Identifying Victim Mentality: Why Some People Choose to Be Victims
“This above all, to refuse to be a victim.” ~Margaret Atwood (more…)
Exposed! 8 Lies the World Wants You to Believe About Success
“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” ~Albert Schweitzer
That Schweitzer quote pretty much sums up my feelings about success. And most likely, you already have many of your own beliefs and notions about success.
But would you believe me if I told you that some of them are wrong?
And it turns out that inaccurate beliefs can lead to taking inappropriate actions or prevent you from taking any action at all!
It’s not the things you don’t know that hurt you. It’s the things you believe are true that aren’t! If your ideas about success are faulty, success is much more elusive.
7 Lies the World Tells You About Success
There are many common misconceptions regarding success – blatant lies the world expects you to believe.
Lie #1. There is only one type of person who becomes successful.
One of the biggest lies the tells us about success is that successful people have a certain type of personality.
Let’s examine that theory, shall we?
Bill Gates is considered introverted, but not shy. Barack Obama is often described as very aloof. Of course, there many successful extroverts as well. Whatever personality type you have, you can rest assured that it’s more than enough to reach a high level of success.
Lie #2. Money is the root of all evil, and it will turn you into an evil person.
Lie #2? Money changes a person. Money has never changed anyone. Money only provides the opportunity to act on your impulses. With money, all the things you daydream about buying and doing are finally possible. Money only shines a light on the truth.
One must be intelligent to be successful. Actually, the opposite may be true. While there are many examples of brilliant people attaining high levels of success, there are even more examples of those with ordinary intellect being just as successful.
Consistency and determination are far more important than intelligence when it comes to success.
Lie #3. Success means doing something that’s never been done before.
Though you might not believe it, the truth is that it’s not really necessary to have an original idea. You don’t have to invent the next Facebook or Microsoft to achieve success. It’s possible to be successful by marginally improving upon the work and ideas of others.
Lie #4. Workhorses are the only ones who succeed.
Just outworking the competition is often enough to guarantee success.
It takes a lot of time to become and stay successful. We all have the same 24 hours each day. The question is, “Are you spending your 24 hours as effectively as possible?”
You know what I always say? Work smarter – not harder.
Focusing on the most relevant tasks each day will decrease the amount of time you must work. Most people avoid the most pertinent tasks, because they aren’t enjoyable.
Lie #5. It’s lonely at the top.
A lot of people say success is lonely. Do you imagine yourself sitting home alone because of becoming successful? Nothing could be further from the truth. It’s true there are fewer successful people than unsuccessful. However, you’ll have far more business and social opportunities because of your success.
Lie #6. You gotta get lucky to be successful.
Luck is an important component of success. It’s true that many successful people have also been extremely lucky at times. However, the only way to be lucky is to give yourself numerous opportunities to be lucky. The more work you do, the better your odds of being lucky occasionally.
Luck is nice, but hardly mandatory. You don’t need it.
Lie #7. You gotta have it handed to you (or accidentally stumbled into it).
Here’s another fun success lie. “The most successful people had an easy time. “
Truth? You’d be shocked by the adversity faced by many of the most successful people to walk the Earth. Many successful people started in the most disadvantageous situations and faced incredible obstacles.
The difference is that most of us would’ve quit 100 times. The successful person kept moving forward.
Lie #8. You need willpower of steel.
It’s important to have a lot of willpower to achieve success, according to the success liars.
In reality, willpower is in short supply unless your life is at stake. Willpower is useful during the early stages of developing new habits. After a habit is formed, willpower isn’t necessary. How much willpower do you need to brush your teeth each day?
How many of these misconceptions did you believe? Have you changed your mind? What do you believe now?
You might also want to read my book, 127 Powerfully Simple Life Makeover Hacks: Easy Ways to Empower Yourself and Improve Your Life in 30 Days or Less. (See that one and most of my other current titles at BooksAngieWrote.com.)
Having an accurate representation of success dramatically increases your odds. Embrace the truth and you can expect to achieve a new level of success in any endeavor.
Hey! Before you go – tell me what you think in the comments.
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Do you really need money to be happy?
“Wealth is the ability to fully experience life.” ~Henry David Thoreau
I’ve been poor in my life. I mean like REALLY poor – so poor I had to get help with paying rent and bills and even buying groceries once or twice.
It was tough, y’all. I’m not going to lie. It was absolute agony and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy, that feeling of “OMFG WHAT IF I CAN’T AFFORD TO STAY ALIVE?” – it really grates on a person’s soul, if you know what I mean.
And I found myself unable to think of anything else more than once – which was absolutely the wrong way to see things and certainly extended my financial misery.
But with hard work and intentionally choosing my path over the years, life has drastically improved. Not only is money less of a sore spot, but in general, I’m much happier.
Is this because I’m not so broke? You might think so. But I propose that because I’m intentionally happier, I’m doing better financially.
But what does having money have to do with anything that matters, anyway? Do you REALLY need money to be happy?
Why It May be Important to You to Have Money
Few topics elicit such a wide range of opinions and emotions as wealth. It seems that we either pursue wealth with reckless abandon or downplay the importance of having money altogether. While money isn’t the only thing that matters, there are few substitutes for those areas of life where money excels.
Ask yourself a few questions about your beliefs and perceptions on money.
- What are your current beliefs regarding money and wealth?
- Do you believe that money is the root of all evil?
- Do you really want to be rich?
- Do you respect those that have “made it” and become wealthy?
- Have your beliefs regarding wealth affected your finances?
How can having money make your life better?
Obviously, having money does have its advantages, and sure, we all know what they are. But just in case you’ve got any doubt, let’s break it down, shall we?
1. Money can help you solve challenges. The fact that other qualities like love, family, friendships, and spirituality are important doesn’t minimize the importance of wealth. Consider the many challenges that money solves quickly and easily.
- Cracked windshield
- Utility bills
- Toothache
- Hunger
- Career change
- Start your own business
- Buy a new home
- Get out of a bad relationship
- Further education
- Ripped pants
- Your child wants to attend an Ivy League school
- A desire to own a motorcycle
2. Money gives you freedom. Imagine that you have enough money that you can quit your job and spend your days doing what truly fulfills you. You can live anywhere you choose and do nearly anything you desire. Money and wealth increase the options available to you. How would you spend each day if you didn’t have to go to work?
3. Money offers you security. Wealth provides security in different forms. It provides financial security against negative financial events, such as unexpected care repairs or medical bills. You can also better secure your home and care for your health. Money provides a safeguard in so many ways.
4. Money means you don’t have to do stuff you don’t want to do. Let’s just pretend you aren’t REALLY thrilled about certain daily responsibilities. If you have plenty of money and you hate cleaning the house, mowing the lawn, shopping, doing your taxes, or even driving, you can hire someone else to do these for you. BOOM!
5. Money helps you help others. When you have more money than necessary to take care of your basic needs, you have the option of applying the excess to enhancing the lives of others. Giving money to charity is one way to accomplish this. You could also provide funds in a more direct manner to those in need, including friends and family. I’ve found that anytime I can help someone else, it always comes back to me in the most beautiful ways. Give it a shot.
6. Money lets you take a well-deserved break. Wealth gives you the option of calling a timeout and realigning yourself. Life can become a series of projects or adventures with a healthy break in-between. The option to literally work hard and play hard exists.
If you want to “break” like a rich person, think BIG! There’s a difference between the typical idea of playing hard and the “playing hard” options available to the wealthy. There’s a difference between partying on the weekends after a long week at the office and spending a month in Hawaii learning to surf.
7. Money gives you status. This goes beyond impressing the neighbors. The wealthy have advantages socially, politically and even legally, to a certain extent. We all know that there are many advantages, considerations and niceties extended to the wealthy that are commonly unavailable to the average person. Why shouldn’t you get your share too?
It’s true that money doesn’t solve all of life’s problems, but it can certainly make everything less difficult – and help you solve many challenges. Plus, having money can offer a wide variety of opportunities that you might not otherwise have.
The freedom that comes with wealth and the opportunity to help others are perhaps the most satisfying advantages, don’t you think?
If any of these advantages are included in your life goals, then being wealthy would make them possible. Seek further education in the mindset and skills that could bring you wealth and work on them each day. Consistent action toward your goals over time yields positive results!
