Why The Quickest Way To Achieve Success Is To Stop Focusing On It

Whether we admit it or not, success is something we’re all after.

It could be success with weight loss, running a race, a new career, starting a business, financial success, or a successful relationship.

In some form or another, we all want success.

The good news is, we all can be.

Bad news is, not all of us are.

Why is that?

Why is it that we all have the ability to be successful and yet some people are and some people aren’t?

Success isn’t scarce, it’s not like it’s available for just some people.

It isn’t reserved for those who are considered “lucky“, “smart“, or “financial well off“.

Success is readily available for every one of us.

We’re all deserving of success too, of being happy, and having all it is we want.

So what’s the deal, how do we get there?

The Quickest Way To Achieve Success Is To Stop Focusing On It

What?

You read that right.

Stop focusing on success.

Focusing on being successful won’t make us successful.

Doing what’s required to be successful will.

Success is in the doing.

There’s only so much thinking we can do about what it is we want before we must take action if success is going to happen.

Same goes for talking about it.

There’s only so much talking about it we can do.

Not to mention after a while, that same talk becomes cheap.

Success Is In The Doing

Anyone with a half-ass idea that acts upon it has a hell of a better chance at success then someone with an amazing idea that just sits, thinks, and talks about it without ever taking a single step towards their idea.

There’s nothing wrong with thinking and dreaming about all it is we want.

I do it all the time, especially while running.

It’s where I get lots of my ideas actually.

I also talk a bunch about all I want to see The Wellness Bucket become in the years to come.

Thinking and talking about what it is we want is perfectly fine if that’s all we want to do – think and talk about it.

If you’re serious about what you think and talk about and want to make it happen, you must take action.

I know, sounds so simple right?

Taking Action Can Be Scary, Confusing, & Overwhelming

“I don’t know where to start.”

“Who am I to think I can do this?”

“This will take forever to create.”

“What if I fail?”

I don’t know about you but it isn’t these thoughts that scare me most.

What does scare me is the idea of looking back years from now wishing I would have tried, that I would have taken action on the things I thought and spoke about most.

I fear looking back and asking “what if“?

I rather try and fail than never have tried at all.

Not to mention, failing may suck but it’s part of the process, it’s the right of passage to success.

The Road To Success Is Often Paved With Failure

Without taking action, we’re neither failing or succeeding.

“A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.“

If you don’t know where to start, ask yourself, “where do I start?“

This question alone activates your mind, your thinking, your thought process.

Whether you know it or not, it gets your conscience and sub-conscience mind working for you and asking the question, “where do I start?“

When our thinking is, “I don’t know where to start“, that’s the end of the road.

There’s No Right Answer To How And Where To Start

“I’ll figure out exactly what I need to do and then get started.“

Bullshit.

This is fear, anxiety, that uncertain and overwhelming feeling talking.

It’s in taking action, getting started that you’ll figure out what you need to do, not the other way around.

Maybe you’re thinking, “who am I to think I can do this?“

Who are you NOT to think you can do this is the better question.

You’re awesome, you’re gifted, and you have talents, skills ,and abilities that no one else has but you.

No I’m not crazy (well maybe a little) and I don’t need to know you personally to say that.

We’re all unique, special, and different with a shit load of value to offer the world.

Somewhere along the line, whether as kids, in a relationship, career, wherever – we were told we can’t, we’re not good enough, smart enough, or worthy enough…really?

Say’s the fuck who?

I say you’re awesome, you can, you will, you’re worthy, and deserving of success, happiness, and all the good life has to offer you.

Marianne Williamson said it best…

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?“

Success Takes Time

We all want success today, or at the latest, tomorrow.

I know I do.

That’s silly to think though because success, real lasting success, doesn’t happen overnight.

Any and all success takes time, effort, commitment, hard work, and sacrifice.

Sacrifice seems to be a tough one for a lot of us.

I know it is for me and based on my conversations with family, friends, and many of my coaching clients, we all feel the same when it comes to sacrifice.

Sacrificing today for what we want tomorrow is hard to do.

Whether it’s sacrificing food and alcohol because of weight loss and fitness goals, or traveling and dinners because of financial goals (that’s me), or sacrificing personal time for relationship goals…

Success Requires Sacrifice

No one ever said success would come easy so let’s not expect that because it’s not going to happen.

Nothing that’s worth it is ever easy.

It might not be easy, but something tells me it sure as hell will be worth it.

We all want to be successful, we just don’t want to have to put in all the work it’ll take to get there.

I reminder myself regularly that the time is going to pass anyways, that our future is created by what we do today.

Why not put in the time, energy, effort, and hard work now, so that we may reap our rewards later?

The time is going to pass anyways.

What If I fail?

What if you don’t?

There’s just as much of a chance you can win, succeed, and have all it is you want but you won’t know it unless you go for it.

“You can fail at what you don’t want, so you might as well take a chance at doing what you love.”

Take action, take that first step.

It’s no longer enough to just want it – we have to go for it, for all it is we want.

Success is in the doing.

We can focus on success and being successful all we want but unless we do something about it, take action, nothing will ever change.

Let’s focus instead on what needs to be done to be successful and then do it.

I call this “The Process“.

The Process

Let’s focus not on success or even the results we’re after, but the process, the steps, the actions necessary to get us there.

If it’s weight loss we’re after, we can jump on that damn scale every day and fixate on the number we see but it’s not going to get us any closer to our weight loss goal.

If the goal is to pay off debt, we can focus all we want on how little we make or much we still owe although that won’t help us pay off the debt any quicker.

If it’s better relationships we want, we can focus all we want on what’s broken and what’s missing from the relationship although that won’t get us any closer to better relationships.

Focus on the process to be successful.

For weight loss, the process is exercising regularly, eating natural healthy foods that are properly portioned, drinking enough water and getting enough sleep.

It’s this process, not the scale and the numbers on the scale, that’ll make you successful.

For paying off debt, it’s creating a budget and sticking to it day after day, week after week, month after month.

It’s this process, not your financial statements and debt you still owe, that’ll make you successful.

For relationships, it’s asking questions, listening, and always acting with love, respect, and compassion.

It’s this process, not what’s broken and missing, that’ll make you successful.

Success Is In The Doing & The Doing Is The Process

We’re all deserving of the successes we want, and we can have them all if we choose.

Nothing will be handed to us, and that’s perfectly fine.

Because we’re more than capable of getting after it and making it happen for ourselves.

The question isn’t can we, the question is, will we?

Make the decision today to act, to take action on what it is you think and talk about most.

Because you’re awesome and deserving of success and happiness.

It’s only in the doing that we give ourselves a chance.

And I believe you owe it to yourself to give yourself that chance

You’re awesome…

Cheers!

Mike