Below is outlined the formula or secret to success; and yet, it is no secret at all because these laws of success have been understood and implemented by all the great philosophers, artists, religious leaders, military commanders, and political leaders of every age. It is these same principles that reveal and explain why today’s greatest athletes, performers, businessmen, scientists, and politicians have achieved and become what they have. Understand, however, that these laws are simple in theory, and yet extremely difficult in practicality. Far too often people mistakenly disregard the basic simplicity of these attributes and practices and wrongfully assume that the ‘how-to’ advice from books, seminars, and even mentors will reveal and teach them the necessary knowledge and specifics of how to be successful. And yet, even an understanding of and belief in these principles is not enough; success will only be accomplished and dreams can only be achieved when knowledge of these laws is combined with persistent action and daily implementation.

These secrets for success apply to everyone, and to any goal, dream, or success!

1) Put God & Family First: Regardless of what your dreams and goals are, never forget what success in life is all about. True success is not realized in the accomplishment of the goal, but in the person we become along the journey towards the goal. If in pursuit of our dream we fail to put God first, and do not make time for family, then all other successes will be failures. And when all is said and done, dealing with the disappointment of certain failures will be far easier than dealing with the disappointment that accompanies some successes because they were not the right successes. Putting God and family first will not only eventuate into the ‘real’ successes of life, but ironically, having these as your priorities will actually contribute to and be the reason for all other successes you achieve.

2) Desire Success: A strong desire to achieve a goal or dream is the fundamental starting point for all successes and accomplishments in life. Do not be confused however, because desire is not the same thing as hope, wish, or interest. Desire is synonymous with motivation, commitment, determination, and a willingness to do whatever is necessary to accomplish the goal or dream.

3) Dream Big, Think Big, & Think Differently: You may have a desire, but do you actually have a dream or a goal? Do you fall victim to the dominating culture of mediocrity and feel limited by circumstance, or do you actually think big and dream big? Until you do, average you will remain. We literally are what we think – so think big to be big! And be forewarned that when you find yourself thinking, speaking, and acting like the majority (in regards to dreams, goals, and ‘success’ in life) – you are in terrible company. Dare to dream. Dare to be and think different. And think big always. Then, with enough mental conditioning, belief, and persistent action, your dreams and big thinking will translate into actions that eventuate into big results.

4) Believe in Yourself & Believe Your Dreams Are Possible: We can become and accomplish anything! And yet, nothing great has ever been accomplished until there was first belief in self – and then faith and belief that the idea, goal, or dream was possible. We each spend too much time focusing on our own weaknesses and failures, the lack of knowledge or money, fears and doubts, the abilities and talents of others, or on limitations and circumstances that really only exist in our own minds. Our potential is actually what frightens us; and more often than not, mediocrity and being average is desirable because it justifies us not having to put in the work necessary to be successful. Truthfully, the heart of the problem and the number one reason why most people fail to accomplish their dreams, goals, and potential in life is a lack of belief in themselves and their dreams.

5) Eliminate the Voices of Fear & Doubt … Continually: The only limitations in life are the ones we create, believe, and nourish within our own minds. People everywhere have great ideas, reachable dreams, and unlimited potential, but they spend too much time listening to the voices of fear, doubt, and failure that they never take action. Fear and doubt are unnecessary worry and evidence of a lack of self-confidence. They demonstrate one’s inability to control their thoughts and are the underlying reason for most failures. Fear and doubt breed inaction and procrastination, and ironically, these common thoughts are found in everyone. Thankfully, fear and doubt can be controlled and overcome by anyone – but this requires consistent daily effort because these voices never go away. We must discipline our thoughts constantly and remove from our vocabulary such words as: can’t, quit, unable, impossible, etc. Living our dreams requires killing our fears and doubts.

6) Completely Commit & Be Totally Determined: Most times, success results not from one’s ability or talent, knowledge or money, or even circumstance or luck; it comes from their zeal, drive, and determination to reach a goal or dream. The journey to success will inevitably be difficult, and it is in these trying moments that desire and belief are not enough; it is only a complete commitment and a determination to do whatever is takes to be successful that will get you through when fears and doubts come, failures arise, an easier path is presented, or others mock. When you completely commit to your goal and the accomplishment of your dream, you accept no excuses, you get up after temporary failures, and you persist in action until your desire and dream have been achieved.

7) Establish an Organized Plan & Goals: A cheap pen is perhaps just as important as a big dream! If our ideas, goals, and dreams are not written down, reviewed often, and specifically organized, then we risk becoming like the majority of dreamers who later in their life look back at missed opportunities and failed potential and regretfully say “I wish I would have.” Our plan and goals must not only be written but also reviewed often, revised occasionally, and be totally committed to. Specific, measurable, reachable and challenging actions must also accompany the goals; but never forget that the long term plan will win despite the short term failures. Challenges, obstacles, and failures are those things that only become reality when we take our focus off our goals. And while our goals literally can be achieved, remember that when setting and seeking to achieve our goals, it is better to aim high and miss than to actually aim low and achieve.

Take Action Now & Work Hard: Opportunities in life always come before we are prepared and are gone before we realize it. Success comes, dreams are realized, and potential is reached only by those who have the faith to take a risk and are willing to act. In fact, our dreams, ideas, goals, and even desires and beliefs are nothing unless followed by action. So, make a decision and do it now – regardless of whether you have the time, feel unprepared, or lack knowledge. You may not know what you are doing at first – but the key is to keep doing. Stephen King said it perfectly when he said: “what separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.” Mistakes will be made, but ensure they are not mistakes of idleness, inability to decide, and unwillingness to act.

9) Learn From & Get Up After Failures: For whatever reason, in the moment of failure, we often wrongfully assume that we personally are failures, and we thus quit. Failure is not a person; it is an event that is absolutely necessary to achieve success. Failures are detours, not dead-end streets. And when such discouraging streets come, as they inevitably will, we should view them as roadblocks that cause others to quit and us to try harder. Has history itself not taught us this important lesson – from the American Revolutionary War to every World War, from the Mahatma Gandhi’s to the Martin Luther King’s, from the Abraham Lincoln’s to the Nelson Mandela’s, to even Thomas Edison whose invention still gives light to the entire globe, despite the fact that it took thousands of failures to achieve the success. The greatest athletes and performers, the brightest scientists and inventors, the most successful politicians and parents are those who experienced discouraging set backs, disappointments, and even failures before they ever succeeded. Refusing to quit or be discouraged was the secret to their incredible achievements.

10) Persist Always & Never Quit: Successful people make mistakes and experience failure, but they do not give excuses and absolutely never quit. Thomas Edison, of all people, had every right to say that “many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” Goals and dreams are accomplished, success is achieved, and our full potential is realized only after consistent daily effort and work over a long period of time. Persist and persevere until you succeed, and determine right now that you will never quit, regardless of what happens along the journey.

You can become and accomplish anything – and the formula above is the law for success to achieve your goals and dreams in life. However, in pursuit of your dreams, you must ensure that the priorities of life are not jeopardized and the necessary characteristics that determine true success are developed. Real success in life is not necessarily in the accomplishment of the goal or dream, it is determined by who we eventually become, the attributes we develop, and the people we help along the way. We need to give when we receive, put God and family first, and realize that developing a character of integrity, values, and unselfishness are why we are here; and thankfully, when these same attributes are combined with the laws of success, we will accomplish our goals and dreams and experience true success in life.

In pursuit of success and accomplishing any dream or goal, most people give the excuses that they don’t have the necessary knowledge, time, or money required to achieve their desire. It is interesting because the only limitations in life are the ones we create, believe, and nourish within our own minds. The reality is that they lack the essential elements and attributes to be successful in anything – desire, faith and belief, a plan and goals, daily action, commitment and determination, learning from failure, and persistence! Truthfully, you do not need money to make money, anyone who is completely committed to their goal will do whatever it takes to gain the necessary knowledge, and it is not the lack of time that is the problem – it is the inability to prioritize and make time for their goals and dreams.

It is my personal belief that an individual can become and accomplish anything – IF they truly believe in themselves, overcome their own fears, take a risk, and persist until their goal or dream is realized!

It is important to remember though that thinking big is not the same as dreaming big; in fact, I would argue that they are quite different. Everyone has big dreams – and these dreams are no more than merely hopes and wishes. The ability to think big, however, requires a different state of mind, mental discipline and re-programming, and actually thinking differently than the majority of the mediocre individuals we are constantly surrounded by. Thinking big entails action, changing our perspective, overcoming the voices of fear and doubt, believing in ourselves and our dreams, developing the ability to not worry what others say or think, and establishing goals and a plan that will result in big actions that reflect our big thinking.

Perhaps one of the greatest examples of changing our perspective, re-programming our minds, and thinking big and differently is demonstrated in one’s ability to get out of the typical employee mindset. This unfortunate mindset is not only detrimental to one’s potential, but it is so commonly accepted that it has become cultural. It is made evident in actions and mentalities such as: doing just enough work to keep your job, only doing work that falls under your responsibilities, thinking of your own schedule and needs rather than the company’s or customers, getting excited about pay-raises and promotions, thinking that working for 40+ years for a meager retirement is somehow desirable, and believing that resumes and GPA’s and job titles are what determine your abilities and potential.

Thinking big and thinking differently, in regards to getting out of the typical employee mindset, would entail doing more than asked or required, setting lofty goals and working hard to achieve them, becoming a producer and never trading time for money, not believing that grades or standardized test scores or institutions attended dictate your career potential, and realizing that this employee mindset carries over into every aspect of life and is thus the leading reason as to why people so often fail to accomplish their goals, dreams, and become successful in life. Those individuals who continue in this unfortunate mentality develop a dependency upon a boss or company for their career advancement, daily survival, and personal and social approval; and because of this, they fail to develop the necessary attributes for success in anything – which are: thinking big, developing self-confidence, desiring success, believing in themselves and in their dreams, taking risks and overcoming fears, learning from failures, and being willing to be different and do whatever is required to obtain success.

This employee mentality is but one example and situation as to how we can think differently and think big; the reality is that the same principles apply to any circumstance, situation, challenge, goal or dream. Never forget, however, that just because these principles are applicable to any setting or goal we have – we still need to apply the principles! Thus, thinking big is a futile endeavor unless followed by action. To become and accomplish more entails not only a change in mentality but also a change in habits.

Decide now to always think big. Establish lofty goals and specific plans to achieve and realize your dreams. Develop the ability to think differently. Never fall victim to the dominant culture of contentedness and the ease of mediocrity. Train your mind to never worry what others think or say, and learn how to eliminate the voices of fear and doubt. Commit now to doing whatever necessary – as hard and long as it may be, and despite the failures that inevitably result – in order to accomplish your goals and dreams. And always remember that in order to accomplish big things, you must always think big, talk big, and act big!

These 40 essential tips I have personally learned in my entrepreneurial ventures; and yet, every successful person (regardless of their pursuit, accomplishments, or successes) has demonstrated these principles, and they are the reason for their success. This is part one of a three-part article series, and below are listed 15 general principles that are written and intended for entrepreneurs, but they are applicable to everyone – regardless of what your goal or dream is in life. The remaining 25 principles will be outlined in the second and third parts of this Entrepreneurial Success article series, and they will be much more specific for entrepreneurs:

1) Entrepreneurs aren’t born – they are created!

2) They dream big, think big, talk big, and act big.

3) They determine and create their own potential, profits, and successes – they recognize it is not determined by others or by circumstance.

4) They understand and implement the laws of success: desire success, believe in themselves and their dream, overcome fears and doubts, persist in action, learn from failure and never quit.

5) They write down their goals, review them often, revise them occasionally, and commit to them daily.

6) They eliminate limiting beliefs and know that they can become and accomplish anything. The words: can’t, impossible, and too hard are not allowed in their thoughts, vocabulary, or actions. They understand that the only limitations in life are the ones we create and nourish within our own minds.

7) They understand that opportunities for greatness always come before they are prepared and leave before they realize it; and thus, they take risks and act now!

They understand that relationships, ethics, and hard work are far more important than the business idea, cutting expenses, or effective marketing campaigns.

9) They give and then receive, and they receive and then give.

10) The never view failures as a dead-end street; rather, failures are seen as road blocks that teach them, gets them one step closer, and causes other competitors to quit.

11) They do not have time to worry about what others think or say about them.

12) They never give excuses. A lack of knowledge, time, or money will never stop them – they are always willing to gain knowledge, make time, and never give any excuse.

13) They are confident in themselves and their abilities. But they are also wise enough and humble enough to surround themselves with more talented, skilled, brilliant, and experienced people then themselves to help them achieve their goals.

14) They take risks, and they never quit!

15) Most importantly, they realize that the real success in life is not found in business accomplishments or wealth obtained, but is determined by their relationship with God, the type of parent and spouse they were, the character they developed, and the people they helped.

Understanding this truth is essential because it eliminates all excuses and initiates personal responsibility. Our successes, goals, and dreams are thus not solely determined by circumstances or others; they are ultimately realized by and conditioned on our own personal attitude, belief, initiative, and persistence. Hence, no excuse can ever justify a failed dream or goal, because most often the dream failed because of our own lack of desire and belief, our inability to overcome fears and doubts, our unwillingness to put away excuses and exert the necessary effort required, and our weakness in persisting despite the difficulties and set-backs that always appear along the journey.

Personal responsibility for our individual goals and dreams is essential, and yet it is so commonly lacking. How often do we hear about people who are hesitant to take a risk because they feel they lack the necessary knowledge, time, or money? These unfortunate excuses actually reveal that such an individual is unwilling to obtain the knowledge that is so often easily obtainable, lacks the ability to prioritize and make time, and does not recognize that money is often not a pre-qualification to make money.

Similarly, the majority of people not only become content with their social, economic, or intellectual position, but they actually believe that other individuals, conditions, and circumstances are what prohibit them from realizing their goals and dreams in life. How unfortunate is such a limiting mentality. Gone must be the days when we believe that our potential is defined by the color of our skin, the anatomy of our body, the status of our family, the size of our bank account, the location we come from, or the uncontrollable circumstances we were placed in. We literally have the potential to become and accomplish anything – it is up to us.

And perhaps that reality reveals the most challenging element of what most often prohibits our personal progress and achievement – it is our inability to believe in ourselves and that anything is possible. Never forget that the vast majority of individuals who have ever accomplished anything great or achieved success in any way, they also had to start at the bottom. They too were regular ‘Joe’s’ at one point who likewise experienced the same fears, doubts, challenges, and even failures that you have. The great secret of success is that those fears, difficulties, and set-backs never go away – for those who are successful, and for you.

Thus, is it not evident that our goals are only realized and our successes only achieved when we personally develop the necessary attributes and put forth the required actions to accomplish our goals and dreams in life? Our success is determined and obtained, ultimately, by us alone! The great challenge is never letting circumstances, other individuals, and all possible excuses to justify us in to inaction. The difficult, but completely possible journey that results in success is only obtained when we personally commit, believe, take responsibility, overcome fears and doubts, take risks, learn from failures, and persist in action until our goals and dreams have been achieved.

And yet our culture and society certainly do not proclaim that same message. From the media to our educational system, from our co-workers to our neighbors, and even from our peers to our own family members, the unfortunate message that most often gets communicated is that our inner character is secondary (if even considered) to the tangible accomplishments and material possessions we obtain when determining our success in life.

However, we should never assume that because developing the inner character is far more important when all is said and done, that somehow that encourages or justifies us in not pursuing these other – good – worldly successes. Part of the definition of ‘real success’ is becoming great, achieving things, and accomplishing success in many areas of life. We must live up to our potential mentally, emotionally, physically, socially, financially, intellectually, and especially spiritually – all areas of our life are important.

And yet, while each of the mentioned areas of life are important, they are not equally important. All of the wealth, fame, power, credentials, and awards we obtain in life will certainly never be equal to or compensate for the success we achieve with the character of our souls and within the walls of our own home. In fact, if we have to fail in some of these other pursuits to achieve the most important successes, we thankfully will not be like most people on their death beds who unfortunately utter the sad words of: “I wish I had spent more time with my family.” Thus, dealing with the disappointment of certain failures will be far easier than dealing with the disappointment that accompanies some successes because they were not the right successes.

Considering the truth of this definition of ‘real’ success, perhaps the most important thing to realize and seek to avoid is that we often actually pursue this ‘real’ success, but justify putting it off temporarily in order to achieve the other successes which supposedly will create the time, money, and ability to accomplish these ‘real’ successes. To illustrate this point, how many of us have fallen victim to the myth and misconception that the next promotion, pay raise, current challenge overcome, or future event will be the answer to our problem and lead us to this success? How often do we wait for future events to come and heal our present problems – and when they do come, those events actually become the present problems and we go on waiting for future remedies?

Be wise enough to understand now that the next promotion and pay raise will never solve the problem, nor will it lead to ‘real’ success. The definition of ‘promotion’ is: more responsibility, work, and time at the office. The definition of a ‘pay raise’ is: as income increases, so do expenses. Also, once your current challenge is overcome, inevitably life has a way of bringing another one around the next bend. Never fall victim to the mentality that pursuing and achieving these other successes while neglecting the very things that determine ‘real’ success will eventuate as you planned (even if you initially intend to put off the ‘real’ successes just temporarily).

Thus, live and prioritize now! Pursue these other wonderful life successes, but never at the cost of the ‘real’ successes. And most importantly, despite what our culture ingrains into our minds, always remember the definition of what ‘real’ success is – it is not determined by the institutions attended, education obtained, career accomplishments, promotions or pay raises, titles held or awards won, credentials or certificates, or the wealth you acquire. The ‘real’ success in life is solely determined by who you become, the character and attributes you develop, the people you help, and whether or not at the end of the day you were true to the most important priorities in life – yes – God & Family!

One night, however, as I was retiring for bed, this business IDEA came back into my mind; but because time had elapsed, I was having new and different (and better) ideas this time. It was at this moment, now looking back in hindsight, that the very first principle of success was implemented … I took out a piece of paper and a pen, I WROTE DOWN all the ideas that were coming to my mind, and I truly BELIEVED that this IDEA would work.

I then purposely let those ideas sit for some time, knowing that anybody can get excited about an idea in the moment, but TIME has a way of bringing reason, logic, and wisdom to any situation. I knew that if I was still excited and passionate about the idea in a few weeks (not to mention the new ideas that would come by then), then perhaps I had something. That time came, and the ideas, excitement, and passion increased!

It was at this point – and I’ll never forget it – that I completely COMMITTED to doing whatever necessary to accomplish this dream and bringing this idea into reality! I remember not only establishing an organized plan and setting GOALS, but also personally making a very specific promise that I would put God and my family FIRST, that I would WORK extremely hard on this idea EVERY DAY, and that I would NOT QUIT until it was accomplished. I also promised that WHEN I did SUCCEED, that I would GIVE and help other people with my time and resources.

Well, to make an extremely long story short, after having built an expensive website, putting in countless hours each day for a few months, and developing and implementing my marketing plan, the business and idea completely failed. However, I was DETERMINED to make this work and to accomplish my goal and dream. I thus completely CHANGED my approach, developed a NEW plan, and tried marketing to different people and in different ways. To say the least, much time and money was put into this idea … and it failed AGAIN!

I remember one day literally feeling like I was standing between two decisions trying to determine which voice in my head would I listen to – the one that was screaming for me to give up, or the one that was quietly reminding me to PERSIST. The most challenging part as I stood there was trying to convince myself that my idea may have temporarily failed, but that did not mean that I personally was a failure.

Thankfully, I chose to listen to and heed the advice of the voice that often is extremely quiet, encourages us to take the much more difficult road, and is usually drowned out by the masses of people who listen to, follow, and encourage us to follow the other voice who is constantly screaming at us to take the easy road.

And yet, despite the fact that I chose to listen to the right voice, that certainly did not make the journey any easier. But, success was achieved. My goal was accomplished. The dream was realized. And ironically, this happened not necessarily because the IDEA was an amazing idea, but because I believed in the idea and myself, I completely committed to it, I worked at it every day, I overcame doubt and fear, I learned from and got up when I temporarily failed, and I persisted until my idea became a success. And perhaps most importantly, it was a success not because of the quality of the product or the money that was (and is) being generated, but because I put God and family first, and helped others with the resources I have been blessed with.

To view the ‘product’ and end result of the business IDEA behind this story, please visit: www.GreatGamesBook.com and www.Tips4Families.com

What are your goals and dreams in life? Would achieving them require you to take a risk? What is it that prevents you from taking that risk? The answer to such a question is different and personal for everyone; but undoubtedly, the answer falls under one of these categories: lack of belief in yourself, unwillingness to put in the necessary work required, scared of the ‘what if’ or what could go wrong, afraid that you possibly might fail, spend too much time listening to the voices of fear and doubt, inaction or procrastination, worried about what others will think, dwelling upon past failures, etc.

I completely understand such thoughts and reasoning, because we ALL experience these same fears, reservations, and doubts. However, I also hope you will never forget that those individuals who are willing to make mistakes and potentially fail are also those who will ultimately succeed. And never forget that success is not the opposite of failure, success is the result of many failures by those who were willing to continually attempt. Thus, taking a risk does not necessarily mean that success will automatically result – taking that risk is simply the first difficult task required on the journey to success, and that journey may require several risks being taken, possibly could be interrupted by various failures, and will certainly need to be accompanied by continual daily action.

As you ponder on what your goals and dreams are, and what is required to achieve them, never forget these four principles:

1) Being Average is Risky: Never fall victim to using these four words, or accepting and living their definition: security, content, average, and good. The enemy of great is good. The opposite of full potential is average. Being content is being willing to fail. And the desire for security is a dangerous mentality that is one of the leading reasons why success, goals, and dreams are so rarely realized.

2) ‘I Wish I Would Have’: Have you ever been guilty of saying this unfortunate phrase? How often people look back in regret and say ‘I wish I would have’: bought that property, started that business, pursued that dream, made that investment, kept practicing that talent, mended that relationship, not given up on that goal, etc. Commit now to never again say ‘I wish I would have’ and be willing to take risks, decide confidently, obtain the necessary knowledge, learn from failure, and persist in continual action. Wise was John Whittier when he poetically wrote: “for of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: ‘it might have been.’”

3) Comfort Zone Dangers: The moment you become complaisant or content and are unwilling to leave your comfort zone is the moment that success becomes much more difficult to obtain.

4) The Risk of the Majority: There are times when being on the side of the majority is the right place/side to be. However, if in pursuit of your dream or goal, you find yourself thinking and acting like the majority, recognize that you are not in very good company. The majority of people are unwilling to take risks, are content with mediocrity, don’t realize that failures allow us to learn, forget that persistence is more important than talent, think that success comes only if you have the money or time or knowledge, prefer procrastination and are unwilling to put in the work necessary to achieve their goals, and they spend too much time listening to the voices of fear and doubt that are in all of our minds. Be different – take the risk and do not follow or listen to the majority.

Taking a risk does not necessarily need to be risky. There is a difference between calculated risks and uneducated guesses. Having said that, every risk taken does require faith, temporary defeat and failure may be inevitable, continual work will certainly be required, time and money may be lost, and security might even be jeopardized. Never forget though that desire combined with belief, dreams combined with action, risks combined with knowledge, and failures combined with persistence will ultimately result in success. The great poet Robert Frost so perfectly summed up this true principle, and also revealed the reward when he penned: “two roads diverged in a wood, and I … I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”

Both paths of these diverging forks bring with them certain appeal, rewards, risks, drawbacks, as well as consequences. The fork on the left, for example, is often much more appealing because the path is usually paved, it is always full of fellow travelers, and looks a whole lot easier than the fork on the right. In fact, sometimes it actually appears that the fork on the left is heading in the right direction while the fork on the right is veering away from the eventual destination’s end.

Comparatively, the fork on the right usually seems much more difficult to journey on initially, and it is always less traveled because of the unknown risks, the inevitable potholes, and the effort required.

Interestingly enough, some who choose to go right at these pivotal and occasional forks along the ‘path to success,’ will eventually decide to go left somewhere down the road. Why? The fork on the right usually is unpaved, deserted and lonely in many places, and the decision to go right at the next fork often never gets easier.

However, those travelers who have made the long and difficult journey and chosen to go right at the majority of forks will collectively agree that their path may have been initially daunting, lonely at times, and extremely hard, but they will also undoubtedly agree that the journey was certainly worth both the effort as well as the reward at the end of their chosen path.

Their fellow travelers who usually chose the fork on the left along this ‘path to success,’ most certainly enjoyed the paved roads, ease of the journey, and signs that clearly marked their path for a time; however, the majority who went left will also collectively agree that the success, happiness, and freedom they sought from the journey’s end was not only forfeited along the journey – but often not found at the eventual path’s destination.

And so yours and my journey on this ‘path to success’ continues. Inevitably, we will soon be faced with another fork in the road – which way will we choose to go? Remember that the occasional paths that veer right often come before we’re ready and leave before we realize it. Most importantly, will we have the faith, determination, effort, and persistence required to walk the difficult ‘path to success’ and obtain the reward at the journey’s destination? The journey’s path does have a reward – call it whatever you may: personal achievement, goals reached, dreams realized, risks rewarded, talents obtained, wealth acquired, happiness enjoyed, freedom achieved, character developed, or success won. This reward can come, but it only comes from continually choosing the fork less traveled.

Every goal, dream, and success always starts as a thought in the mind. That thought may initially be a desire, idea, wish, or belief – but it will never become a reality until thoughts are put into action. People everywhere have great ideas, reachable dreams, and unlimited potential, but they spend too much time listening to the voices of fear and doubt that they never take action. And yet, what is so tragic about this reality is that the first necessary action to take is so simple in nature, yet so often neglected. And what is this simple action? It is as basic as carrying a pen and notepad with us always, and then writing down the thoughts and ideas the moment they come to our minds.

If our ideas, goals, and dreams are not written down, reviewed often, revised occasionally, specifically organized, and constantly acted upon – then we risk becoming like the majority of dreamers who later in their life look back at missed opportunities, ideas not acted upon, and failed potential, and they regretfully say ‘I wish I would have.’

Now, as we all know, simply writing down our ideas on a notepad is certainly not enough, and will not in and of itself produce results. It is putting into action those written ideas and thoughts that will eventuate into dreams being realized and success being accomplished. However, far too often what happens is we have an incredible or simple idea come to mind – be it a business idea, something that could be done differently or better, what we can personally improve upon, or even an impression of how we could help another individual – and we wrongfully assume that we will remember that thought, idea, or impression. This rarely happens; and more often than not, if we did not write down and act upon the thought and idea in the moment, then time has a way of causing us to either forget the thought, disregard it, or actually convince ourselves that it was of no value anyway.

Isn’t it ironic that our goals, dreams, and our very potential is determined upon the ability to carry a pen and notepad with us always, write thoughts and ideas in the moment they come to mind, and then most importantly – immediately act upon the ideas we wrote with that cheap pen on a silly notepad.

Each principle described below explains an attribute, mentality, or action that must be implemented – or prevented. Being aware of, being able to recognize, being able to avoid, being able to learn from, and being able to put into practice each of the principles below is necessary to achieve any goal or dream:

• Dream
  • Dream big! Envision your accomplishment constantly. Recognize that your dreams are completely possible, and the end success is always the result of the initial dream. Ensure your dreams are your dreams, and not the desires or expectations of others; and then believe in them and do whatever necessary to achieve them.
• Desire
  • If desire is lacking, the motivation to act and the determination to persist will be absent, and the result is always failure. Understand, however, that interest and strong desire are completely different – interest produces action when it is convenient, and strong desire persists in action despite challenges and failures. And real desire is much more than hope or a wish; it is a mentality that translates into power to accomplish incredible things.
• Disbelief
  • Dreaming big is important, but it is also useless if you don’t truly believe your dreams are possible and believe that you are capable of accomplishing those dreams. Belief is not a sure knowledge, it does not eliminate risk, nor does it produce results – but it is absolutely necessary in order to produce the actions that Do produce the results that eventuate into success. You can become and accomplish anything, but you must first believe so.
• Decide
  • Perhaps one of the greatest secrets necessary for success is the ability to decide, and then stick to that decision. Often, however, people make and act upon decisions that would result in success if pursued, but those decisions unfortunately get rescinded when things start to become difficult. Those who are unassertive, idle, unconfident, and uncommitted must develop the ability to make decisions quickly and confidently, and stick to them.
• Determined
  • Anything is possible to the individual who is absolutely determined to accomplish their goal. Much more powerful than desire for and belief in a goal, completely committing to that goal will ensure that excuses are eliminated, challenges do not defeat, and persistence is the only alternative. Zeal and determination have always contributed to success far more than brains and talent have.
• Dare
  • To dare is to have courage, to be bold, and to take risks. In order for the majority of successes and goals to be achieved, one must be willing to take that risk, go out of their comfort zone, Do what they don’t want to do or don’t feel comfortable doing, and even be willing to fail in the process. And therein is another secret – that when those inevitable failures do happen, one must be willing to dare again by persisting in the risk rather than retreating to security and mediocrity.
• Dangers
  • Nobody is ignorant of the fact that taking such risks includes various dangers, necessary sacrifices, and potential failures. Be it money wasted, time lost, effort exuded, embarrassment faced, goals not reached, or failure experienced – it can (and probably will) happen. Recognizing these dangers and trying to avoid them is wise, but facing them is often assured. The challenge lies in learning from and persisting Despite them.
• Doubts
  • The only limitations in life are the ones we create, believe, and nourish within our own minds. Doubts and fears, if heeded, result in a lack of attempt; and it is the ability to attempt and act that produces the confidence needed to overcome our doubts and fears and accomplish any goal. It is vital to remember that doubts and fears reside in everyone; and yet, they can be controlled by anyone. Ironically, they are never fully overcome, which suggests the importance of constantly controlling our minds, overcoming our fears, believing in ourselves, and being willing to attempt and act always.
• Declare
  • Tell yourself you will be successful. Vocalize your goals Daily. Talk big to yourself and to everyone. Declare to others what your goals and dreams are. Then, shut up and get to work!
• Do
  • Our dreams, our plans, our thoughts, our knowledge, and our very words are of no value and produce no accomplishment until accompanied with actions – Daily actions. Too often, people mistakenly think that success is a result of talent, knowledge, money, connections, characteristics, or inheritance; truthfully, at the foundation of every success, accomplishment, or goal achieved is one common and necessary principle – hard work!
• Discipline
  • Discipline is an action that combines commitment and consistency; for one without the other fails to produce the desired attainment. The ability to refrain from or take action in something once requires effort, but the ability to consistently put forth the same effort until the goal has been realized requires discipline. Discipline is doing what is desired when feeling less inclined, making time at the most inconvenient of times, refraining from things regardless of what others think or say, and persisting in actions despite the difficulty. Success Demands continual discipline.
• Disorganized
  • Failures often result not from a lack of ability, effort, or knowledge, but from the inability to set goals, establish a plan, become organized, and prioritize daily actions. We’ve all heard the cliché of ‘if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.’ However, effective planning is more than just putting pen to paper, it entails specific short and long term goals, daily actions that are reviewed and committed to, and back up plans because of the inevitable detours. Perhaps even more importantly, the goals and plans must be written, viewed daily, revised often, organized coherently, completely committed to, and Daily worked on.
• Distractions
  • Distractions are inescapable. Along the journey to success, we will experience various and numerous distractions, most often coming in the form of: fears or family priorities, work responsibilities or church and community involvement, hobbies or entertainment, health problems or vacations, or perhaps even other goals and worthwhile pursuits. Unfortunately, far too often people mistakenly blame the distraction for their resultant failure, rather than recognizing that the excuse is but a cover up of their poor response to the distraction. Persisting Despite the distractions is absolutely necessary.
• Detours
  • It is vitally important to understand that things never seem to work out as originally planned. You’ll often find that the initial path, plan, requirements, and time frame you were expecting were miscalculated. Take comfort in the fact that all those who have accomplished their goals and successes have likewise miscalculated. The challenge lies in ensuring those detours do not turn into dead-end streets, but that they become merely road blocks that cause you to persist and others to quit.
• Disappointments
  • Failures happen, Difficulties arise, and plans do fail. It is only those who are willing to fail that are truly willing to succeed. But, for whatever reason, in the moment of failure we often wrongfully assume that we personally are failures, and we thus quit. Failure is not a person; it is an event that is absolutely necessary to achieve success.
• Discouragements
  • The great Thomas Edison, perhaps the one person who had every reason to become discouraged after thousands of failed attempts to produce the light bulb, he perfectly described what our response should be whenever failure is experienced and discouragement is felt when he said: “I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt Discarded is another step forward.”
• Diligence
  • Diligence is continually exerting ourselves mentally and physically, persistently recommitting ourselves, and willingly and constantly putting forth the necessary action required to accomplish our goals. Diligence is persistence and endurance – the key to any success.
• Don’t Quit
  • Decide now to never give up, regardless of how difficult it may become. When those personal defeats, failures, or challenges arise, the natural tendency is to do what the majority of people do – quit, give an excuse, choose another goal, or give up on the dream altogether. Rather, you must learn from and get up after any temporary defeat or failure. The majority of personal successes in life are usually accomplished after an individual determines to not give up when they experience a failure.
• Disperse
  • Give of your resources, knowledge, and time. Notice, however, that I did not say give if you have – I said give, regardless of what you have. Give now, and give always! Do not assume that later in life when you have acquired excess wealth, knowledge, and time that you will then freely give of it – Develop the habit of giving now (the amount is irrelevant compared to the intent). And never forget the unexplainable, yet true principle that when you give, you always receive (often, much more abundantly).
• Duty
  • Far more important than any other ‘D’ described in this list is that of our duty to God and our family. When all is said and done, I think each of us would much rather deal with the disappointments of certain failures than the disappointment of certain successes, if those certain successes were achieved at the expense of the much more important priorities. God and our family must absolutely be our first priority. Thus, no goal or accomplishment in life is as important as becoming a person of integrity, character, and morality. Being a good parent, spouse, friend, or neighbor is far more important than becoming a great businessman, politician, doctor, attorney, or achieving any other accomplishment, title, certificate, position, or even dream in life.

All of your Desires and Dreams are possible! However, your challenge today – and continually – will be to Dare to think big, Develop the ability to believe more, and Decide to act now. It is extremely Difficult, but completely Doable!

• Put God & Family First
• Desire Success
• Dream Big, Think Big, & Think Differently
• Believe in Yourself & Believe Your Dreams Are Possible
• Eliminate the Voices of Fear & Doubt … Continually
• Completely Commit & Be Totally Determined
• Establish an Organized Plan & Goals
• Take Action Now & Work Hard
• Learn From & Get Up After Failures
• Persist Always & Never Quit

These principles are the requirements, attributes, and actions necessary in order to accomplish success in life. They apply to any situation, and to every individual! However, learning about and understanding these secrets is relatively simple; the difficulty is implementing them. And yet, when they are understood and applied, they literally are the formula to accomplish any of our goals, pursuits, or dreams.

Below I have listed several goals, situations, and pursuits from various categories and areas of life that are applicable to everyone. As you will see, your potential and success in any endeavor is determined by you alone. The realization of your goals is not solely determined by circumstance or location, ability or knowledge, money or family heritage, others, or even race or gender. The secrets of success are attributes and actions that can be learned and implemented by everyone and are applicable to any goal or pursuit; thus, you literally can become and accomplish anything in life – it is up to you!

1) Eat Healthy & Exercise: How much longer will we as a culture continue to believe that the latest diet, surgery, gym membership, or pill is the solution to our poor nutritional choices and lack of exercise routine? Eating healthy and exercising regularly is and always has been the answer, and all the other fake substitutes are no more then a temporary solution to a lazy habit. The reality is that the secrets of success are actually the formula for losing weight and staying in shape. For example, if one truly desires to lose weight and believes it is possible (and believes in themselves), they will commit and do whatever action and effort necessary to accomplish their goal. Will it be hard? Of course. But the committed individual doesn’t set a goal and stick to it for a week, they stick to it forever! Will fear, doubts, criticisms, and possible failures occur? Always. But the individual who persists and does not quit in their daily healthy eating habits and exercising routine – whether it takes two months or two years – they will succeed!

2) Career Growth: Advancement within a job, company, or career is based much more upon the secrets of success than it is the traditional route our culture commonly and mistakenly believes. For example, how often have you personally been guilty of thinking that your potential and advancement is determined by networking or connections, the perfect opportunity at the right time, a better prepared resume, unethical practices in order to get recognized, becoming ‘buds’ with the boss, advanced degrees or certificates earned, or even years on the job? Each of these certainly is important and has its place (excluding the unethical practices); however, what people often fail to realize is that these situations are secondary to one’s desire, belief, and work ethic.

3) Academic Pursuits: First of all, never fall victim to the fallacy that your GPA, major or emphasis studied, standardized test scores, name of the institution attended, or even the degrees you earned (or did not earn) somehow dictate or determine your potential. If the accomplishment of any goal is based upon these foundational principles that entail the secrets of success, then certainly developing the ability to read, write, study, memorize, retain, present, test well, and intellectually and academically excel must be based upon the same foundational success principles.

4) Spiritual Development: Do not ignorantly assume that these principles apply only to matters of physical or temporal conditions. In order to develop character, pray effectively, worship meaningfully, endure faithfully, and progress spiritually – we absolutely must apply these same principles. Scripturally, belief is faith, action is works, and persistence is enduring to the end.

5) Entrepreneurial Ventures: Often what holds people back from taking risks is not necessarily fear – it is the excuse that they do not have the time, knowledge, or money to pursue their goal or dream. Anybody who is truly desirous for and committed to accomplishing their goal will make time, obtain the necessary knowledge, and will realize that acquiring wealth does not always require having money initially. Successful entrepreneurs are not born with increased talent or brains, they succeed because they are willing to take risks, they learn from and persist after failures, the overcome the voices of fear and doubt in their mind, they take daily action and they never quit.

6) Social Abilities: If these principles apply to anything, then why would they not apply to even the development and improvement of our social abilities? Thus, the ability to make friends can be developed, the fear of public speaking can be overcome, relationships that have been ruined can be fixed, a lack of self esteem can be improved, feeling comfortable in social settings can be learned, interacting with and approaching others can be done confidently, and a deficiency in verbal and non-verbal communication skills can be mastered. Will developing these abilities be hard? Extremely. Will it take time to learn, improve, and change? Of course. Is it possible? Absolutely!

7) Quitting Addictions & Habits: Are you addicted to drugs, alcohol, pornography, tobacco, video games, etc? Do you have any bad habits that you are desirous to be rid of, or even trying to break currently? Don’t get me wrong, the various addiction recovery groups, cigarette patches, community programs, and self-help books are extremely helpful; but by themselves, they can not produce the necessary change unless they are combined with an individual’s strong desire, belief that it is possible, faith in oneself, daily action, overcoming doubts, and persisting and never quitting until the goal has been accomplished. Let’s take pornography as an example – this addiction and selfish practice makes a few rich in the process of destroying lives and families (and our very society, for that matter). How is pornography overcome? By applying the these fundamental laws of success! While books may help, addiction recovery groups may assist, and pop-up blockers may be useful, they alone can not break the addiction. It is only when a person truly desires to never again look at, feel, or experience the damaging effects of pornography that the road to recovery can begin. Then, this person must believe in themselves and that overcoming the addiction is possible. In addition, they must overcome the constant doubts in their mind, completely commit to never look again (and stick to it), have a plan and goals, take daily action, learn from failures and mistakes, and never quit until the addiction is overcome. Is it difficult? Absolutely! Is it possible? Of course. But like overcoming any addiction or developing any good habit, it is only possible if and when the laws of success are applied!

Financial Management & Wealth Accumulation: Decide now to forever rid yourself of excuses. Your poor financial situation is not the result of family upbringing, lack of education, high interest rates, dishonest brokers or companies, or inability to access funds. Most likely it is the result of terrible budgeting, an inability to save, a lack of discipline to go without, poor judgment in determining needs vs. wants, and a lack of effort to change your situation. In addition, your financial future is not determined by an accountant, 401(k) account, the stock market, rich uncle, wise broker, or success on the job. You determine and create your potential – and wealth! The ability to develop financial discipline is more important than budgets or accounting software. Your potential to become wealthy is based upon desire, belief, and work ethic – not an industry, company, or position. Your own drive and initiative is of far greater value than the advice given by a greedy broker. Your financial situation and future is created and determined by you, and is enhanced by applying the very secrets of success!

9) Overcoming Challenges: Hospitals are filled, pharmacies are stocked, bookstores are loaded, clinics are full, stores are overflowing, and websites are abundant with information and products that supposedly have the solution to every problem we encounter in life. Whether it is dealing with depression, sickness or injury, disability, lack of self-esteem, marriage or relationship problems, loneliness, minority set-backs, financial hardships, or even stress – the solution always seems to be in some new product, pill, book, program, doctor’s advice, or latest research. Don’t get me wrong, each of these institutions and sources provide tremendous value and certainly have their place; but they fail to educate and provide their consumers with the necessary knowledge, attributes, and actions required to overcome any of the aforementioned challenges we all face. The ability to control one’s thoughts is just as important as the pill used to cure depression. The ability to think big is far more liberating and empowering to one with a disability than any wheelchair or crutch. Dealing with stress or a lack of self-esteem requires belief and consistent action – much more than popping a pill. And the list could go on and on. Is it not obvious that the secrets of success apply even to the ability to deal with and overcome the challenges of life?

Above are listed only 9 examples of the hundreds of situations, pursuits, and goals we each face and have in our lives. The reality is that the secrets of success apply to any situation and pursuit in life – whether it is breaking the chains of poverty, to becoming a professional athlete, to developing a talent, to learning how to sing or play an instrument, to dealing with death or difficulties – these foundational elements that form the secrets of success are the necessary attributes and actions required to accomplish any of our goals, pursuits, challenges, and dreams in life. And they apply to everyone, to every situation, and to every goal!

Our potential in life is not determined by uncontrollable circumstances, racial characteristics, economic conditions, family dynamics, schools attended, or social connections – our potential is made or unmade by ourselves. In life, there really are no such things as circumstances – we create them. Do you actually believe William Henley when he said “I am the captain of my fate, I am the master of my soul”? In order to take control of our fate, souls, and our very lives, we must first learn how to control our thoughts, eliminate fear and doubt, have a pure and clean mind, and ensure that every thought we think is positive, believing, and disciplined.

We are what we think! Thoughts and results are the exact same thing. Do you believe that? Do you realize that the most talented athletes are those who train their minds to focus, believe, and think big? Successful musicians, actors, and politicians have achieved greatness because they had faith and literally thought anything was possible. The wealthiest individuals who have ever lived have learned how to eliminate the thoughts of fear, doubt, and failure. Likewise, the hardened criminal or the sexual predators are simply living a life that is being dictated by the thoughts they entertain in their own minds.

The vast majority of people everywhere live far below their potential, not because of a lack of ability, talent, knowledge, or work ethic; but because they have not developed the ability to control and convert their thoughts into actions that lead to success. You can become and accomplish anything in life. Your goals and dreams are absolutely possible. Yes, it will require great effort and work on your part to achieve your dreams and realize success; however, most often people fail to put forth the work necessary because they don’t believe in themselves and that their dreams are even possible. As long as you believe and think that, your actions will reflect that mentality and success will never be accomplished. “Whether you think you can or you can’t – you are right” – and Henry Ford not only penned that, but he believed it and lived it; and ironically, after much failure and criticism from others, his company and charitable foundation (of billions of dollars) is still benefiting people across the globe.

So, what are your goals or dreams? What successes do you desire to achieve? Do you realize that you are capable of doing and accomplishing far more than you even think you can? We alone determine and create our own potential – and potential, greatness, and success not only start, but are achieved in the mind. This is the great challenge on our pursuit to accomplish success – learning how to control our thoughts, eliminating the voices of fear and doubt, believing in ourselves and our dreams, thinking positively and thinking big. And yet ironically, controlling our thoughts requires daily effort. But thankfully, if we put forth this daily effort, we literally can become and accomplish anything if we not only realize the power of our thoughts, but ensure that our thoughts convert to actions that lead to success.

However, having said that, I also do not apologize in any way of the belief that I personally have of the reality and divinity of Christ, that the Bible does contain truth, and of the witness I have obtained that His gospel is ‘the way, the truth,’ * and the path that leads us all back to our loving God and Father. Because of this fact, I have written this article from my perspective and belief; and again, acknowledge and respect the fact that not everyone will share this same outlook and belief. And yet, the principles taught by Christ and the Prophets and Apostles, are nonetheless still applicable to anyone, in any situation. Thus, regardless of your dream or goal – applying these principles will inevitably result in your success in anything in life!

More than a religious leader, historical figure, revered Jew, or inspiring philosopher, Christ was and is literally the Son of God. The truth, doctrine, and gospel that He established is in reality the very plan of the Father – a plan that outlines what we need to know, do, and become in order to return to His presence. To simplify and summarize the entirety of this gospel and plan that Christ taught – we need to know and do certain things and become a certain type of person in order to obtain the ‘reward’ – eternal life with God. In essence, those ‘certain things’ can be boiled down to three simple categories: the mental, physical, and spiritual – or perhaps as the Bible phrases it: faith, works, and character.

Christ taught us to have faith in Him and His gospel, to put forth the necessary actions He required, and to ‘become’ – or in other words, to develop a Christ-like character. For example, do not God and the Bible tell us that if we believe in Christ, we could have ‘everlasting life?’* Likewise, they teach us that ‘faith without works is dead,”* thus placing greater significance on the commandments to ‘love thy neighbor’* and to ‘keep my commandments.’* And lastly, the 10 commandments He gave to us through Moses were not recommendations or suggestions, but the very recipe we must follow – not only to become like Him, but to also return to live with Him, God, and our families forever!

Wouldn’t you agree that another way of phrasing the very same scriptural and spiritual principles would be: Think Big, Believe More, Act Now! Eternal life requires us to believe or hope in a dream, to have faith in the reality that it is possible (not to mention faith and belief in ourselves), a commitment to follow that path and hope (dream) regardless of what happens, a resolve to repent and get up after sins and failures, a determination to withstand temptation and put forth action daily, and persistence in developing habits of keeping the commandments and never giving up – enduring to the end. Ironically, the very same mentality, actions, and attributes necessary to obtain eternal life are the exact characteristics and elements to be successful in anything.

Below I have listed many of the elements of the law of success – the very mentality, actions, and attributes necessary to be successful in anything in life. I have also included a few of the many scriptural passages that prove not only that Christ and the Bible did actually teach the law of success, but that the law of success is in reality the very Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Desire: Mark 11:24; Prov. 10:24; 1^st Cor. 14:1; Psalms 37:4; Prov. 21:25; Deut. 4:29;

Thoughts (Dream Big): Prov. 23:7; Phillip. 4:8; Gen. 24:63; Matt 9:4

Believe: Heb. 11:6; Matt 8:13; Matt 9:28; Matt 21:22; Mark 5:36; John 3:16, 36; John 11:25-27; John 20:27-29

Faith: Matt 9:22, 29; Matt 15:28; 2^nd Cor. 5:7; Hebrews Ch. 11; James 2:17-22; Prov. 3:5

Commitment: Psalms 37:5; Prov. 16:3; Psalms 119:10; Joel 2:12; Luke 9:62; Psalms 112:7;

Dedication: Matt 22:37; 2 Tim. 4:7; Prov. 10:4; 2^nd Peter 3:14, 17; 1^st Cor. 15:58; Heb. 3:14; Phillip. 3:14

Self-Mastery: Prov. 25:28; Matt 16:24; James 4:7, 8; Exodus 20:3-17

Actions: James 2:17-22; James 1:22; Matt 7:24-29; John 14:15; Prov. 24:12

Persistence: John 8:31; Matt 10:22; James 1:12; Job 27:5; Col. 1:23; Heb. 12:1-7

Priorities: Matt 6:33; Deut. 6:5; Matt 10:39; Matt 22:37-40; Joshua 24:15; Prov. 22:6; Eph. 6:1-4; Gen. 18:19; Exodus 20:12;

Integrity: Job 2:3; Phillip. 4:8; Psalms 24:3-4; 1^st Kings 9:4-5; Romans 12:17; 2^nd Cor. 4:2; Job 27:5; ; Exodus 20:3-17; 2^nd Cor. 13:7;

Give & Serve to Receive: Matt 25:35-40; Luke 6:38; Prov. 28:27; Luke 12:48; Prov. 21:26; Deut. 16:17;

Potential: Matt 5:48; Matt 19:26; Mark 9:23; Deut. 18:13; 2^nd Cor. 13:11; Mark 14: 26; Gen. 17:1; Gen 6:9

Thus, do Christ and the Bible teach the law of success? The answer to that important question is a resounding YES! The Gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us the very mentality, actions, and attributes we must possess – which He exemplified and commanded we should ultimately develop. It is actually the Law of the Gospel, or law of success, that we must follow in order to achieve our goals and dreams, obtain wealth or talents, and to develop the necessary spiritual character to obtain the real success and reward in life, which is eternal life with Him who is the Author of this law of success!

* (First scriptural reference: John 14:6; 2^nd: John 3:16; 3^rd: Matt 22:39; 4^th: John 14:15)

Unfortunately, far too often we allow our culture and society, educational system and workforce, literature and media, as well as peers and even our own family members convince us that success is measured and potential is determined by certain qualifications. These fallacious qualifications range from GPA’s to standardized test scores, institutions attended to education obtained, work experience to titles held, social connections to family heritage, and from the color of our skin to the anatomy of our body. Undoubtedly the GPA’s and degrees obtained, etc. are important and will help on the journey to success, but they alone are irrelevant and will prove insignificant if the laws of success described above are not understood, believed, and implemented as well.

Do you really believe that you can literally become and accomplish anything in life? Your successes, greatness, and potential are determined by you alone; and all of the characteristics necessary to achieve your goals and dreams already lie within you. Our potential is made or unmade by ourselves – we simply need to discover or create it. If you realized how capable, brilliant, talented, beautiful, and powerful you really are (or could be), it would not only astonish you, it would inspire you. And yet ironically, most people are not ignorant of this reality, they just willfully choose to ignore it because they are afraid of their own potential or they are not willing to put in the work necessary to achieve it. Thus, Ben Herbster summed it up perfectly when he penned: “the greatest waste in the world is the difference between what we are and what we could become.” Never forget, however, that in the journey to reach our potential, dreams, and successes in life, it is desire, belief, action, and persistence that are essential.

You alone must discover, create, and determine your own potential. Gone must be the days when we mistakenly follow the masses and believe the misconceptions of what actually determines our potential and success in life. Our full potential is reached, successes are achieved, and our dreams and goals are realized if we can understand, believe, and implement the laws of success – think big, believe more, act now, and never quit!