Do you ever look at "the lucky ones" in your sphere and ask, "How did they become so successful?"
At first, it's tempting to slip into envy. But that energy doesn't really serve you.
What I've learned about envy is that it's a signal. Think of envy as a flashing sign that can lead you to one of your core desires.
Rather than be resentful, why not try to study the other person's success to figure out how to find success of your own?
Trust me when I say, opportunities are abundant in this world. You simply have to do a little legwork to find them.
In other words, you can't sit back with envy and wait for opportunities to land on your doorstep. You must actively seek them out.
The truth is, the biggest difference between successful people and others is one simple thing: Successful people take action!
Some people love waiting. They wait and wait for things to change. They wait for opportunities; they wait for approval; they wait until they feel ready; they wait for signs.
Success will never magically appear to people who wait around.
- Do the work.
- Take the risks.
- Try new things.
- Fail and try again.
- Ask for support.
- Decide to try again tomorrow.
The hardest step is always the first one. Fear of failing is something all of us must contend with. However, successful people don't allow the fear to become an excuse. They feel the fear and proceed in spite of it.
Why? Because "failing" is how you earn your stripes on your way to success.
As an executive coach, I encourage my clients to live a leadership lifestyle. That means living proactively as a leader 24/7, 365 days a year in all areas of your life.
Here is my suggestion to you: Embrace "falling forward."
I came up with the concept of falling forward after listening to Paul Kay, Head of Corporate Security and Emergency Management Services at MillerCoors, speak at the National Association of Asian American Professionals National Conference a few years ago. He talked about lessons he gleaned from John C Maxwell's book "Failing Forward."
I don't like the word "failure" because of its negative connotation. I'm choosing to use the words "falling forward" instead.
Without a doubt, everyone will experience setbacks, disappointments and low points. No one is perfect; life and work rarely unfold as planned.
The secret is to take action anyway. Stand up; try again. Reconsider, then redo.
If you don't take action, you will gain nothing. No learning. No results. No success.
That is what failure looks like.
But, if you DO take action, even if things don't go as planned, you will learn and grow from the experience.
Success comes to those who live a leadership lifestyle by taking action and falling forward.
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Nozomi Morgan, MBA, is a certified Executive Coach and the Founder and President of Michiki Morgan Worldwide LLC. Addition to coaching, she speaks and trains on leadership, career, professional development and cross-cultural business communication.
Visit www.nozomimorgan.com to learn more about Nozomi . There, you can download the free Leadership Discovery Tool. Follow Nozomi on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Google+.