Everybody starts off with the dream to become extremely successful in life. However, only a select few manage to reach the very top in their fields. Most others stay confined to mediocrity, having to compromise with their dreams. Have you ever wondered then, what makes a person successful and others not as much? What are the qualities that differentiate achievers from other average performers?
Essentially, the two main qualities that are found in abundance in successful personalities are Drive and Focus. It is the presence of these two qualities that make a person achieve incredible things in life and overcome all odds.
The biggest difference between somebody who’s extremely successful and somebody who’s not is the desire and hunger to succeed, also known as Drive. While everybody wants to succeed, only few want success so bad that they are willing to do anything for it, including sacrificing short-term fun and diversions.
People who have the Drive to succeed are the ones who not only dream about success, but also take actions to achieve what they desire. A person with the Drive will compensate for any lack of abilities or even a lack of luck by working hard to acquire the missing skills and work around the obstacles.
For example, a successful writer is usually not the one with tremendous talent waiting for the right inspiration, but the one with ordinary talent who writes on a daily basis, without waiting for an inspiration.
All the successful people in the world have this Drive to succeed, to work hard, to achieve and to excel in whatever they do. They do not blame luck or circumstances for their failures. Of course luck is important, and everyone gets his/her share of it. You are more likely to even receive luck if you stay on your track, working hard, being hopeful. If you do not become content with what you have until you get what you desire, you will keep moving forward overcoming the obstacles that come on your way.
In reality, everybody has an inherent Drive to perform and excel in life. There are two factors that influence drive, the first is focus and the second is the ability to work with one’s strengths. Conversely, a lack of focus and an excessive concern over one’s weaknesses stifle drive. These negative factors prevent the Drive to pave the way forward.
To encourage and boost your Drive, it helps to introspect and understand one’s strengths and weaknesses. Concentrating on the strengths helps. For example, if you feel you’re a good Dancer, then go out and give auditions, join a Dance class and perform whenever you can. Once you start concentrating on your strengths, your confidence will increase and you will have the Drive to achieve your goals, whatever they may be. The weaknesses cannot be ignored, but they require the ability to manage them. Develop the ability to deal with your weaknesses without letting them weigh you down.
In addition to the ability to work with one’s strengths, one needs to work with a clear focus. Focus isabout setting goals and giving them one’s all.
You gave a broad direction to your career when you joined college. The finer direction emerges out of all the things you did while studying. The subjects you liked, the internships you did well in, the seminars you attended, the events you organized, all of them helped you understand what you enjoy doing. Look at your experiences to get a sense of what work you would like to do. Explore careers out there to understand which ones will be ideal for you.
For example, you might be pursuing Engineering but feel like you want to join a creative field like Advertising. Look back on your school and college life and see whether you have been appreciated for your writing before. Speak to people who work in Advertising firms and see what the work is like. Even better, try and take up an internship to see whether you like the work environment and whether you’re a good fit. If you feel that Advertising is what you want to do after proper research, then make the change. Successful people don’t sit and hope for things to happen on their own. They make them happen.
Once you make a decision, move towards achieving your goal, don’t let your Focus deviate and allow your Drive take you where you wish to be in life.
And remember, the difference between a successful person and an average person is that the former will always make sure that he/she is moving in the direction he/she wishes to. On the other hand, an average person will not be willing to step out of his/her comfort zone and make tough decisions that will ensure that life is moving in the direction that he/she wants it to. To be successful, you might need to take risks and make bold decisions from time to time so as to ensure that your life is headed on the right path.
