Simon Wilby

Things Successful People ALWAYS DO!

Accomplishments are based on actions, not on thoughts--yet the thought is always father to the deed. Achievement starts with an idea, a perspective, a point of view, or even just an attitude. Here are some of the things remarkable people think every day, and how those thoughts spur them to take the actions that lead to success.

1. Volunteer to always win Doing more creates an opportunity to learn, to impress, to gain skills, to build new relationships. Success is based on action, so the more you volunteer, the more you get to act, and the more opportunities you create. Raise your hand. Step forward. Step up. You'll be glad you did.

2. Look at other’s actions deeper.. It's easy to view the actions of others solely through the lens of how that behavior impacts us, especially if those actions impact us negatively. Most people aren't out to get you. Fail to look deeper and you miss an opportunity to make a bad situation better -- for everyone.

3. Overcome your fear Yet nothing ever turns out to be as hard or as scary as you think. Plus it's incredibly exciting to overcome a fear. You get that, "I can't believe I just did that!" Try something scary: physically, mentally, or emotionally. Trust yourself to figure out how to overcome any problems that arise. You will.

4. Pick one thing other people won’t do Whatever it is, do it. Instantly you'll be a little different from the rest of the pack. Then keep going. Every day, think of one thing to do that no one else is willing to do. After a week you'll be uncommon. After a month you'll be special. After a year you'll be incredible, and you definitely won't be like anyone else.

5. Take action now You have nothing until you actually do something. Every day we let hesitation and uncertainty stop us from acting on our ideas. Pick one plan, one goal, or one idea. And get started. Just take one small step. The first step is by far the hardest. Every successive step will be a lot easier.

6. Never speak just to please yourself Truly confident people don't feel the need to talk -- at all. I still sometimes realize I'm talking not because the other person is interested in what I have to say but because I'm interested in what I have to say. Never speak just to please yourself; when you do you end up pleasing no one.

7. Ask people for help Admitting we need isn't a sign of weakness; it's a sign of self-confidence and strength. Besides, asking another person for help instantly recognizes their skills and values and conveys your respect and admiration. And while that's reason enough to ask someone for advice, for an opinion, or for a helping hand, you also get the help you really need.

8. Offer your help to others So offer, but don't just say, "Is there anything I can help you with?" Be specific. Say, "I've got a few minutes, can I help you finish (that)?" Offer in a way that feels collaborative, not patronizing or gratuitous. Then you take a big step towards creating a genuine connection them.

9. Live life your way If you really want to start a business but worry that people might say you're crazy, do it anyway. Pick one thing you haven't tried because you're concerned about what other people think or say, and just go do it. It's your life. Live it your way.

10. “If it is to be, it’s up to me” No matter what our role or what we've accomplished, we're never too good to roll up our sleeves, get dirty, and do a little grunt work. No job is ever too menial, no task too unskilled or boring. In a world of relentless delegation, sometimes, "If it is to be, it's up to me," is still the best attitude to take.

11. Create perceived insults I'm ashamed to admit it, but one of the best ways to motivate me is to insult me... Justified is not the point; fueling my motivation to do whatever it takes to prove that person wrong and, more importantly, achieve what I want to achieve is all that matters. Call it creating perceived insults... but it works for me, and it also works for you.

12. Work, Finish, Let Go, Work Harder Work hard, do great work, and let it go. Your customers will tell you what needs to be improved, and that means you'll get to make improvements that actually matter. You can't accomplish anything until you let go. Do your best, let go - and then trust that you'll work hard to overcome any shortcomings.

13. Find your role model of success Pick someone who has accomplished what you would like to accomplish and follow that path. Confident people are able to recognize excellence in others, because it does take self-confidence to admit someone else is smarter, better, faster, etc. than we are. Don't feel the need to reinvent perfectly good wheels.

14. Do what others haven’t done yet Most successful people don't succeed simply because they're smarter, more talented, or genetically gifted. Usually the one thing that makes them different from us is the fact they have done what we haven't done yet.

15. Not expect to be perfect, but better Successful people don't expect to be perfect, but they do think they can always be better. Think about your day. Think about what went well. Then think about what didn't go as well as it could have. Take responsibility. And promise yourself that tomorrow, you will do a lot better.

16. Learn to say “YES” Sitting tight also means that tomorrow will be just like today. Say yes to something different. Say yes to something scary. Say yes to the opportunity you're most afraid of. When you say yes, you're really saying, "I trust myself." Trust yourself.

17. Dare to say “NO” Sometimes you really need to be able to focus on what is important to you. Say no at least once every day, the harder it is to say the better. When your heart is in the right place, what you accomplish by spending more time on your goals will eventually benefit other people, too.

18. Stay true to yourself Maintaining your integrity is vital, but there's a big difference between staying true to yourself and "just being me." Recognize the things you do or say with the sole purpose of showing you're an individual - and then vow to do those things on your own time (if at all.) What you "are" is defined by what you do. Stand out through what you do for others.

19. Put more effort & persistence You may not be as experienced, as well funded, as well connected, as talented... but you can always out think, out hustle, and out work everyone else. When everything else seems against you, effort and persistence can always be your competitive advantages -- and maybe the only ones you truly need.

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. - John Quincy Adams

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