“I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have,” said former US president Thomas Jefferson. His words are eternally relevant as the path to success has never been a passive one and despite the commitment and dedication required, success is a goal that is worth striving for – whether it relates to building a business, or working on yourself. As a life and business coach, part of my role is supporting my clients on their journey to success. Here are some of my key pointers for those eager to secure success, in whatever shape or form that may be.

  1. Create your own definition of success

    Success means something different to everyone, and no one definition is more superior than the other. It all depends on your circumstances – what your goals are and what makes you happy. For me, writer Maya Angelou’s definition of success rings true: “Success is liking who you are, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.”

  2. Find your “why”

    Your “why” is the foundation of everything that you do. It is where your passion lies; the thing that ignites the spark within and drives you to keep going when the going gets tough. If your “why” is strong, you will have the grit to keep pushing until you achieve your goal.

  3. Your mindset is key

    Psychology students learn about the importance of having an “internal locus of control” – a concept developed by Julian B Rotter in 1954 that focuses on the degree to which people believe that they, as opposed to external forces, have control over the outcome of events in their lives. There are always going to be external circumstances that you can’t control. But I would like to encourage you to ask yourself, “What’s in my control?” and focus on that.

  4. There is no such thing as an overnight success

    It’s important to remember that life is not a sprint, but a marathon. And building a strong foundation over many years is the key to building lasting success and happiness. Anything that’s worth it takes a lot of time to build. So be patient with yourself!

  5. Writing down your goals consistently

    It’s important to be specific about your goals and schedule how, when and where you’re going to make them happen. And then create daily tasks in your calendar to get them done. Believe it or not, most people don’t take this simple step and then wonder why they struggle to achieve their goals.

  6. Be held accountable for your goals

    You have a 65% chance of completing a goal if you commit to someone, according to the American Society of Training and Development. And furthermore, “If you have a specific accountability appointment with another person, it can increase your chance of success by up to 95%.”I would recommend creating or joining a Whatsapp group so that you can send updates to your friends or mentors on a regular basis about your progress.

  7. Let go of what people think of you

    No matter what you do, somebody is always going to have something to say about you. Don’t be a people pleaser, because you will never be able to please everyone.

  8. Let go of perfection and lean into progress

    Everything doesn’t have to be perfect before you start. Starting is the most important step.

  9. Mental health is wealth

    Take time out for yourself to reflect. Write down all the things that you have accomplished, what you are grateful for, things that might be worrying you and at least three action steps you can take to stop those worries. This will help clarify your thoughts and empower you. Taking time out is truly a game changer and has a positive ripple effect on the rest of your life.


Yumna Aysen is a life coach. For more information, visit: Oh Yes It’s Yumi


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