As human beings, it is in our nature to prepare for failure. From childhood all the way up until adulthood, we learn that failure is part of life. It is instilled in our minds that we must use failure as a learning experience all throughout life. But what if we as a new culture reversed this level of thinking and actually prepared for success. We would achieve greater things in life because we would not know what failure is simply based around the fact that all things would seem as a success in our eyes.
So what actually is success?
This is a question that gets asked quite often when determining the success of an individual. We all know that success is not based upon the decision of man, but it is based upon the eyes of the beholder. For example, take a look at a man like Warren Buffett. Upon talking to 10 people who actually know who he is, all 10 of those people would probably say he is a success in their eyes. Even though he might be the richest man in the world, is his success based off of his wealth or is his success based off of his character and what he has done for other people. You have to start taking in consideration of what your definition of success is based upon yourself. If you try to measure yourself up with another person, you are only setting yourself up for failure because you will never amount yourself up to that person. Once you change your level of thinking based upon what you strive to accomplish for yourself, you will start believing in yourself rather than measuring yourself up with someone else.
How I Learned the Hard way
Growing up in a pre-dominantly white suburban area, I was seen as the token African American child because there were very few of us who lived in the area. It was very hard for me to fit in because I didn’t understand why they did some of the things that they did. I was molded into a person that always tried to fit in and tried to be liked by everyone. I got taken advantage of in many different instances because I wanted everyone to like me for what they saw me as, instead of who I really was.
It took me about 8 years to change my level of thinking. From all the adversity that I battled, to all the tears that I shed, I soon realized that I had to be myself instead of being somebody that other people wanted me to be. I think a lot of people can relate to me with this because everyone has tried to go out of the box in order to fit in with a certain type of group.
Once you get to the point of realizing who you actually are and what it is that you are trying to accomplish in life, you will begin to set yourself on a path toward success.
So how do you achieve success?
This is another question that gets asked everyday. How do you become successful? There are literally thousands of books, courses, and programs swearing that you will become successful by following certain guidelines or tactics. Yes, some of these things might work, but you have to realize that everyone’s situation is different. Something that worked for one person might not necessarily work for you. So my advice that I would offer to you is to find something that you are passionate about and implement that in some way or another towards your career orientation or goal. The problem that must people seem to face is not taking advantage of what they are good at because it comes naturally to them and they don’t even realize it. Once you realize what you are good at, act upon this and use it to benefit others and see what will happen. You will be amazed!
How to prepare for success
If you ever ask someone how they prepare to become successful. Most of the time you will get some kind of unrealistic answer that is totally unbelievable. If you don’t know how to prepare for success when it happens, then how are you going to be successful? Most of the time opportunities are presented to people on a daily basis and they seem to miss out, just because they were not prepared for the opportunity. In order to be ready for an opportunity when it comes, you must take everything that is negative in your life and make it positive. If you don’t do this, it can tarnish your level of thinking just because your brain is in the mindset for failure. You will always have failure in the back of your mind with everything that you do.
Another thing that I would recommend is to be careful of whom you hang around with and who your friends are. If you hang around friends who are stuck in the mindset of working a 9 to 5 job everyday for the rest of their lives, it is a good chance that you will possible be doing the same thing. So that being said, you might want to change who you surround yourself with because it will cause you to act and think like those that you are surrounded by.
By reading this, I hope you will now change your level of thinking and change your surroundings. Start to think of failure as a success because once you fail, you get that much closer to success. Don’t let failure bring you done, let it bring you up. Once you understand these simple principles that I have outlined for you, you will begin to believe in yourself and have more confidence in your journey toward success.
About Donny Gamble:
Donny Gamble is an Internet Business Strategist that focuses on Internet Marketing Plan implementation for small businesses and Internet Startups. Visit his Work At Home Product Review site at Home Jobs Master.
It’s ironic that I read this at this time…I was going through this thought process this morning as I drove to work. I asked myself the same questions, and realized that in trying to “fit” into the typical idea of “success”, I can find myself and others, not even living. More like functioning as robots. Dont get me wrong in the trenches or grind, the days can be a little redundant, so its important to take pride in what your doing or be working towards transitioning to that idea. I think that it is urgently important, that for those of us, that can recognize our new culture, examine all areas of life for success. Including spirituality, relationships, business ethics, our influences on children, how we spend our free time and more importantly, day to day, life operations. Being in the now, all at one time, living one life. Whatever you place on the drawing board for success, everything should be intertwined for a truly successful life. Of course as you said wonderfully, a self defined success.
Comment by Seanna — August 5, 2009 @ 11:13 pm
“It took me about 8 years to change my level of thinking. From all the adversity that I battled, to all the tears that I shed, I soon realized that I had to be myself instead of being somebody that other people wanted me to be.”
This is the exact same way I felt growing up in the hood but not “being hood”. The alienation is the same. The thing about successful people, however, is we all have these similarities at our level.
By keeping successful company, you can find success. I think thats the secret.
Great post, Donnie!
Comment by Arthur Pledger — August 9, 2009 @ 10:16 pm
This post makes several great points. I think the key to being successful, which you alluded to, is knowing who you are first. This is a life long process that requires honesty and compassion towards yourself. Without these things you won’t be able to move forward because you can’t assess your current position and when “failure” comes you’ll be too busy beating yourself up to learn the lesson in the valley.
The problem is that we ascribe to eurocentric principles that say your worth and success is measured by what you aquire materially. But the human spirit knows better. The fact that God created us gives us inherent value. For most people, acquiring things will never make them feel as successful as helping and empowering their fellow human beings. That’s why success is subjective and needs to be defined on an individual basis. Well put Donny!
Comment by Brooke Hayes — August 15, 2009 @ 9:43 pm
We as people and a society look at monetary gains as an estimation to our worth when, as Brooke puts it, “the human spirit knows better”. The attaining of material things only begets more attaining of material things, not happiness. New toys wear off; new clothes become old and new cars lose value as soon as the ignition is kicked on but helping others; not throwing money at but HELPING others is a surefire way to find happiness in yourself. Great piece Dezmon, keep it up!
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Comment by Charles "CZA" Sweet — September 21, 2009 @ 2:58 pm
Wow,
This post is very inspiring! As an Atlanta Marketing expert One of the things I’ve noticed in my life is the importance of planning to be successful.
Comment by Rennell Garrett — November 22, 2009 @ 11:42 pm