People often look at what they consider "successful" people in society and think they couldn't reach that level.
Whether it is someone on television, the movies, a large business owner or sport star, people tend to think those people have some sort of privilege in life that they don't.
For example, successful people were born into a wealthy, influential family or were born with talent (like LeBron James), they think.
While that is partially true, this post is here to assert that "success" in this world comes more from a pattern of small decisions that it does from one lucky event. The most successful people are not necessarily born that way or have a stroke of luck, but make a lot of good, small decisions over time.This post could start with a quote from Vincent Van Gogh. It states,
"Great things are done by a series of small things together."The thought of being a doctor or an attorney seems a little "out of reach" for most people. You might think you don't have the ability or enough money for that many years of school. Thus, you think you couldn't do it.
Success, Over Time
You might, though, put yourself in a surprising position if you are willing to work hard and smart, and have at least a little interest.Have you met people in the business world that don't know all the answers, but they know who to ask or where to look to get the answers? This is an example of what is being discussed here.
You don't necessarily have to have the most knowledge to succeed.
Actress Marie Dressler summed up the concept this way:
" Never one thing and seldom one person can make for a success. It takes a number of them merging into one perfect whole."
Success in this world can also be based on a series of "little" things, or decisions you make each day. It is not enough to attribute them to luck, according to this thinking.
Like what things? Maybe things like:
1. How do you dress?
2. How do you talk to other people?
3. How much you pay attention to your health?
4. Do you do the least you have to do, or do you go the "extra mile"?
5. Do you keep up with current events and trends?
6. Are you just out for yourself, or do you think of others?
7. Do you try to follow the law, or take the easiest path?
8. Do you think for yourself or just follow the crowd?
This is a partial list, of course. But it gets the idea across.
If you look at all of these things over time (years) they tend to make a significant difference.
What do the things on the list have in common? They show you have a number of small choices you can make each day. The right choices could help put you in a better position for success.
Sometimes you don't know who you are talking to (maybe impolitely) and they could just be a person that can help you advance in your life.
Poet Ralph Waldo Emerson once put it this way,
"Shallow men believe in luck, strong men believe in cause and effect."Indeed, the one with the most knowledge isn't always the C.E.O. Put another way, the best team doesn't always win.
This is meant to be inspirational to you, in a way. You are not just destined for failure, but can take action to get the things you want.
While the phrase "God helps those who help themselves" is not found directly in the Bible, it is considered to be implied. For example, the character Job in the Old Testament made a lot of right choices, and God worked through him.
What did you do today to better yourself?
Hopefully this post helped spur you to think about the larger meaning of life and your place in it. It is up to you to make changes.
I urge you to look beyond what you experience each day and subscribe to the blog for more perspectives.
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