Five Strategies for Achieving Anything

Are you one of those people who secretly know they're not living up to their fullest potential? Oh, sure, you're living a perfectly acceptable life. But deep down, you recognize you are capable of so much more. Why do some people achieve greatness while most settle for mediocrity? Most importantly, how can you become one of the luminaries? By focusing on five specific aspects of success, you can achieve anything you want in life.

1. Focus on Abundance

First and foremost, adopt a mindset of abundance. Our society tends to focus on competition and scarcity, the idea that your neighbor's success diminishes your chances. Think of the adage of crabs in a bucket. In theory, the crabs could all escape, one by one, simply by climbing out of the bucket. But what actually happens is that as soon as the first crab begins its escape, the others scramble to grab it and pull it back down, thereby sealing their collective fate. Don't be a crab in a bucket. Open your mind and spirit to the reality that the universe is boundless; in fact, goodness multiples. Be generous to yourself and others by celebrating victories big and small.

2. Accept Failure as Well as Success

One of the basic tenets of success is perseverance. As the old saying goes, it's not how many times you fall that matters but how many times you get back up. Successful people simply keep trying. Failure is frustrating, of course, but you should put it in perspective. As long as you learn from your mistakes and keep striving for your dream, you will achieve it.

Along with recognizing that failures are inevitable and temporary, be sure to celebrate your successes. Many people have a fierce inner critic that berates them for their weaknesses and fails to acknowledge their strengths. When you do something well, congratulate yourself! It's not selfish or vain to treat yourself with kindness; in fact, it's healthy and empowering.

3. Get Clarity on Vision and Goals

To attain your dream, you need to be laser-focused on what it is. Develop a clear vision of exactly what you want to achieve. Whatever it is, you must transform the abstract into the concrete. For example, if your goal is to travel the world, be specific. Instead of saying, "I want to travel more," try something like, "I will travel to Italy and Switzerland within the next two years."

Once your big vision is clear in your mind, develop a robust goal-setting plan. Work backward from your ultimate target by defining the smaller goals that will lead you to success. Think through the specific steps you will need to take, laying them out logically with clear timeframes. For the travel example above, some of the mini-goals might be saving enough money, planning the itinerary, and purchasing the tickets.

4. Learn From Others

Don't be afraid to ask for help. You don't know what you don't know, but someone out there probably does. Along with conducting research online, reach out to people who have achieved what you're aiming for. You may be able to network with folks who can provide valuable insights and tips. Remember, if you want to accomplish something big, you have to step outside your everyday routine.

5. Feed the Passion

Along the path to your big goal, you may find yourself losing steam and even wanting to give up. It's important to acknowledge the moments of boredom or frustration without allowing them to derail you. Find ways to reignite the passion that led to your big vision. Share your dream with friends and family; their enthusiasm will likely energize you. Write down a list of the reasons why you want to achieve your goal, and imagine how you'll feel when you're successful. Draw or paint an artistic representation of what you're striving for, or hang motivational notes on your bathroom mirror and computer screen.

You know you are capable of greatness. Make your dream a reality by adopting strategies that bring clarity and order to your efforts. You truly can achieve anything.