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June 20, 2004 As a writer, I spend a lot of time inside my head, not only developing stories but also examining life. I’ve attended numerous conferences, workshops, and achievement ceremonies, and listened to many highly successful people recount their personal journeys. While analyzing their struggles and achievements, I began to notice several attributes they seemed to have in common. May we learn from the greats who have gone before us. Secret #1: Know Your Own Definition of Success. If you could ask for anything, what would it be? Too often, we define success as great financial wealth, and while it’s okay to desire the benefits of money, remember that true success means you are getting the needs of your heart and soul met. This truth is confirmed when one hears an extremely rich and powerful elderly man say, “If I had it do over again, I’d be a mechanic.” Secret #2: Find Your Authentic Self. Eventually, each human questions his purpose in life. There is something that you alone can do remarkably well, something that brings you complete bliss. Find it. Do it full time, do it part time, but do it regularly! This doesn’t mean you have to be totally unique in your approach. Clearly I’m not the only writer on the planet, but reviewers proclaim how real my characters seem, how they stay with them after the book is closed. No one else can tell my stories exactly the way I tell them, just as no one else can fulfill your purpose. Secret #3: Keep Your Power. Have you ever noticed how centered successful people seem to be? Most don’t let any insult or letdown elicit a knee-jerk reaction. For years, I believed these folks had superior genetic compositions. After all, typical humans could be provoked. Then, I discovered that I don’t ever have to give my power away. These days, I attach emotional weight to very few things. I choose silence over useless reaction. I don’t try to be understood or change that which I cannot. Bad moments will escalate and ruin your whole day, your whole week, or your whole life if you let them. To whom do you give your power? Secret #4: Seek Wisdom. Money, power, and abundance won’t last unless wisdom comes first. Why do want fame or fortune? What would you do with it? True success means that once you succeed, you help others do the same. Secret #5: Believe In Yourself. Are you willing to remind yourself daily that you can and will accomplish your goals regardless of what others say? Sometimes discouraging remarks are the result of jealously or general bitterness toward life. If possible, surround yourself with people who make you feel worthwhile, but don’t rely on pats on the back to motivate you. Remember, when Thomas Edison was young, his teacher told him he was too stupid to learn anything. Secret #6: Demonstrate A Positive Attitude. There is tremendous power in thinking–both negative and positive. Research shows that a persistent gloomy attitude can actually make you physically ill. Research also shows that a persistent upbeat attitude generates good fortune. In other words, what you think, you become. If you’re not getting the results you want out of life, change your attitude, which will in turn change everything. Secret #7: Appreciate Your Mistakes. Motivational speaker Keith Harrell says, “Turn your setbacks into setups.” Whenever you fail, use it. Reorganize and move to a higher level. You can’t change the past, but you can learn from it to build a better future. There is always a lesson in every mistake. Keep the seven factors outlined in this article in mind as you chase your dreams. I sincerely hope you catch them. ------------ About the author: Remona Winnie grew up in Virginia. She lives in Roanoke Valley with her husband and two daughters. Her first novel, Veil of Secrecy, received the grand prize in a national literary contest held by the Arizona Authors Association. As recently seen in The New York Times: This award winning first novel transports Faith Martin, a young waitress mistakenly identified as a billionaire’s missing daughter, from the lunch counter and coffee pots to a world she barely knew existed, where dark family secrets are covered by social graces. Veil of Secrecy is available in trade paperback at amazon.com or through any major online bookseller. Nora Roberts fans are sure to enjoy this romantic mystery. A literary agency is currently representing Winnie’s second novel, The Silver Cord. She is now at work on her third novel. Email: e4winnie@aol.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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