"Do You Know What Success Is?"

This week I'd like to take a break from Internet marketing and focus a little on something that too many people have all wrong.

Specifically, I want to talk about success, what it really is and exactly how to get it. Right after this quick message from today's new top sponsor...

OK, I want to start off with the word itself.

Exactly what is the definition of success?

Well, the Merriam dictionary defines it as such:

Success: favorable or desired outcome; also : the attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence

A dreadfully incomplete definition in my opinion.

I like to think that success has very little to do with wealth, favor or eminence. Instead, it has everything to do with attaining your own personal goals.

Success should NEVER be measured through the eyes of others. Who cares what others think of you! All that really matters is that you achieve what you want to achieve in life.

Sure, its easy to think of people as "a success" or "a failure." It's human nature to want to wrap everything up in a neat little package like that. But every life without wealth, favor or eminence is certainly not a failure.

So many people think of success on too big a level, their whole lives. And while there is absolutely nothing wrong with dreaming big, the fact is, many of them were successful all along and didn't even know it.

That's right. Too many people relate success with wealth, power, stardom, etc.

That's a sure recipe for failure.

Here's an example of success that many people never consider...

Let's say when you neared adulthood your main goals were simply to find and keep a good job. That's what you set out to achieve. Maybe a few years later you were in a job you didn't exactly love, but it paid most of the bills.

I've got news for you... you succeeded at what you set out to achieve. You should consider yourself a success.

Oh, you may not be as wealthy as some of your neighbors. You may not be famous or a celebrity. You may not even have a lot of friends.

But you set a goal and accomplished it.

That means you are a success.

Even in the eyes of Merriam dictionary. (A favorable or desired outcome!)

So now you may be asking... if that's success, Jim. How do people reach higher levels of financial and emotional wealth?

And I have an answer for you. Right after this important message...

Now that we know success can be as simple as setting a basic goal and achieving it, let's talk about something that takes people to NEW LEVELS of success. Specifically, what is the secret to reaching the highest levels of financial and emotional wealth?

Well, believe it or not, the secret is simply....

Setting New Goals After Each Success!

You see, once you achieve even the most modest goal, you gain a bit of confidence. You may not feel it all the time, but it is in you, believe me.

With this confidence, you become empowered to do more. Specifically, you can now set new goals and dreams.

And through your first experience with success, no matter how small or how large, you hopefully will have noticed the plan that was responsible. It probably went something like this....

1. Identify What You Want Next From Life

In order to succeed at something new, you need some idea of what you want to achieve. If you don't know what you want your destination to be, how do you expect to get there? So, the first thing you need to do is decide what you want accomplish. All successful people have at least some idea what they want to achieve. Maybe it's a better paying job. Maybe it's a business of your own. Or a loving relationship with a significant other. Or a household full of loving, caring children. These are all great successes that people attain in their lives.

2. Take Action

When thinking about your dreams and goals you must be motivated and excited by them. Then you must take action towards achieving them - regular action preferably on a daily basis. This is where most people fail. They talk about what they want, but never actually take the steps required to succeed at their goal. Taking action is what separates the successes from the failures. It can be as simple as making a list of things required to accomplish your goal and staying focused on this list. Then each day, taking another step towards achieving your success.

3. Do Not Give Up

There will inevitably be roadblocks that get in the way of your goals. You will sometimes feel that you are going backwards not forwards. But you must remain totally committed to your goals and never give up. If you stay focused and keep taking regular daily action in the direction of your dreams then you will ultimately continue to move towards achieving them. Keep your dreams - your target - in the forefront of your mind and your creative brain WILL provide solutions to any problems you face along the way.

4. Pat Yourself On The Back, Then Set Another New Goal

Life is about living, not accomplishing things then stopping. Whenever you achieve one of your goals, recognize it as a success, give yourself a pat on the back and then set a new goal. That's right, go back to step one and start all over again. You can do this as often as you want! The most successful people in the world do it more than anyone. Just imagine how many times famous people like Thomas Edison set new goals!

In closing...

A lot of people fail to live the life that they desire. Some fail to plan properly, some give up after a few setbacks, and some stop making new goals along the way. If you want to be happy and successful on your own terms, try using those steps above and you're practically guaranteed to succeed - over and over and over.

Remember, everyone who has ever achieved success in their lives is really no different from you. They are just ordinary human beings. But they are ordinary human beings who took the time to work out what it was they wanted from life and then took regular, consistent action to get it. Are you going to join them?

Well, that's it for today's gazette. See ya in a few weeks...

Jim Daniels
JDD Publishing Co.