101 Stay Strong Quotes To Inspire You to Never Give Up

It’s hard to stay strong when you feel like giving up. It feels like your world is crumbling down around you, and there is no option out. The reason why we think like this is because we forget about the big picture. We focus on the minor things and not the major things that are important in our life.

Every day is a struggle if you have a negative mindset, when you are wallowing in pity and misery it is hard to see the good and the true potential that is inside of you. That is why I have decided to gather a collection of some of the worlds top stay strong quotes for you when times get tough.

Quotes are amazing things. They fuel our inspirational fire when our internal light is dim. So why not read them, share them and focus on what really matters in life. Living our life with positivity so that we can continue to improve and achieve what we desire.

Enjoy these 101 Stay Strong Quotes that will Inspire you To Never Give Up on your dreams.

 

Stay Strong Quotes for Inspiration

1. “When we see beyond pain & find ourselves in others we learn to love at the deepest level.” – Jason Garner

2. “Accept what is, let go of what was, and have faith in what will be.” – Sonia Ricotti

3. “Fall seven times, stand up eight.” – Japanese Proverb

4. “If you believe it will work out, you’ll see opportunities. If you believe it won’t, you will see obstacles.” – Wayne Dyer

5. “I am two of the most powerful words; for what you put after them shapes your reality.” – Bevan Lee

6. “No matter how hard the battle gets or no matter how many people DON’T believe in your dream,Never give up!” – Eric Thomas

7. “I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.” – Carl Jung

8. “If someone is strong enough to bring you down, show them you are strong enough to get back up.” – Unknown

9. “I am thankful for all of those who said NO to me. Its because of them I’m doing it myself.” – Albert Einstein

10. “We all have great inner power. The power is self-faith. There’s really an attitude to winning. You have to see yourself winning before you win. And you have to be hungry. You have to want to conquer.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger

11. “Worry is a total waste of time. It doesn’t change anything. All is does it steal your joy and keep you very busy doing nothing.” – Lionel Willard

12. “I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.” – Audrey Hepburn

13. “One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it’s worth watching.” – Gerard Way

14. “Never give up on something that you can’t go a day without thinking about.” – Winston Churchill

15. “Success is what happens after you have survived all your mistakes.” – Anora Lee

16. “The trick is to enjoy life. Don’t wish away your days, waiting for better ones ahead.” – Marjorie Pay Hinckley

17. “Never give up on something you really want. It’s difficult to wait, but more difficult to regret.” – Unknown

18. “Feeling fear is human, but conquering it will make you feel empowered, courageous, and proud.” – Alex Niles

19. “Forgive yourself for not being where you thought you would be by now.” – Terri Cole

20. “Work hard for what you want because it wont come to you without a fight. You have to be strong and courageous and know that you can do anything you put your mind to. If somebody puts you down or criticizes you, just keep on believing in yourself and turn it into something positive.” – Leah LaBelle

21. “When it comes to your dreams, every risk is worth it.” – Joel Brown

22. “Your value doesn’t decrease based on someone’s inability to see your worth.” – Unknown

23. “The harder the struggle, the more glorious the triumph. Self-realization demands very great struggle.” – Swami Sivananda

24. “No matter how hard the past, you can always begin again.” – Buddha

25. “You Were Given This Life Because You Are Strong Enough To Live it.” – Unknown

26. “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” – Winston Churchill

27. “Change the changeable. Accept the unchangeable. And remove yourself from the unacceptable.” – Denis Waitley

28. “The best advice I can give to anyone going through a rough patch is to never be afraid to ask for help.” – Demi Lovato

29. “Be strong, things will get better. It might be stormy now, but rain doesn’t last forever.” – Unknown

30. “Be nice to yourself. It’s hard to be happy when someone is mean to you all the time.” – Christine Arylo

31. “Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.” – Dale Carnegie

32. “The happiest people don’t have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything they have.” – Judith May

33. “Small minds can’t comprehend big spirits. To be great, you have to be willing to be mocked, hated and misunderstood. Stay strong.” – Unknown

34. “How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours.” – Wayne Dyer

35. “What makes you different or weird, that’s your strength.” – Meryl Streep

36. “Every master was once a disaster.” – David T.S Wood

37. “Stay strong, keep them wondering how you’re still smiling.” – Unknown

 

38. “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.” – Winston Churchill

39. “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” – Socrates

40. “Remember that guy that gave up? Well, Neither does anybody else.” – Unknown

41. “When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

42. “Remember: There are years that ask questions, and years that answer.” – Zora Neale Hurston

43. “You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last one.” – Unknown

44. “Stop focusing on how stressed you are and remember how blessed you are. It could be so much worse.” – Alyse Huller

45. “Remind yourself that it’s okay not to be perfect.” – Unknown

46. “No one has the power to shatter your dreams unless you give it to them.” – Maeve Greyson

47. “Dealing with backstabbers there was one thing I learned. They’re only powerful when you got your back turned. Don’t let them get you down.” – Eminem

48. “People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don’t believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can’t find them, make them.” – George Bernard Shaw

49. “The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking places. Don’t stop!” – Unknown

50. “He conquers who endures.” – Persius

51. “Change may not be easy, but it’s possible.” – Lisa Mayne

52. “When someone tells you that you can’t do something, perhaps you should consider that they are only telling you what they can’t do.” – Sheldon Cahoon

53. “Things happen to you to make you realize your true potential, strength, will power, and heart. You’ve got to have faith.” – Dr. Byron Hayes

54. “One small crack does not mean you are broken. It means you were put to the test and you didn’t fall apart.” – Linda Poindexter

55. “Be strong enough to let go, and patient enough to wait for what you deserve.” – Simone Thiel

56. “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” – Albert Einstein

57. “Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is true strength.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger

58. “Don’t let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use.” – Earl Nightingale

59. “Conquer all your fears and you’ll be amazed at how awesome your life can become.” – Joel Brown

60. “Nobody trips over mountains. It is the small pebble that causes you to stumble. Pass all the pebbles in your path and you will find you have crossed the mountain.” – Unknown

61. “Life is not about how fast you run or how high you climb but how well you bounce.” – Vivian Komori

62. “If we are facing in the right direction, all we have to do is keep on walking.” – Jack Kornfield

63. “You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.” – Albert Einstein

64. “Successful people spend 10% of their time focused on the problems and 90% of the rest, focused on the solution.” – Tony Robbins

65. “Just Remember: To be great you have to be willing to be mocked, hated, and misunderstood. Stay strong”. – Rumah Sehat

66. “The man at the top of the mountain didn’t fall there.” – Vince Lombardi

67. “Remember: Every champion was once a contender that refused to give up. – Rocky Balboa

68. “Anyone can give up, it’s the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that’s true strength.” – Unknown

69. “Successful men and women keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.” – Conrad Hilton

 

70. “The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.” – Ernest Hemingway

71. “PUSH stands for, (P)ersistence, (U)ntil, (S)omething, (H)appens!” – Unknown

72. “Surround yourself with the dreamers and the doers, the believers and thinkers, but most of all, surround yourself with those who see the greatness within you.” – Edmund Lee

73. “Some days you’re gonna get it right and some days you;re gonna get it wrong. But no matter what, never stop trying to get it!” – Eddie Harris Jr.

74. “Don’t be afraid to fail, be afraid not to try.” – Unknown

75. “It’s okay to struggle, but it’s never okay to give up on yourself.” – John Zickefoose

76. “When you feel worried/stressed, take a deep breath so that your body feels supported by you.” – Penny Vai

77. “Don’t be discouraged. It’s often the last key in the bunch that opens the lock.” – Unknown

78. “When life is sweet, say thank you & celebrate. And when life is bitter, say thank you & grow.” – Shauna Niequest

79. “You can only grow if you’re willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.” – Brian Tracy

80. “Life goes by fast. Enjoy it…Everyone gets so upset about the wrong things.” – Joan Rivers

81. “If we suppress negative feelings, we do not allow for the authenticity of our human expression.” – Christian Hassler

82. “Open yourself to the possibility that you are not alone, that everyone, at some point feels the same way.” – Jason Garner

83. “The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” – William James

84. “It’s how you view the life inside you that creates the life outside of you. Everyday.” – James Altucher

85. “Be open to change. Nothing in this world is permanent.” – Skylar Liberty

86. “I’m stronger because of the hard times, wiser because of my mistakes, and happier because I have known sadness.” – Allison Vogel

87. “If you find yourself constantly trying to prove your worth to someone, you have already forgotten your value.” – Unknown

88. “Some people come into your life as blessings. Others come into your life as lessons.” – Mother Teresa

89. “Instead of complaining that the rose bush is full of thorns, be happy the thorn bush has roses.” – Proverb

90. “The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

91. “Worry looks around, fear looks back, faith looks up, guilt looks down, but I look forward.” – John Carter

92. “Pain can change you, but that doesn’t mean it has to be a bad change. Take that pain and turn it into wisdom.” – The Dalai Lama

93. “Cry. Forgive. Learn. Move on. Let your tears water the seeds of your future happiness.” – Steve Maraboli

94. “Letting go isn’t the end of the world. It’s the beginning of a new life.” – Unknown

95. “Never assume that you’re stuck with the way things are. Life changes, and so can you.” – Ralph Marston

96. “Running away from your problems is a race you’ll never win. Face them head on, knowing there will be brighter days.” – Unknown

97. “Don’t close the book when bad things happen in your life! Just turn the page and start a new chapter!” – LaToya Jackson

98. “There is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” – A.A. Milne

99. “Make a commitment to your self that today, success is your only options! No matter the obstacles, no matter the sacrifice! you have decided you won’t be denied, you won’t be defeated!” – Eric Thomas

100. “Sometimes the best thing you can do is not think, not wonder and not obsess. Just breathe and have faith that everything will work out for the best.” – Unknown

101. “The world is the great gymnasium where we come to make ourselves strong.” – Swami Vivekananda

 

7 Qualities Of The Highly Successful

What separates the highly successful from those who are “just getting by“?

This is a question that a lot of aspiring entrepreneurs have when they are just starting out. You have read all the books and learned all the skills but your mindset and “know how” may not be quite there yet.

Here is a list of the 7 qualities that the highly successful live by.

 

1. They Are Actors On The Pitch Of Life, Not Spectators

The vast majority of people live in Dreamland where they wish, hope and pray that things will turn around in their favor, the highly successful are those who get up and take action! They never wait for a more favorable condition or time. They simply set out to get things done.

Nolan Bushnell (American engineer and entrepreneur) once said:

“The critical ingredient is getting off your butt and doing something. It’s as simple as that. A lot of people have ideas, but there are few who decide to do something about them now. Not tomorrow. Not next week. But today. The true entrepreneur is a doer, not a dreamer.”

J.K. Rowling worked on her first ever Harry Potter novel when she was a single mother who just lived off welfare. Yet, she didn’t let that deter her. J.K. finished the book and asked publishers all over town to help get the book published. As you would expect, they rejected her and even criticized her harshly because she wasn’t a well-known author yet.

It appeared like nothing was working out for her but she kept at it. She chose to continue and to push through.

In 2014, she became the first ever billionaire author!

 

2. They Love What They Do

A very remarkable story that reveals this is that of Steve Jobs (American entrepreneur, marketer and inventor as well as the co-founder, chairman and CEO of Apple Inc).

In 1976, when he was 21 years old, he and his friend (Steve Wozniak) started Apple Computers from the Jobs’ family garage. Apple went public on Dec 12, 1980 with a value of 1.2 billion dollars on its first day! In the next few years, Apple suffered significant design flaws that resulted in IBM suddenly surpassing Apple in sales. By 1985, Apple forced Jobs to resign from the company he co-founded!

He picked himself up quickly and started a new hardware and software enterprise he called “Next” To cut the long story short, in 1996, Apple purchased “Next” for $429 Million and eventually hired Jobs as the CEO.

Today, Steve Jobs’ is quoted to have said:

“Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith. I’m convinced the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You’ve got to find what you love.”

Yes indeed, you have to discover what you love to do, and be the best at it.

 

3. They Don’t Stop Until They Get There

I remember hearing the story of Colonel Sanders (founder of KFC) sometime ago. He drove all over America and offered his fried chicken recipe for a certain percentage of the sales. He knocked on several doors, slept in his car and carried on walking around in his white suit even though he already got 1,009 refusals! On the 1,010th time, he finally got a “yes”.

Thomas Edison on the other hand, had his teacher say to him that he was “too stupid to learn anything”, and was fired from his first two jobs for being “non-productive”.

As an inventor, he made 1000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb.

When a reporter asked “How did it feel to fail 1000 times?” Edison replied:

“I didn’t fail 1000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1000 steps.”

Joe Girard said:

“The elevator to success is out of order. You’ll have to use the stairs…. One step at a time.”

Simply put, highly successful people have a different understanding of the word “FAIL”.

To them, to fail just means “First Attempt In Learning”. So every time they seemingly fail, they consider that to be that they have only found one more way that it didn’t work and then they move on.

Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor because “he lacked imagination and had no good ideas”.

He went bankrupt several times before he finally built Disneyland. In fact, the proposed park was rejected by the city of Anaheim on grounds that it would only attract riffraff.

Today, the Walt Disney Company has annual revenues of approximately $35 billion!

 

4. They Focus On Serving Others Rather Than Being Served

Highly successful people know that true success is about serving others with great value rather than living a self-centered life. They know that being selfish, stingy and money driven can help make you money at first but it’s not really a good plan for long-term success. They focus on serving other people and helping them even if it means giving up some of their own resources!

In most cases, successful people define their success on the basis of their positive contributions to others rather than how much money they make. Incidentally, it is practically impossible to really make a remarkable
contribution in the lives of others without making money as well. So the undiscerning are quick to assume that the successful became successful by making more money.

However, it is important to note that it is not that the successful have no care for money. It’s just that money isn’t their focus and priority in life.

 

5. They Have Clear Cut Visions

A very common factor among the successful is that they all have clarity and certainty about what they want and don’t want out of life. They set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time-bound) goals in line with their vision. They have identified their core values (what is important to them) and go all out to live in line with them. They know exactly what they want to achieve and then they chart their course towards it.

Aside from having crystal clear short and long-term goals, the successful also determine exactly what they MUST accomplish each day to bring them closer to their already defined goals. They take full advantage of the “Golden Hour” principle which takes the first hour after you wake up in the morning into consideration. It is assumed that what you do mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually during this first hour, sets the tone for the entire day.

 

6. They Keep Improving Themselves And What They Do

Not a single one of the success stories you would hear of out there started out successful. In fact, for many of them, they were laughed at or even scorned as they began to dream, plan and take the necessary action towards the accomplishment of their set goals. Through thick and thin, they just kept on improving themselves over and over again. It was this self-improvement over time that impacted on the quality of what they did and made them the success that they eventually became.

For instance, did you ever read that Michael Jordan and Bob Cousy were each ousted from their high school basketball teams? How does it feel to know that Michael Jordan who later in his life was addressed as the “Best Player Ever” could not be included amongst the 10-best players in a tiny Laney High School in Wilmington? At the time he was simply not good enough or else, he would have been on the team.

Michael, later in his career, went on to say:

“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot … and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. That is why I succeed.”

No matter what you have decided to do, be sure to see that you are consistently adding to your personal value as well as to the quality of what you do. Strive to see that you never do things of the same quality twice!

Steve Jobs once said:

“Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.”

Dare to be different.

 

7. They Understand The Importance Of Discipline

One other quality of highly successful people is that they understand the importance of discipline and self-control. They have come to know that it is not every route that will lead to their desired destination. Hence, they discipline themselves to follow only the route that leads their way. That is why they almost always come across others as mean people!

They constantly work at educating themselves, either formally (academically), informally (watching, listening, asking, and reading) or experientially (doing, trying)… or all three.

This also translates into their ability to maintain their focus on one thing rather than everything. Whereas the ordinary or general public would have long lost focus and concentration on what really matters.

Through discipline, highly successful people know how to pay attention on the one thing that really matters – their goals!

Living and Breathing Your Passion (Inspirational Video)

Here is a great video by The Journey of Purpose which contains very inspiring messages by Randy Pausch, Steve Jobs and Will Smith.

This video is a huge eye opener and big wake up call for those who are just floating through life, not living everyday to their full potential.

It’s important to follow your passion, and these 3 wise men share why this is so.

 

Passion – Inspirational Video

 

6 Things You’ll Never Hear An Ambitious Person Say

Ambition is the path to success. Persistence is the vehicle you arrive in. – Bill Bradley

Ambition is one of those traits many of us don’t have enough of, If at all. You can’t blame the majority of people for not having any either, though it’s not an excuse. Through out our childhood we’re encouraged to get an education, get a job, and “just” get by. We’re encouraged to “just” have enough, do enough, and achieve an average amount. But there’s no ambition in achieving an “average” amount.

Ambition is about thinking enormous. Ambition is about thinking massive, and having an insane amount of drive to push you towards those goals. Any ambition we have as kids gets sucked out of us by the education system, not to mention our parents and those around us who lack ambition.

There are 6 words you’ll never hear an ambitious person say. And If you’re lacking some, you need to adopt these habits and ways of thinking!

 

1. It’s Impossible

Not only does it seem impossible until it’s done, there are countless people who have already done it. Ambitious people know this, and nothing is impossible to them as far as they see it.

And even if an ambitious person doesn’t know somebody’s already done it, they’ll still believe it’s possible anyway.

Look at the internet for example. Do you really believe the internet would exist If the creators thought it was “impossible“? Of course not.

And do you think countless creations would exist if the creators lacked ambition? No way. Nothing is impossible in the eyes of the ambitious!

“It always seems impossible until its done.” – Nelson Mandela

 

2. I can’t do that

An ambitious person has a “can do” attitude at all times. It’s a part of their DNA and a natural habit. Ambitious people believe “I can” no matter how insane, crazy, out of this world, unconventional, or challenging it might be.

A non ambitious person believes “I can’t” so as a result they don’t.

The meaning of ambition is a strong desire to do or achieve something. But you can’t have a strong desire to achieve something If you’re operating on a “can’t” mentality.

 

Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right. ― Henry Ford

 

3. I don’t have what it takes

You’ll never in your life time hear an ambitious person say “I don’t have what it takes“. Such a statement ain’t even a part of their mentality or vocabulary. Their brain doesn’t register or believe it.

Where as a non ambitious person believes they don’t have what it takes to achieve, succeed, or get something done. So they never have the guts, ability and drive to get it done. Period.

 

4. I’m not willing to do whatever it takes

Ambitious people are driven to succeed, achieve and accomplish what must be accomplished. Ambitious people will do whatever it takes to come out on top. and make it happen no matter what. Ambitious people are willing to pay the cost to get there, even If it means facing failure and dozens of setbacks.

Ambitious people are willing to keep pushing and keep moving forward, regardless of how many times they’re knocked down.

I’ll use Mark Cuban as an example. He failed many businesses and had to start over multiple times before he became successful. Ambitious people will do whatever it takes for however long it takes to succeed.

People who lack ambition aren’t willing to do that, so they settle for less.

 

5. Success is an option

Ambitious people don’t see success as an “option”, they see it as a MUST. They see success as a “succeed or die trying” mentality. They don’t see it as just an alternative, an option, or something there’s a “chance” they can have.

Ambitious people see it as a responsibility, a MUST, a commitment and a vow.

Non ambitious people don’t see it this way, so they get too comfortable and too relaxed with what they have.

 

6. I’ll never be successful

What you affirm is what you believe, and what you believe is what you’re destined to have. Ambitious people might have ups and downs like everybody does, but their core beliefs don’t change.

They’ll still believe they can be successful no matter how big the challenges are. And they’ll still believe they have what it takes to be successful no matter how difficult.

Find someone you know who has no ambition whatsoever, and I can guarantee you they don’t believe they’ll ever be successful. Ambitious people are too determined and focus to be thinking like that!

 

Hope you enjoyed this article. If you’ve got ambition, keep that ambition burning because you need it.

The 10 Key Ingredients to Happiness

Ask a dozen individuals what the key to happiness in life is and you will most likely get a dozen different reasons that this is attributed to. Interestingly enough, every one of them have certain habits in common with one another.

These habits are the key components to living a happier life. Ironically, these habits do not have anything to do with being better looking, richer, or smarter than the next person.

 

What makes People Unhappy?

Granted, there are a number of circumstances and situations that are attributed to how unhappy a person may be with their life.

The following is a list of the 7 most destructive habits that unhappy people typically practice on a daily basis:

 

1. Attempting to achieve perfection

Your behavior and your life do not have to be perfect in order for you to be happy, yet this is an all too common misconception that many people share. You will wind up setting unattainable goals and your self-confidence will suffer for it.

 

2. Comparing your life and yourself to others

This is not only one of the most common of the bad habits listed here, it is quite possibly the most destructive. We tend to compare our assets, our relationships, and our social acceptance with others. As a result, you create many negative feelings and thoughts.

 

3. Focusing on life’s negative details

Dwelling on the negative aspects of your life and situation almost guarantees that you will be unhappy. Not only that but you drag down everyone around you in the process.

 

4. Getting stuck in your past or thinking too much about the future

Reliving conflicts, missed opportunities, and painful memories can take a toll on you emotionally and mentally. You can also create nightmarish scenarios by spending too much time in the future and imagining how your health could fail or that your relationship will fall apart.

 

5. Limiting your life by thinking that everyone and everything in the world revolves around you

Thinking that the world revolves around you causes you hold back out of the fear of rejection. It scares you to think what people may say or think about you.

 

6. Living in an world of negativity

What we listen to and watch, what we read, and who we socialize with can have a negative or positive impact on our emotions and our thoughts. If you constantly expose yourself to negativity and let yourself get dragged down by it, it’s going to be extremely difficult for you to ever be happy in your life.

 

7. Overcomplicating your life

Life is complicated enough so why would you want to make it worse? This causes us to create stress and unhappiness while making the world more complex than what it already is. However, developing the right habits can simplify things a make your life easier.

It’s important to note that happiness does not happen overnight. After all, it took years for you to grow unhappy and you can’t just erase that by flipping a switch or taking a magic pill. Just be sure that you set challenging yet realistic goals for yourself.

“It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness.” – Charles Spurgeon

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The 10 Ingredients to Happiness

Everyone’s happiness is attributed to a variety of reasons. However, past research suggests that the following 10 elements contribute to an individual’s happiness and well-being:

 

 

1. Acceptance

Dwelling on our flaws makes it exceedingly difficult to achieve happiness in our lives.

Accepting ourselves and being kind to ourselves increase our enjoyment, resilience, and well-being.

 

2. Appreciation

Once you start noticing the world around you, you will begin to appreciate it that much more. If you’ve ever felt that there has to be more to life, you’d be safe in your assumptions. You just need to stop every now and then so you can take the time to appreciate what’s out there.

 

3. Direction

You have to have goals in order to feel good about the future. That takes direction and motivation. Our goals must be challenging yet realistically achievable. Attempting the impossible creates undue stress. However, choosing ambitious goals gives us direction.

 

4. Emotion

Regularly experiencing positive emotions such as contentment, gratitude, inspiration, and pride helps us to develop our resources.

It helps us focus on the positive aspects in our lives (the glass is half full, not half empty).

 

5. Exercising

Your mind is connected with your body. So when we are active it not only benefits our physical health, it makes us happier. Our moods improve and we can even lift ourselves out of depression as a result.

Interestingly enough, our activities do not have to involve complex exercises. There are simple things that we can do every day so that we are more active.

 

6. Giving

Caring about others and doing for others is vital to a person’s happiness. When we give to others or help them, it makes us happier and we become healthier in the process.

Giving helps us to create a better society. However, it also helps us to develop stronger connections with those around us.

 

7. Meaning

People feel more in control, get more out of their efforts, and are typically happier when their lives have meaning and purpose. Plus, they experience less anxiety, depression, and stress in their lives.

 

8. Relationships

Relating with others is quite possibly the greatest contributor to our happiness. Individuals who have broader, stronger relationships with others are happier and healthier. It also helps us to live longer.

We can increase our self-worth by developing close relationships with our family members and friends.

 

9. Resilience

All of us have experienced failure, loss, stress, and trauma in our lives. However, it is the way we react and respond to these issues that can have a huge impact on our lives and well-being. In other words, it is the way that we bounce back when we get knocked down.

 

10. Trying out

There are a number of positive benefits to learning. You get exposed to new ideas which enables you to stay curious and learn new things.

We become more resilient and improve our self-confidence, eventually gaining a sense of accomplishment.

 

Closing note: if you unscramble the first letter of each component above (A, A, D, E, E, G, M, R, R, and T) it spells “GREAT DREAM”.

10 Hidden Blessings in Rejection, Losing and Failure

Rejection. Losing. Failure.

Nobody strives for them. No athlete sets out for last place, no entrepreneur’s goal is bankruptcy.

But as if an act of divine mercy, there’s positives to be found in the negatives. In fact, it’s almost gospel the extent we hear successful people preaching the value in failing.

Denis Waitley said it well:

“Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay, not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead end. Failure is something we can avoid only by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing.”

Successful people lick their wounds but never leave the battlefield, they turn their scars into strengths.

In approaching rejection, losing and failure, here are 10 hidden blessings:

 

1. You’ll Clarify Your Passions

Many of us struggle with decision making. Those with creative energy typically have their hand in multiple pies. But even a jack-of-all-trades knows there’s a limit to how thin you can spread yourself.

Often, failure and losing result from diminished passion. You realize you weren’t as passionate about that project as first thought. The pruning effect is a positive. As you clear your plate a little, the things that are left are what really gets you excited, and you direct your energy toward them.

Focused energy is when you’re most effective, failure gets rid of fluff.

 

2. You’ll Uncover New Skills

Remember when George Bush nimbly dodged that shoe destined for his head? Nobody thought he had the skill to do that. And I suspect neither did he. Until that moment.

Facing challenges and enduring a loss causes us to gather up resources and develop skills beyond our arsenal. In cases of “hysterical strength,” where ordinary people lift cars off someone trapped, it’s the negative situation that produces the surge of adrenaline and an act beyond one’s capability.

Negative experiences cause us to respond in ways beyond what we thought possible. The obstacle beckons to be overcome. In order to rise to the occasion, there needs to be an occasion.

 

3. You’ll Find Out Who Your Friends Are

Take a spill and you’ll see who emerges out of the Facebook crowd to lift you up. Sure, everyone’s busy, but we make time for the things we value and care about. “I’m too busy” can be translated, “It’s not that important.”

Relationships are crucial in life, they take a lot of work and time invested—you don’t want to be investing in bad stock. Of course friendships aren’t to be boiled down to a shallow transaction, but unfortunately, some folks see them that way— a lot of taking without any giving. It’s these relationships that need severing. There’s no honor, or sense, in helping others when you’re hurting yourself.

Hitting rock bottom uncovers the healthy relationships from the detrimental. You’ll want to keep investing in those who are nursing your wounds, and distance yourself from the silent and nowhere to be seen.

 

4. You’ll Check Your Blind Spots

It only takes one accident for a driver never to forget checking their blind spot again. A harsh way to learn, but some changes in behavior only happen with such shocks to the system.

While there are habits and skills we’ve not yet acquired, failures remind us of the ones we do possess, but simply lazy in doing. After suffering a robbery, you’ll never forget to lock the screen door again.

 

5. You’ll Burn Away Pride and Arrogance

Nobody is immune to pride and arrogance. To say you’re beyond pride and arrogance is a little… well… prideful and arrogant. Losing is the glass of water for that bitter pill of pride. But that unpleasant process gives birth to humility. Which is perhaps the most attractive and profitable virtue anyone can possess.

As the proverb goes, “Pride goeth before the fall;” rejection and loss exchanges pride for humility, and may be the savior that prevents your fall.

 

6. You’ll Grow Elephant Skin

The shins of Muay Thai fighters can break baseball bats. The micro-fractures from hours upon hours of kicking heavy bags are filled with calcium, resulting in abnormal bone density. It’s just as muscle fibers grow as a result of micro-tears in the gym.

The old adage rings true—it’s the pain that brings the gain. The healing of a fracture carries a gift. 101-advice for anyone stepping out to pursue their dream is prepare for rejection, criticism and haters. And with each punch thrown your way, you’ll realize that you can’t please everyone, and the impact will start to soften. You’ll even learn to bob and weave, realizing the issue lies more with them than with you.

 

7. You’ll Never Wonder “What If?” Again

The question of “What if?” can cause hours on end staring out the window. When that curiosity is pursued only to find you’ve boarded the wrong plane, failure is the blessing that pulls you right off. You’ll no longer be kept up at night wondering about that other option.

Curiosity can cripple our consciousness and distracts from the work we should be doing. But sometimes engaging your own nagging is the only way to silence it.

Seeing his father drink beer, a teenage Tony Robbins begged his mother to let him try. Not only did she let him try, she gave him a whole six-pack, and wouldn’t let him leave until he drank every drop. Tony has never touched alcohol since. The taste of his own vomit may have something to do with that.

 

8. You’ll Finally Ask For Help

Anyone with passion and ambition is tragically plagued with superhero-syndrome, which is both helpful, and harmful; particularly when the candle is burning at both ends, and you’re drifting toward burnout.

When the word “help” disappears from our vocabulary, it’s found when we crash and burn. We realize the skill of delegation is critical for our health and progress. We need to move away from viewing help negatively as a form of weakness, to positively—that our success is growing beyond our own capacity.

 

9. You’ll Go To The Drawing Board

And you’ll engage in iteration. The process of reevaluating and refining, which produces a better end-result. As the saying goes, “Why fix it if it ain’t broke?” Some things need fixing, but reevaluation doesn’t happen if something doesn’t break.

No doubt one of the greatest human achievements: 110-mile swim from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage. The only individual in the world to accomplish that feat—64-year old Diana Nyad. She was on her fifth attempt, her first attempt back in 1978 and three other attempts from 2011 – 2012.

Her last attempt was cut short with jellyfish stings that left her face puffed and swollen. This time, she wore a full bodysuit, gloves, and a mask at night—when jellyfish rise to the surface.

She failed, went back to the drawing board, made iterations, and succeeded.

 

10. You’ll Appreciate Your Success

Value and meaning become heightened in the face of difficulty. The greatest celebrations come from the toughest battles. You’ll realize the dream isn’t all rainbows and butterflies.

When the journey includes getting back on your feet and dusting yourself off, you’ll be more inclined to stop when you see roses, and express a little more gratitude and appreciation at the finish line.

Among the 14 “Eight-Thousanders” on earth, few recognize Kangchenjunga—while Everest is a household name. There’s only 262 meters separating the two mountains, but it’s the failures and deaths on Everest that make it the most respected and celebrated climb.

The bitterness of every failure adds sweetness to every victory.

37 Quotes that Will Super-Charge Your Motivation

Have you ever felt the sting of failure so deep that you couldn’t see past the pain to keep moving forward?

Or doubted that you could even achieve what you set out to accomplish?

We’ve all been there.

So reflect on those low moments, but don’t dwell on them or you risk putting out the spark within that drives you. And don’t give up and settle with a mediocre life, always thinking of the “What If’s“.

Separate yourself from the average by staying in the game and reaping the rewards of persistence and hard work with a never say die attitude.

Granted, it’s tough to maintain that attitude, so to help you stay inspired, checkout these 37 motivational quotes that will super-charge you to hit your life goals.

 

37 Motivational Quotes

1. “The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater their power to harm us.” – Voltaire

2. “If my mind can conceive it and my heart can believe it, then I can achieve it.” – Muhammad Ali

3. “And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” – Anais Nin

4. “It is never too late to be what you might have been.” – George Eliot

5. “If you’re going through hell keep going.” – Winston Churchill

6. “Take the first step in faith, you don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

7. “Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go.” – William Feather

8. “If you’re only willing to do what’s easy, life will be hard. But if you’re willing to do what’s hard, life will be easy.” – T. Harv Eker

9. “Do the thing you fear most and the death of fear is certain.” – Mark Twain

10. “When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” – Alexander Graham Bell

11. “Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.” – Brene Brown

12. “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky

13. “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan

14. “The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus.” – Bruce Lee

15. “One of the greatest discoveries a man makes, one of his great surprises, is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn’t do.” – Henry Ford

16. “Success is never final. Failure is never fatal. It is courage that counts.” – Winston Churchill

17. “Opportunity does not knock, it presents itself when you beat down the door.” – Kyle Chandler

18. “Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.” – Robert Kennedy

 

19. “When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on.” – Thomas Jefferson

20. “It’s always darkest before the dawn.” – Unknown

21. “Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation.” – Brian Tracy

22. “Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success.” – Dale Carnegie

23. “Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.” – Mahatma Gandhi

24. “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.” – Winston Churchill

25. “Obstacles can’t stop you. Problems can’t stop you. Most of all, other people can’t stop you. Only you can stop you.”– J. Gitomer

26. “Fortune favors the bold.” – Virgil

27. “Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent.” – Marilyn vos Savant

28. “In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins – not through strength, but through persistence.” – Buddha

29. “Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve.” – Napoleon Hill

30. “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” – Samuel Beckett

31. “To avoid criticism say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.” – Elbert Hubbard

32. “Edison failed 10,000 times before he made the electric light. Do not be discouraged if you fail a few times.” – Napoleon Hill

33. “I know for sure that what we dwell on is who we become.” – Oprah Winfrey

34. “Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” – John Wooden

35. “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Confucius

36. “Sometimes even to live is an act of courage.” – Seneca

37. “There is no education like adversity.” – Benjamin Disraeli

 

Which one of the above quotes motivated you the most to stay in the game? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.

50 Inspirational Joel Osteen Quotes To Live By

Best Selling Author, Pastor and Inspiring leader Joel Osteen packs out a venue with 38,000 people every week to share gods word and his words of hope and encouragement that is broadcasted to over 20 million people every month.

According to Nielsen Media Research, Joel Osteen is the most watched inspirational figure in America.

Joel Osteen has 1000′s of inspirational quotes and words of wisdom for the world to hear and it was hard to narrow it down to 50 inspiring quotes, but we did it.

 

The Top 50 Inspirational Quotes by Joel Osteen

 

1. “You’re going to go through tough times – that’s life. But I say, ‘Nothing happens to you, it happens for you.’ See the positive in negative events.” – Joel Osteen

2. “I believe if you keep your faith, you keep your trust, you keep the right attitude, if you’re grateful, you’ll see God open up new doors.” – Joel Osteen

3. “Don’t go into the new year holding a grudge from last year. Leave the hurts and disappointments behind.” – Joel Osteen

4. You have to come to your closed doors before you get to your open doors… What if you knew you had to go through 32 closed doors before you got to your open door? Well, then you’d come to closed door number eight and you’d think, ‘Great, I got another one out of the way’… Keep moving forward. – Joel Osteen

5. “Life’s too short to spend it trying to keep others happy. You can’t please everyone. To fulfill your destiny, stay true to your heart.” – Joel Osteen

6. “Nothing in life has happened to you. It’s happened for you. Every disappointment. Every wrong. Even every closed door has helped make you into who you are.” – Joel Osteen

7. “God would not have put a dream in your heart if He had not already given you everything you need to fulfill it.” – Joel Osteen

8. “If you have your health, if you have people in your life to love, you are blessed. Slow down and enjoy the simple things in life.” – Joel Osteen

9. “Start believing today that things are going to change for the better. Your best days are still out in front of you.” – Joel Osteen

10. “See, when you drive home today, you’ve got a big windshield on the front of your car. And you’ve got a little bitty rearview mirror. And the reason the windshield is so large and the rearview mirror is so small is because what’s happened in your past is not near as important as what’s in your future.” – Joel Osteen

11. “The more you talk about negative things in your life, the more you call them in. Speak victory not defeat.” – Joel Osteen

12. “You cannot hang out with negative people and expect to live a positive life.” – Joel Osteen

13. “Stones of judgment, discouragement or doubt may be thrown at you. You can’t stop them, but you can make the choice to keep your walls up and not let them affect you.” – Joel Osteen

14. “If you want success, if you want wisdom, if you want to be prosperous and healthy, you’re going to have to do more than meditate and believe; you must boldly declare words of faith and victory over yourself and your family.” – Joel Osteen

15. “It may look like the difficulty is going to defeat you. But you need to keep telling yourself, “This sickness can’t take my life.” “This cancer can’t defeat me.” “No bad break, no disappointment, no accident can shorten one second of my divine destiny.” – Joel Osteen

16. “Don’t live worried, frustrated or upset because of what somebody did or what didn’t work out. Come back to a place of peace. It’s not going to work against you; it’s going to work for you.” – Joel Osteen

17. “Every day we have plenty of opportunities to get angry, stressed or offended. But what you’re doing when you indulge these negative emotions is giving something outside yourself power over your happiness. You can choose to not let little things upset you.” – Joel Osteen

18. “You can change your world by changing your words… Remember, death and life are in the power of the tongue.” – Joel Osteen

19. “When you go through enough dark places, you don’t complain about little things. You don’t lose your joy because you got stuck in traffic; you don’t get offended because a coworker was rude to you. You’ve been through too much to let that sour you.” – Joel Osteen

20. “No matter what’s happening, choose to be happy. Don’t focus on what’s wrong. Find something positive in your life. Thank God for the small things.” – Joel Osteen

21. “Don’t waste your energy trying to convince people to understand you. Your time is too valuable to try to prove yourself to people.” – Joel Osteen

22. “Make the decision and say, “I’m not letting that worry in. I’m done being upset when my plans don’t work out. I’m not letting that stress in.” Negative thoughts will still come to your mind, but you don’t have to let them into your spirit.” – Joel Osteen

23. “God will always bring the right people into your life, but you have to let the wrong people walk away.” – Joel Osteen

24. “Encouragement to others is something everyone can give. Somebody needs what you have to give. It may not be your money; it may be your time. It may be your listening ear. It may be your arms to encourage. It may be your smile to uplift. Who knows?” – Joel Osteen

25. “There is a winner in you. You were created to be successful, to accomplish your goals, to leave your mark on this generation. You have greatness in you. The key is to get it out.” – Joel Osteen

 

26. “Don’t make excuses, don’t blame the past. The rest of your life can be the best of your life!” – Joel Osteen

27. “It’s easy to get negative because you get beat down. You go through a few disappointments and it’s easy to stay in that negative frame of mind. Choosing to be positive and having a grateful attitude is a whole cliche, but your attitude is going to determine how you’re going to live your life.” – Joel Osteen

28. “There may be times when you just have to love people from a distance.” – Joel Osteen

29. “You’re not really free until you’re free from trying to please everybody.” – Joel Osteen

30. “Don’t settle in the land of barely enough. That is where you are, it is not who you are. That’s your location, it’s not your identity. No matter what it looks like, have an abundant mentality.” – Joel Osteen

31. “Hard times may have held you down, but they will not last forever. When all is said and done, you will be better off than before.” – Joel Osteen

32. “No matter how dark and gloomy it looks in your life right now, if you’ll release the weight of those burdens, you will see the sun break forth.” – Joel Osteen

33. “You must make a decision that you are going to move on. It wont happen automatically. You will have to rise up and say, ‘I don’t care how hard this is, I don’t care how disappointed I am, I’m not going to let this get the best of me. I’m moving on with my life.” – Joel Osteen

34. “Keep in mind, hurting people often hurt other people as a result of their own pain. If somebody is rude and inconsiderate, you can almost be certain that they have some unresolved issues inside. They have some major problems, anger, resentment, or some heartache they are trying to cope with or overcome. The last thing they need is for you to make matters worse by responding angrily.” – Joel Osteen

35. “When the negative thoughts come – and they will; they come to all of us – it’s not enough to just not dwell on it… You’ve got to replace it with a positive thought.” – Joel Osteen

36. “If one dream dies, dream another dream. If you get knocked down, get back up and go again.” – Joel Osteen

37. “Friend, there’s no greater investment in life than in being a people builder. Relationships are more important than our accomplishments.” – Joel Osteen

38. “Do all you can to make your dreams come true.” – Joel Osteen

39. “I wouldn’t ever say if you’re having tough times then there must be something wrong with you or your attitude. Life’s a fight. It’s a good fight of faith. I encourage people to stay up, stay hopeful, stay faith-filled.” – Joel Osteen

40. “Quit worrying about how everything is going to turn out. Live one day at a time; better yet, make the most of this moment. It’s good to have a big – picture outlook, to set goals, to establish budgets and make plans, but if you’re always living in the future, you’re never really enjoying the present in the way God wants you to.” – Joel Osteen

41. “Sometimes we look back and 10 years from now we think, ‘Boy, those were great old days.’ Well, you know, we’re living in the good old days.” – Joel Osteen

42. “You were not created to just get by with an average, unrewarding, or unfulfilling life. God created you to leave your mark on this generation.” – Joel Osteen

43. “Indeed, it is as important to learn how to receive a blessing as it is to be willing to give one.” – Joel Osteen

44. “You will never change what you tolerate.” – Joel Osteen

45. “If we’re going to bring out the best in people, we, too, need to sow seeds of encouragement.” – Joel Osteen

46. “We may get knocked down on the outside, but the key to living in victory is to learn how to get up on the inside.” – Joel Osteen

47. “The question is not, ‘Do you have a problem?’ The question is, ‘Does the problem have you?’” – Joel Osteen

48. “Don’t just accept whatever comes your way in life. You were born to win; you were born for greatness; you were created to be a champion in life.” – Joel Osteen

49. “Keep in mind, just because you don’t know the answer doesn’t mean that one does not exist. You simply haven’t discovered it yet.” – Joel Osteen

50. “In difficult times, we’re not supposed to quit believing; we’re not supposed to quit growing.”  – Joel Osteen

 

What is your favorite Joel Osteen Quote? Share it with ME in the comment section below.

32 Inspirational Abraham Lincoln Quotes

Abraham Lincoln is remembered as one of the greatest American presidents of all time.

Abe Lincoln fought for equality within the US and was eventually assassinated on April 15th 1865.

Abraham Lincoln’s words will echo through eternity as he was looked up to as someone who always strived to be honest as often as possible with the people.

A number of Abraham Lincoln’s quotes are hung in locker rooms and classroom halls around the world as an inspiration and reminder for all who want to strive to live a purpose filled life.

Here are our favorite 32 Inspirational Abraham Lincoln Quotes for you to remember.

 

Inspirational Abraham Lincoln Quotes

1. “Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be.” – Abraham Lincoln

2. “When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad. That’s my religion.” – Abraham Lincoln

3. “Whatever you are, be a good one.” – Abraham Lincoln

4. “Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?” – Abraham Lincoln

5. “And in the end it is not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years.” – Abraham Lincoln

6. “That some achieve great success, is proof to all that others can achieve it as well.” – Abraham Lincoln

7. “I’m a success today because I had a friend who believed in me and I didn’t have the heart to let him down.” – Abraham Lincoln

8. “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” – Abraham Lincoln

9. “It often requires more courage to dare to do right than to fear to do wrong.” – Abraham Lincoln

10. “Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.” – Abraham Lincoln

11. “Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing.” – Abraham Lincoln

12. “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.” – Abraham Lincoln

13. “Those who look for the bad in people will surely find it.” – Abraham Lincoln

14. “I will prepare and some day my chance will come.” – Abraham Lincoln

15. “I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live up to what light I have.” – Abraham Lincoln

16. “Every person’s happiness is their own responsibility.” – Abraham Lincoln

 

17. “The best way to predict your future is to create it” – Abraham Lincoln

18. “You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.” – Abraham Lincoln

19. “I am a slow walker, but I never walk back.” – Abraham Lincoln

20. “When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.” – Abraham Lincoln

21. “You can tell the greatness of someone by what makes them angry” – Abraham Lincoln

22. “All I have learned, I learned from books.” – Abraham Lincoln

23. “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” – Abraham Lincoln

24. “The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.” – Abraham Lincoln

25. “The better part of one’s life consists of his friendships.” – Abraham Lincoln

26. “Character is like a tree and reputation its shadow. The shadow is what we think it is and the tree is the real thing.” – Abraham Lincoln

27. “I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday.” – Abraham Lincoln

28. “I am not concerned that you have fallen — I am concerned that you arise.” – Abraham Lincoln

29. “I don’t know who my grandfather was; I am much more concerned to know what his grandson will be.” – Abraham Lincoln

30. “My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure.” – Abraham Lincoln

31. “You can have anything you want if you want it badly enough. You can be anything you want to be, do anything you set out to accomplish if you hold to that desire with singleness of purpose.” – Abraham Lincoln

32. “Life is hard but so very beautiful” – Abraham Lincoln

 

What are your favorite Abraham Lincoln Quotes? Leave them in the comment section below.

10 Major Differences Between The Successful & The Very Successful

There’s no denying that successful people are hard workers. They’re often the ones who put in the long hours, do the jobs that no one else wants to do and hustle until they get rewarded for it.

However, successful people should not be confused with very successful people.

Some people are simply more successful than others. This success often comes from lifestyle choices and habits they’ve picked up over the years, while other reasons stem from the way they prioritize their lives.

It’s clear how these 10 major lifestyle choices serve to differentiate the successful from the very successful.

The Very Successful…

1. Commit to Their Ever-Evolving Goals

The most significant difference between the successful and the very successful is the nature of their commitment. Successful people often pursue their goals with an unwavering, iron-willed perseverance.

The very successful are equally as committed, but they recognize that their goals are constantly evolving. What you thought you wanted when you were a startup entrepreneur may be entirely different from what you want when you’re the CEO of a successful company. And that’s okay.

 

2. Say No, More Than They Say Yes

Successful people may agree to do everything, but very successful people are much more selective with their choices.

Very successful people see the value behind their time, and will choose what they do accordingly. They don’t haphazardly say no, but rather eliminate nonessential activities or actions that won’t help them achieve their goals.

 

3. Get Joy From Their Jobs

Though clichéd, the idea of loving what you do does hold merit.

If you’re committed to achieving a goal, you need to really want it. While you can’t avoid doing some things you don’t enjoy, very successful people get to where they are because they genuinely enjoy their jobs. You won’t hear the very successful bemoaning work-life balance, because their work is an essential part of their life.

 

4. Separate Work from Play

At the same time, very successful people know the importance of having down time. Many studies have already shown that working without taking a break can be detrimental to your health and your career.

Very successful people see this down time as essential. For example, taking a walk outside or reading a book can help boost their creativity and give them more ideas for future projects.

 

5. They Challenge Themselves to Learn More

Complacency is antithetical to success.

For the very successful, a day is wasted if they haven’t learned anything new. This doesn’t necessarily mean formal learning – some of the most innovative people don’t even have a bachelor’s degree. Rather, they’re constantly reading, learning from others around them and also learning from their own mistakes.
 

6. They Are Excellent Listeners

You don’t necessarily need to be the first person to answer a question in order to be very successful.

Very successful people will listen to the people around them, perhaps to bounce off ideas or –­ more importantly – to listen to what isn’t being said.

 

7. They Welcome Criticism

In addition to being excellent listeners, very successful people not only listen to criticism, they welcome it with open arms.

Abraham Lincoln once said, “He has a right to criticize, who has a heart to help.” Hearing only good things might make you feel better, but it won’t do much to help you grow and achieve your goals. Sometimes, you have to hear the criticisms to be able to make it to where you want to go.

 

8. They Take Care of Themselves

If you’re a very successful person, you know that you are the only person who can achieve the goals you have.

Very successful people have internalized this and know the importance of taking care of themselves. Among the very successful, you’ll find devout proponents of meditation, sleep, and reading.

 

9. They Focus On Themselves, Not the Competition

Keeping up with the Joneses is still a recurring theme for many people and companies. They focus on what the competition is doing and try to one-up them.

A very successful person isn’t worried about what the competition is doing – he’s worried about what he is doing. He’s thinking about what he can do better.

 

10. They Have Confidence in Themselves

If you’re going to achieve your goals, you have to be confident that what you’re doing is right. Very successful people don’t have time to be self-conscious. If you want to be very successful, you have to believe in yourself – after all, if you can’t believe in yourself, why should anyone else?

Very successful people are self-driven and don’t hold themselves back with excuses. They learn from their mistakes and aim to be the best they can be.