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You will often find in life that there are broadly speaking 2 different types of people; those that typically enjoy their 9-5 jobs, with the benefit of taking an annual holiday somewhere nice, but never really push their potential to the full limit, and then those that will stop at nothing to succeed and what they regard as being successful, and for them, everything is all about “making it” in life. My observation is that you have to follow certain essential tips to succeed in life.

Those I know and have worked with that want to succeed have a certain picture/vision in their head of what that success looks like. They know what they want, they just need to get there. There is only one problem, and it’s a big one, not everyone understands what it truly takes to get there.

I have listed below what I believe are some of the essential tips to succeed in life.

1. Sacrifice

Those that genuinely want to make it in life, will stay in when everyone else is out, they get up whilst everyone is sleeping. They simply find a time and make sacrifices to succeed. This doesn’t mean that you can never go out, or that you have to get up at 5 am every day, however, whilst you’re upskilling, upgrading and working on yourself you will have to.

You simply cannot have a million-dollar dream based on a minimum wage work ethic – it’s impossible.   I have always believed that the best way to be successful is to do more of the parts of the job that everyone else hates or finds difficult, as that then gives me an advantage.

2. Work Smart

Many of us believe that by working 24 hours a day and running ourselves into the ground we will succeed no matter what. It’s not true! It’s all about working smart.

Don’t get me wrong, those of you that know me, know that I never and I mean never switch off, however, it’s simply because I LOVE what I do, and it’s the passion that drives me to do that. With that said, I have increasingly become a strong believer of working smart and in that state of peak performance.

Also, ensure you have a variation of “work”, it’s not at all about being sat at a desk. In a day I can host meetings, I can do training sessions, I can work on my self-development, etc. This helps mix my day up and I never feel that I have been doing the same thing for 12 hours straight.

Don’t ever let the candle burn at both ends.  I’ve been guilty of this and in hindsight, it’s not as effective as I perhaps once thought.  I heard someone say the other day as they were taking their daughter to bed “I work hard in the day so I get to enjoy the most important thing at the end of the day”, wise words!

3. Physical Training

I am at my peak performance after a workout. It gets your brain going, it pumps energy through your body and brain.

You often find after a workout, or even a morning or evening stroll that you are more focused and creative. If you feel that you are lacking creativity, take a break and go for a walk.   You often just need to break the pattern.

Going to the gym is also good for maintaining a routine whereby it ensures you take a complete break from anything work-related.

4. Balance

Balance is vital. Whether you are at the beginning of your journey or mid-way through, it is great to be disciplined. However, it is also great to have that bit of balance and reward yourself for committing to your hard work, or your routine.

Whatever it is that gives you satisfaction, make time for it. Enjoy things in life, and you will find that you have a more positive view on why you do what you do.

Creating time for pleasure will further strengthen the brain and refresh with creativity. You’ll be much more productive and enthusiastic after taking time out.

5. Positive People

Surround yourself with positive, creative and hard-working people. You have to have people around you that support what you do and push you to achieve greatness.

It is much harder to achieve success if you are doing it alone.

Ensure your family have bought into your journey so that they can support, and most importantly encourage you along the way. The same goes for your friends and networking circles – positive people, make positive relationships!

Don’t forget that having people on the journey with you holds you accountable and therefore you are less likely to give up!

6. Consistency is Key

You have to be consistent in many ways in order to succeed. For example, just because you go to the gym for a week, does not mean you are fit for life. You have to keep pushing and doing what you are doing.

Choose a discipline and stay consistent in developing your proficiency. Get up every day, show up every day, and before you know it, it becomes a habit that you don’t even have to think about anymore.

Be consistent in delivering your goals, your approach and your plan.

7. Your belief system

You have to believe in your dreams, in your plan and most importantly in your abilities.

If you pick a dream that you would like to achieve, forget about it now because you won’t achieve it. Your dream has to be your purpose.

You will have gathered by now, that it takes hard work, commitment, and discipline to achieve a goal, so ensure when you are picking your dream that it is worth all of the pain. Otherwise, you will just give up when things get tough.

Do you believe that these essential tips to succeed in life will give you the ability to achieve this dream? Of course, you do, we all do!

We all have the same resources, we all have the same accessibility, so what excuse do any of us have to not accomplish what we want in life? The answer to that is… we don’t, we have zero excuses.

So, believe in yourself and in your dreams and let the passion drive your performance.

Believe in you.  You are extraordinary.  Yes, you are!

About Mike Coady

Mike Coady is an expat expert based in Dubai and is on hand to help with all of the above and more.

Mike is an award-winning money coach and industry leader in the financial sector.

Qualified to UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) standards, a member of the Chartered Insurance Institute, a Fellow of the Institute of Sales Management (FISM), a Fellow of the Institute of Directors (FIoD), and featured as a highly qualified Financial Adviser in Which Financial Adviser.

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Blog published by Mike Coady.