What if THIS were the real secret to achieving success?
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How often do you think about becoming successful?
For me, the answer to that question is all the time.
Success is always on my mind. When I think about certain projects, I’m thinking about how to be successful. When I sit down for strategy sessions, I’m thinking about how to be successful. When I’m describing–or pitching–the vision for my business, I’m thinking about being successful.
Do you do the same?
There can be pressure on us to be successful. Our family puts it on us, our work puts it on us. We put it on ourselves.
But should we?
But “should we” what?
I was up late one night working with a buddy.
He’s a very deep thinker, and he tends to go on the types of philosophical rants that can completely shift my perspective on topics. He’s also a hell of a business man. In short, he’s the type of person I enjoy listening to.
Last night, we took a quick break away from business to talk about success.
“I’m only ten years older than you,” he started. “But here’s what I know. You’re 23, and you don’t know what you really want. You might think you know, though! I mean, I thought I did too when I was your age. But man, keep your eyes open. You’re going to see the world–and success–so differently within the next 5 years.”
That made me think about how I think about success.
Should I be putting so much pressure on myself to succeed? Should I even be thinking about success at all?
Like a ton of bricks, it hit me.
The next morning was a bit foggy.
My brain and body were tired from the night before. Also, I wasn’t quite sure about how to feel about success. I’ve been driven my entire life to succeed. I love competition, I love strategy, and I love execution. I’ve got a vision of what I want my life to look like, and I’ve accepted that we simply can’t predict the exact steps to getting there.
I sat down at my desk, and I opened my laptop.
That’s when I saw a piece titled Want to be successful? Quit overthinking.
That was exactly what I needed to see. I didn’t even have to read the article because the message was so clear! But I read it anyways. I’m glad I did.
The author, Steve Tobak, started with a famous excerpt from the Bible:
The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. — Ecclesiastes 1:9
There are so many resources that try to teach us how to become successful. There are books, podcasts, seminars, retreats, courses, programs, thought leaders, and–of course–articles like mine.
Many are worth their weight in gold. Good information is great, and we all need to start somewhere.
But we need to stop somewhere, too.
Are you overthinking it, too?
With all of the “how-to’s” out there, it’s easy to believe that someone has the secret to success.
It’s easy to think we don’t know enough, and that someone else does. So we work very hard. We hustle. And we hope to be successful.
“All the knowledge and achievements in the world don’t add up to beans if you can’t enjoy or at least experience the precious moments that you’re here. The day I decided to stop searching for answers and simply experience life was…when the answers came. When I quit overthinking and focused simply on doing and being.” — Steve Tobak
I buy what Tobak is selling here.
Instead overthinking this thing, maybe I need to relax. Work hard, of course, but chill out. Experience the precious moments I’m here.
Maybe success is pretty simple after all?
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Photo: Flickr/Brian Snelson