By: Nick Thomas
Be careful who and what you allow in your life if you want success.
If there is one thing I have learned, it is that no matter how hard you try, your success will be directly affected by your surroundings. What you read or watch, who you are around, what you eat, what activities you participate in, and so much more. Everything ultimately filters into your life and affects your success. The intelligent choice is to keep focus and discipline throughout all areas of life. Compartmentalizing will NOT lead to success.
There is a direct correlation with what goes in and what comes out…in other words, a few things need to happen for success to be achieved. Laziness cannot be accepted and success be obtained, especially the success which is specifically desired for individual life, the kind that’s a step above the world’s standards. After all, that is the true-life achievement, personal happiness, and the peace and joy that brings.
Human nature craves hard work, although it may not feel like it. There is nothing that can replace the blood, sweat, and tears of hard work physically and mentally which ultimately leads to the achievement of goals. This is why those in the fitness world so enjoy the medal at the end of a race or those who perform enjoy the applause at the end of the show, or why the academic rejoices receiving their diploma or the hardworking CEO loves their year-end bonus and promotion. It is the sense of accomplishment. There was hard work and a culmination including an appropriate celebration and reward. If something is just given, it seems to ultimately prove a bit anticlimactic. There is no sense of pride, and what is easily attained seems to be easily forgotten or taken for granted. Remember the first paycheck in a real-world job which you received? It may not have been much but it sure felt good. Phone calls were made, probably to mom or dad, and a conversation of pride was had! A fair day’s work for a fair day’s wage, even the Bible speaks to this. God addresses this topic a few different ways in Deuteronomy, Proverbs, and Psalms. And to be clear, a “wage” may not always be money.
Achievement stems from internal drive – it is a personal achievement for which no one else can be the substitute and give the same feeling. What is easily or falsely attained will lack satisfaction. The absence of hard work will always leave a feeling of discontentment, no matter what possessions or accolades are in your name. It HAS to be real!
Internal drive is something which takes immense focus. It takes a constant mindset and attitude in private and in public, a special and rare thing called integrity. It takes a lifestyle which supports the overall goal in all areas. Clear goals demand a circle of people who not only understand what the goals are but provide support in every way as they are pursued. This typically means a small but fierce few will form around you. Success ultimately demands leadership. This means that control of life has been taken and an incredible and common side effect of this disciplined control IS leadership. Those on a similar path attract each other, even if the ultimate goals are not the same. Those who desire a similar dynamic result rally around someone who is clearly and wholly focused on a specific goal. Respect and trust are built here and longevity is developed because what is done in private and public is the same! When this is proven, it will resonate with this small group of loyal, like-minded people. This tight knit group will feed off of each other and achieve life goals. Keep it tight. This is the Success Circle. What goes in will come out and what is desired will become reality!
By: Nick Thomas
Owner of Prime Performance Training, and Certified Sports Nutritionist
November 14, 2024
