart of gratitude.  This means that all challenges are thought to be the footstones on the path to the ultimate outcome of the desired goal.  It is easy to feel great when things are going well, it is a true test of one’s attitude when things are not going well.  To be successful you must celebrate every victory no matter how small, you must also be positive in times of duress.  No, it is not easy to do either of these things however the person who is highly motivated will forge ahead with a smile on their face no matter what.

Leadership

            The last aspect of success is leadership.  To lead means to face scrutiny, doubt and uncertainty.  It also means to put the goal ahead of the individual.  For example, I have a friend who was grossly overweight to the point of being unhealthy.  To reach her healthy weight, she would have to release 100 pounds.   At her highest weight she was at risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, asthma and much more.  At this time her friends continued to offer her food, cocktails in the middle of the afternoon and basically enable her.

            When my friend decided she was motivated to lose the weight, she then educated herself though reading and being coached by me.  As she began to release the weight over time her friends became critical.  My friend turned down the mid afternoon cocktails in favour of a powerwalk.  She eschewed high fat and high sugar foods for healthier options and began to consume natural protein shakes and cleanse her body.  The result was a weight loss of over 100 pounds in 8 months and a woman who was both confident, healthy and self assured. 

            It took a lot of leadership for my friend to put the goal ahead of the judgement of others.  Their judgement was really just jealousy.  For the last three years my friend has kept the weight off and she has attracted some great new friends who support her healthy lifestyle.

            When you are motivated to succeed you will have to put the goal ahead of the people who are judging you.  You will also have to look at the goal as an entity which must be nurtured and supported.  You will also have to draw on courage to see it through.

Lastly, know that I am believing for your success.  The universe, who I call God, has destined you for greatness.  You must do the work and have the strength to follow though however the end result is the success you have always wanted in every aspect of your life.

 

Unlock The Secret to the Healthiest You Ever

            Join Susan Sly at the 2nd Annual Power Body Weekend in Los Angeles.  Spaces are filling up quickly.  You will learn how to eat for your body type, the difference between carbohydrates, proteins and fats.  Find out how to customize your own nutritional program, get over your fear of food, and learn how to live into the best body you have ever had. Click here to register.