On average, an individual has an 8 to 12-hour work day, with a minimum of ten hours rest period. Are you that type of person who is spending his/her rest period trying to “check boxes” and improve on the things you’re not good at? Have you ever thought what really matters to success?
Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.
-Thomas Edison
Οf course, success is due in part to some level of skill but the weight relies much more on human determination. While talent and luck can be great helps when you want to succeed in your professional life, they aren’t everything; psychologist Angela Duckworth has found that GRIT is more important than talent or luck. According to Duckworth’s research, grit allows us to move past failures and work through stress; all these however require great effort. When others give up, one’s grit can ultimately lead to business success.
Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. Grit is having stamina. Grit is sticking with your future, day in, day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years, and working really hard to make that future a reality. Grit is living life like it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
-Angela Duckworth explained during a TEDx talk.
Tips to maximize chances of success
Here is a short guide outlining important action that can make a difference in one’s daily life:
#1 Avoid negative thoughts
Science says the human mind has a natural tendency to negativity. Human brain is built with a greater sensitivity to unpleasant news, from the very early stages of living. Although negativity can be difficult to change, it’s not impossible.
#2 Make commitments
Once you set a goal, it is a lot easier to set the route towards succeeding it. Define your goals, write them down and consider an action plan towards.
#3 Develop the right mindset
A growth mindset is a great ally to keep you going. Success in almost every area of human endeavor can be dramatically influenced by how we think about our talents and abilities.
#4 See failure as a natural part of life
There are people who see failure as a brake to their route, while others as a stepping stone to their later success. Embrace failure as a necessary step to evolution in order to move on.
#5 Use your time wisely
Learning and experimenting are the best investments in life. Try to spend your time with tasks that can increase learning, memory, awareness, creativity, and productivity.
#6 Focus on your strengths
Stop putting an emphasis on what you are lagging behind at and try to identify what you are good at. In this way, you will be able to adapt your plans to your capabilities. Self-awareness has always been a great part of success.
#7 Keep the level of persistence high
There is a connection between persistence and success, as persistence constitutes a key element of self-discipline. Persistence allows you to keep taking action even when you don’t feel motivated to do so.
#8 Exercise more
Top performers of the world give great importance in exercising as part of their daily routine. ‘A healthy mind in a healthy body’ was what the ancient Greeks said to demonstrate that mental and physical health are two aspects of the same coin.
#9 Always remember: no action means no progress
Theodore Roosevelt told that “in any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.”
