Hidden laws to a successful life revealed

A TEXAN oil billionaire once said: “There are three secrets to success. First, individuals have to decide exactly what it is they want from a certain situation – not roughly or vaguely, but specifically. Then they have to work out what costs or sacrifices would be needed to get these things.

Finally, they have to be prepared to pay those costs and make those sacrifices.” Of course, you don’t have to be a billionaire to be a success, but, you do have to know what success means to you in your life and you do have to be motivated to achieve it.

Success is a journey, not a destination. Your journey towards achieving your true potential in life begins with your decision to succeed. Continuing on your journey then takes commitment and dedicated effort, both of which require motivation.

Success may have costs attached and you may have to make sacrifices, but it’s always going to be easier to do something you want to do, rather than something you have to do.

The following 12 Laws are guiding principles that can help you to do just that; they can help you to keep sight of what you really want from life and they can provide you with the motivation to keep going on your journey.

One – A top performance is an inspired performance

Successful people do what they love and love what they do. When you reconnect with your passion, you rediscover your true self, and you find your inspiration. When you your inspiration, you find your success.

Ask yourself; are you pursuing your dreams and ambitions, or the ambitions someone else has for you?

Two – Positive thoughts generate positive outcomes

Your thoughts, your actions, and your beliefs all generate their own energy so you have within you the power to create your own positive or a negative environment, and you have the power to change that environment. For example, when you think, “I can do this; this is going to work,” you’re generating a positive vibe that will keep you moving forwards. When you think, “I can’t do this; this is never going to work,” you’re generating an equally powerful negative vibe that will keep you stuck where you are.

Three – Top performers put action plans into action

Positive thoughts inspire positive actions but you must take action to create positive outcomes. An action plan gives you focus and direction but waiting for every detail to be in place can only hold you back.

Whatever you dream of achieving, whether it’s sailing around the world, owning your own house, or winning the X-Factor, it takes action to turn that dream into your reality.

Four – As you think, you become

If you believe you can achieve whatever you put your mind to, you’re right! Your emotional state has a direct impact on your physical state so you must believe in yourself as a success to become a success.

Five - You get out what you put in

Nothing happens by chance. Whether or not you succeed in life is not down to chance. Your circumstances are what you make them. Those individuals you perceive to be “lucky” have worked hard at making that luck.

Six - Winning efforts receive winning rewards

If you want more out of life, you must be prepared to put more in. Figure out what costs and sacrifices must be made and be prepared to make them. Commit to your success.

Ask yourself; are you “in it to win it” or are you going to jump ship at the first obstacle?

Seven - Like attracts like

Positive thoughts attract positive outcomes. Negative thoughts can only ever attract negative outcomes. Think of it this way, which thought process is likely to ‘make friends and influence people‘ at a social event?

“There’s no point in even trying to start a conversation; they’re not going to be interested in anything I’ve got to say.” Or, “There’s a group of people over there I‘d like to know better; I’m going to go and join in on that conversation.”

Eight - Without change, nothing changes

If you want changes, you have to make changes. If you keep thinking the same way and doing things the same way, you’re going to achieve more of the same; is that what you want?

Nine - Getting to the top means getting things in perspective

Keep your life in perspective. You are going to have “one of those days” every now and then but it’s just one day! Tomorrow is another day. One day does not define your entire life.

Ten - You win some, you lose some

You have to know failure to know success. If it was impossible to fail, it would be impossible to succeed. Success comes from accepting the potential to fail along with the potential to succeed. If you’re waiting for a guarantee that you won’t get knocked back before asking someone out on a date, you’re effectively guaranteeing yourself a long wait without a date!

Eleven - The only way is up…down…up…

What goes around, comes around. Everything in life is on a continuous cycle - good times and bad times included. Your mental attitude has a direct effect on your ability to bounce back from setbacks. The more positive your attitude, the faster things come around again and go your way.

Twelve - Champions recognise the champion within

You are what you believe you are. When you believe in yourself as your best self, you are inspired and motivated to become your best self. This highlights the importance of following your own dreams. You have to know who you are and what matters most to you in life in order to begin your journey towards achieving your success.

• Donald MacNaughton is the author of The 12 Hidden Laws of Performance. Visit his website www.donmacnaughton.org