Over the years, I've come up with a list of tips for success. They may seem a little crude but if you really think about it, you may agree that they can help you be successful in everything that you do. Here's my list:
1. Don't suck
Seriously, the best advice I've ever received from anyone. It sounds crude and possibly harsh. But think about it; if you don't suck in any given situation you aren't going to set yourself up for failure. What it means is giving your best effort and doing everything the right way things tend to work out.
2. Fake it 'til you make it
The second best advice I ever got was to fake it till you make it. If you pretend to be successful eventually you will be. It sounds kind of backwards but trust me it works. To quote the great Kurt Vonnegut, “We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.” Fake that confidence even if you don't feel it pretend to be confident. You can go as far as you think you can. You believe in yourself, believe in yourself to be successful and you will.
3. Don't cry over spilled milk
It's a common expression, I'm sure everyone's mother or more likely grandmother has said this to them at some point. Basically, what it means is don't worry or dwell on the little things. Stress is a choice. Most people don't realize that and they let stress consume them. Don't sweat the little things. Something doesn't go your way? So what? You adapt and move on. Don't let little things bug you. There are always bigger things to worry and stress over but little things aren't and shouldn't be on that list. Your anxiety and stress can be controlled. Trust me.
4. Work hard, play hard
When I was in middle school, my football coach told me before I went into high school "Work your rear off and good things will happen to you." Coach Jensen wasn't wrong. Now did things go the way I wanted them to? Absolutely not. But I found that when you work hard in something, people notice and give you opportunities to be successful. But you can't just work work work; life isn't a Rihanna song. You need to let loose. Have some fun. Take chances, get messy, make mistakes (yes I quoted "Magic School Bus"). Just don't have too much fun. Don't get yourself into trouble (hard to be successful in jail or dead sorry for the morbid reality check). Life isn't about killing yourself over a job it's about the moments and the people you share it with. and I guarantee that most of the memories you remember were fun or make you laugh now or the times you took a risk as opposed to playing it safe.
5. Believe in yourself
Simple but really effective. If you don't believe in yourself, who will? People will always be there to bring you down. People will always tell you that you can't do something. It's your job to disregard them and believe that you can do it. This goes along with the faking it till you make it. You gotta believe that you will be successful and never give up. Never count yourself out.
6. Don't be a b****
Complaining doesn't solve anything. (I would be a liar if I told you I haven't complained recently.) So, try your best to make the best of the situation. Adapt and make do. Secondly don't be a jerk to people. In the real world just because you're having a bad day doesn't mean you need to take it out on the rest of the world. Be kind, always be kind. You don't know what someone is dealing with. Don't act like an entitled jerk. Nobody likes that. Just treat people well and don't complain. And again, adapt and move on.
7. Know your flaws and make them strengths.
We are all human. We are going to make mistakes (especially if you take my advice). But at the end of the day, to quote my football coach in college, "You're either getting better or you're getting worse." There is no such thing as staying the same. So why would you want to get worse? You should always be learning and always be looking to better yourself. Who cares about other people don't compare yourself to others. Always do you. Know your flaws and do what you can to make them an asset to what you bring to the table.
