Success Does Not Necessarily Mean Coming Firstby Malcolm Harvey Coming first, being the greatest or the most powerful are not the things that are open to many of us. OK we could aim to become the best in our chosen field but the chances are that you will struggle. Olympic 100 metre gold medal prospects set out with determination to get to the top, but there's only one position available so do the other hundreds of runners world-wide have any chance of success? The answer lies in what your perception of success is. In the dictionary success is described as "the favourable outcome of something attempted". Therefore it is up to you to decide what that favourable outcome will be. When you set out to write down a goal or target to reach for, it is important that you stretch your imagination just a bit further than you feel comfortable reaching, but not so far that it becomes ridiculous. There's no point in trying to become a brain surgeon when you only just managed to pass your high school exams! The ultimate goal for you should be to realise YOUR own full potential. Not to please other people, or to compare yourself with anyone else, but to become the person that you, and only you, can become. So how do you find out what it is that you really want? A great deal of "goal setting" books and programs tell you to write down your ultimate dreams; what would you do if you knew you couldn't fail? How much finance do you want? What type of car or house? ………….and all that jazz. The trouble with this "thing" oriented goal setting is how can you be sure that the big house or Mercedes' car is what "you" want and not just what your ego wants! Our society, wherever you are in the world, seems to be based on a sense of insecurity, a kind of "keep up with the Jones" type of mentality. Image has been a key word throughout history. I'll stroke your ego if you stroke mine! I'm not saying that it is wrong to have the big house or Mercedes' car, far from it! But if you think that when you get that "thing" then you will be happy, I'm afraid you are in for a disappointment. Instead of asking "what things do I want" questions, ask what would give me the "feelings" that I want to experience. Feelings such as, a sense of achievement, peace of mind, happiness, contentment, excitement……….etc. If you determine the feelings first, then the "things" will have more reason and sense. Therefore, you will be more likely to obtain them. Goal setting is a very private thing. It's totally up to you to decide what it is that would motivate you to achieve your highest desire. It's not a race to see who comes first, it's not a fight to the finish, and it definitely should not be a struggle! Hard work, yes, hard lessons to learn, yes, maybe even some difficult experiences to endure. But if you know why you want something along with the reason for wanting it, you are already halfway to achieving it. So in summary: . Make sure you know what you want along with the reasons for
wanting it. If you journey to your success with the right motivation and understanding then you will be encouraging others to travel with you. However if you want "success" for successes sake, then expect to travel alone.
Malcolm Harvey - Publisher 'The SuccessTrain'.
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