Daily hundreds of books are sold and thousands of courses taken, just to educate ourselves to be the next Elon Musk or Mark Zuckerberg. We work on ourselves daily, watch Ted talks of people we want to be like, and still wonder: What is the difference between him and me?
Why do some people earn millions and live their life fulfilling their goals – doing incredible things, while others are stuck in their job and want nothing more than change?
The answer is simple: We have different mindsets.
The first example is based on money but I do want to highlight that being successful depends on your own definition and goals and does not necessarily require a huge amount of money or money at all.
One of the clearest examples is the one given in the book “Rich Dad Poor Dad”. Mr. Kiyosaki explained how different his educated dad thinks compared to his rich dad and named the importance of
Managing your money correctly:
Now let me ask a question: What seems more familiar? Do you manage money according to income and expenses or according to assets and liabilities? I definitely worked more with how much income I had and how much money I was able to spend. Before reading the book I didn’t even think about assets or liabilities in my private life, even though I want to become an accountant in the future.
In the famous book, Mr. Kiyosaki explains that most people concentrate on increasing liabilities as people take credits for houses or their student loans. The problem is that liabilities don’t make you rich, assets do. Assets bring money in, liabilities take money out of the pocket.
That’s why rich people concentrate more on saving money and investing in assets, such as real estate, stocks and bonds, and so on.
I definitely recommend you to read the book yourself. It has quite a few eye-openers in there plus a very motivational story of two best friends.
But let’s move on to the next one:
Don't care about other people's opinion!
Do you care? Many successful people stated that you should not care what people say or think about you. One example is Gary Vaynerchuk, who posted several videos on his youtube channel about how to not care about others’ opinions.
Another one is by Tony Robbins who instead mentioned: “I think you do care – but don’t let it stop you”. In general, both men are right: Other people’s opinions should not stop you from being you or from doing what you love to do.
This also includes those social norms and rules we set even though they aren’t actually true. Why would you need to have a house to be a happy family or drive an expensive car to be successful? Don’t you want to obtain those things to just look good to other people?
If you want to build a house because it makes you happy: go for it! But don’t let others’ opinions and views change you or your goals.
And if we are scared of what people think about us- we also have to talk about this fear for failing.
David Goggins mentioned in one of his interviews that if we care about what other people say, we also will be afraid to fail – and we also will be afraid to try.
And I have seen this with a lot of people in my surrounding who dream about doing their own thing but in the end they won’t. They are too afraid of what their coworkers think, or their friends, or even random people on the streets. And they never started in the first place because their own thoughts, the fear of being judged, kept them from taking action.
Why would you let other people have such an influence on your life?
So how is it different when you don’t care about others’ words? Mr. Goggins described the effect of not caring with being less insecure, with having control over your own mind. And if we look at this logically it is also clear that you get more opportunities when you have the confidence to take them. So don’t listen to other people and take your life in your own hands.
Continuously improving yourself:
Working on yourself is also a mindset that every successful person has. Starting from working out and having a healthy diet – up to staying constantly up to date to new information, readings, and changes in the niches they operate in or have interest in.
Warren Buffett once said:” The greatest investment you can make is investing in yourself”.What do you think he means by his words?
If you are a runner, push yourself daily to run faster or further. If you are a writer, work hard to write more words than yesterday. Expand your knowledge if you work in social media, law, as a doctor, or literally in any field possible. Knowledge makes you stronger.
Oprah Winfrey said: “That’s the number one thing you have to do, is to work on yourself and to fill yourself up, and keep your cup full.”(inc.com)
Be grateful but not satisfied
Now, this is also something people with an average income differ compared to people who are successful.
No matter at which point successful people are, they always are happy and grateful for what they have. But they stay hungry to achieve more. Just like Bruce Lee’s famous quote “Be happy, but never satisfied”. Successful people don’t base their happiness on their progress or the amount of money they have. Successful people are happy because they focus on the people they love and the things they enjoy. With or without money.
“I know I’m fortunate to live an extraordinary life, and that most people would assume my business success, and the wealth that comes with it has brought me happiness. But they haven’t; in fact, it’s the reverse. I am successful, wealthy, and connected because I am happy.” -Richard Branson
You are working a regular job and are happy? You are also unsatisfied with where you are right now? Then maybe the next point gives clearance why you still aren’t where you want to be:
Successful people put all effort in:
There is no slacking, procrastinating, or wasting time. Every moment is used to build on their dreams, goals, and ideas.
Could you imagine that Bill Gates worked 80 to 120h per week during his twenties and early thirties? 80-120h without taking days off and always being first and last in the office.
The same goes for Elon Musk who also works 80 to 120h per week to cover both Tesla and SpaceX.
Mark Zuckerberg on the other hand “only” works 50h to 60h a week.
Now, how many hours do you put into your goals every week? Working extra after finishing your regular job might seem exhausting, but in the end it is always rewarding to work on your goals or improve yourself. And when you really think you can no more, just think about how Bill Gates survived his 120 hour-weeks and how your life would change once you get there.
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Love from Germany,
Carina and Julia
