Алибала Магерамзаде
Homework Let’s Learn the Formula Of Success
06. The Formula of Success
We now have a general understanding of what success is. According to a university graduate, luck or success means to find a good job. For an entrepreneur it means to launch a project that will bring good income, success for a writer is a popular bestseller, for lovers it means to connect with each other, for a soldier success means to become a general, for a patient it means to recover. Shoemakers, hatters, firemen, astronauts, in a word, everyone has their own object of success.
Everyone wants to succeed. Having succeeded, people share their secrets about the ways to achieve it. Speakers write books on this topic. Over the years, more and more formulas for success appear. As long as humanity exists, similar formulas will be born.
If, figuratively speaking, we make an extract from all these formulas, we will get something like this:
Formula for success = desire – set a goal – plan – prepare – take action – achieve results.
You simply need to desire and strive for a goal, waiting for life to present a chance. It may not turn up that soon, but it doesn’t mean you should abandon your efforts. Being successful means being happy. It’s a state of mind in which a person can enjoy the harmony of life.
Don’t think that wealth is the measure of happiness. I know a man who owns millions and has a successful career, but is experiencing serious problems and is unhappy in family life. I also know someone who owns kilograms of gold and enormous wealth sufficient for all his descendants, but suffers from an incurable disease and therefore walks like a ghost. Money gives a lot, but cannot solve everything. The happiest person is a person who has his favorite job, normal living conditions, a good family, good health, and who knows how to hit the target and succeed step by step.
1. Desire
«Grasp your desires tightly. Do not let them go». No wonder the famous American psychologist and psychotherapist Marden Orison said that.
All major goals and all achievements are born in the form of desire. If you want to live better, the first thing to do is decide what exactly you want. You must first create that very best life in your dreams. He who thinks daydreaming is a child’s occupation is fundamentally wrong. A person should always be able to dream. Anyone who does not know how to do this should immediately try to restore this lost quality. We should dream about the implementation of our desires and, as we wish, we should know ourselves better and better understand our strengths, be able to hear our inner voice well. The main secret to achieving success is to take full responsibility for your life and be able to manage it. Not everyone is given the chance to be the master of their own destiny; this is a fact. Many people go to work, eat, watch TV, read newspapers, surf the Internet or communicate with their near and dear ones just because it has become their habit. In their monotonous and stereotyped life, everything repeats day by day. Such people lack the ability to dream. In the gray book of life, it is impossible to find either the plot, the denouement, or the climax.
Unleash your dreams so that they can be born, grow and blossom. Wish yourself not only a wonderful life, prosperity or good work, a latest car, a luxury villa and other material values, but also good friends, great success in art, scientific inventions, sports achievements, in short, dream of being on top. Remember: the dream marathon starts.
2. Set a goal
If a person dreams of something in the first stage, he should set himself the goal of achieving this. A dream remains a dream if it is not achieved. There are many people who dream a lot but don’t follow their dreams, nor try to make them come true. An illiterate shepherd grazing sheep in a distant aul can build illusions and have a desire to be president, but his dream cannot come true. Setting this as your goal is absurd. Goals are dreams that match human potential and do not contradict the environment.
A goal is the most important tool we have for selection. There are abstract and specific goals. Always try to set specific goals for yourself. Remember that there are positive and negative goals. Always try to set yourself the goal that you want to get hold of, that is, devote yourself to a positive goal. Never focus on negative goals such as getting rid of something.
And again, do not pursue a goal that would make someone else suffer for your benefit.
All your intentions should be related to each other and have the same focus. Your intentions should not go against your main life credo. Alternate all your goals as they are important and choose the most basic one.
Try to keep within the time and determine the «minimum program» – goals that you think you must implement first, and the «maximum program» – distant goals that you want to achieve. Your main goal will be a strategic goal that requires more time.
3. Plan
Planning is the optimal allocation of resources on the way to achieving the goal. The main argument of this function from a mathematical point of view is the distribution of time. Without planning, it is impossible to achieve the goal and succeed. Since I am elaborating this area separately, I intend to consider it in detail in one of the following parts.
4. Prepare
You dream, you set a goal, you plan. The 4th step is preparation. It is important to enrich knowledge on the target that you want to hit, and to acquire a large amount of information on this matter and the necessary material resources. You should also adapt to the necessary social and administrative conditions, identify partners who can help in this matter, and liken your image to the image of a person striving to achieve his goal.
First, you must learn to manage your state, feelings and emotions. Visualizing the goal and creating images in your imagination are directly related to emotional state. There is a well-known expression: if you want to be rich, pretend to be one. If you want to be healthy, forget about the disease and doctors and imagine yourself healthy. If you want to become happy – so be it! Never be ungrateful; thank the Lord for what you have. Create a good mood, optimism and positive attitude towards everything. Good thoughts will arouse good in you, while bad thoughts will provoke evil.
At the preparatory stage, it is necessary to strengthen a sense of self-confidence. Never doubt your abilities. If a person is not confident, and doubts of his success, he will never be able to achieve it. A person must make his own decision. This is a prerequisite for success. It is also necessary to be decisive. After completing all the preparations, you must create your perfect image, get rid of destructive emotions (fear, anger, hatred, resentment, envy, etc.) and learn to love. The energy of love gives strength and supplies with vital energy.
Self-confidence, love, ecstasy, optimism, faith and self-esteem – together all these qualities create a deep inner energy. On the contrary, feelings like doubt, sadness, fear or anxiety deprive us of energy.
Carlos Castaneda said: «We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.» In this case, why spend your strength on making yourself miserable?
Our physical condition is also associated with our feelings and emotions. Therefore, it is very important to sit and walk with an even posture, and try to smile at people.
Health is another important factor on the way to achieving the goal. Healthy lifestyle and sports, healthy diet, regular medical examinations – all these are necessary measures. Reading motivational books, listening to light and fun music, singing karaoke, dancing, laughing – all this will give you an additional incentive.
Remember: to be successful in life, you must be able to develop inner intuition. You should adjust your ability to think, as well as develop the ability to instant decision making and sharp reaction. Listening to silence plays an effective role in intuition development. A person should stay alone at least half an hour during the day, ending the internal dialogue.
What is intuition? Sometimes psychologists call it the inner voice, sometimes the sixth sense. In any case, intuition should not be considered something mythical. In 1981, American neurophysiologist Robert Sperry received the Nobel Prize just because he was able to prove that intuition is not some kind of super sense, but a normal function of the right hemisphere of the human brain. Thus, he proved that the left brain is responsible for logic and abstract thinking, while the right brain has the ability to receive information in the form of images and to investigate. In short, intuition is an alternative subconscious mind. Basically all people have it, but some have it more developed than the others. Therefore, it can be developed with the help of training. How?
– Make friends with your intuition. First of all, find out what signals your subconscious sends you;
– After you learn how your intuition originated, learn to use it at the right time;
– Unleash your intuition, putting forward unimaginable assumptions throughout the day. The number of correct assumptions will increase over time;
– Try to break beyond logic, more inclined to creative imagination.
The next important factor that can positively influence thinking, analysis and the ability to make decisions instantly is a game of chess. It can be ordinary games, in a state of time pressure, or blitz chess.
I am very grateful to the game of chess for my current ability to think and analyze deeply, as well as for my sharp response.
5. Take action
You can start acting anytime. Even if you are ready to go towards the goal, you will not succeed without the right time and conditions. The Azerbaijani writer Varis Yelchiev has an aphorism: «Save your most powerful blows for the weakest times.»
Therefore, to begin a focused activity, it is necessary to wait for a convenient time and conditions. As soon as perfect or close conditions appear, one can act with might and main to achieve his goal.
It is very important to take at least one step forward, to get closer to the intended goal at least a little.
And most importantly, one should not be afraid of defeat. We must only think about victory.
6. Achieve results
Only after fulfilling all the conditions can you achieve your plans, make your dreams come true and become a successful person due to your formula for success.
I presented to your attention the most common formula for success. When reading the book, you will become acquainted with the six steps to success, as well as with other steps, as well as with various opinions and positions on this subject. In the meantime, I’ll tell you this: beginning is ahead of all things. No need to hesitate, just get started.
07. Formulas for Success Which Are Very Easy to Comprehend
Different people reaching the pinnacle of success have their own special paths leading to this success. However, it is possible to calculate a unified formula by selecting the leading manner of achieving the goal.
Everyone wants to succeed. Who does not want to have a good job, normal well-being, wealth, an exemplary family? At the heart of all these benefits is the ability to accurately hit the target. Let's compare a self-sufficient young man from a superpower, that is, from the United States, who submits his application to a large company, with a young man from impoverished Somalia, where people live half-starving and therefore agree to any overwork to get a piece of bread. It’s the difference between heaven and hell. This difference is caused by various state systems, economic conditions, geopolitical traditions and other factors. However, each of these young people is eager for success, and their desire to achieve the goal somehow unites these two.
What is the formula of success? Let's take a closer look at the question asked earlier.
The first step is to determine the right target for yourself. Finding the best target for success based on your knowledge, skills, social status, current environment, and your prospects is the most important thing in this matter. A right choice, a right plan, and you can confidently move forward!
Until now, I have turned to various scientific sources and addressed a number of success formulas on the way. One of them belongs to Martha Beck, American psychologist and coach. Since this formula is the most primitive, convenient and memorable formula I have come across, I will tell my readers about it.
According to Martha Beck, in order to succeed you need to behave as if you are not in danger of failure. Then you need to complete three steps:
Step one: keep silent
What? To be silent? Yes, yes, keep quiet! Never tell your friends or other people about your personal problems and prospects. Thus, you will be protected from other people's harmful advice, and will not get out of your way after hearing the bitter stories of unfortunate people.
Step two: work tirelessly
Laziness and indecision should be alien to you. To achieve a goal, you must fully mobilize your strength and be decisive, taking small steps day by day.
Step three: play
Play? What kind of game do we talk about when it comes to the formula for success? Monotonous hard work is eventually exhausting, and exhaustion affects both quality and quantity of work. As soon as you feel tired, break away from work, take a break and play. This is not about traditional board games or computer or mobile games that has flooded the world. We are talking about intellectual games designed for the imagination. Describe in your thoughts what you dream about. Imagine a collage of your desires. Imagine achieving your goal, the incentive it gives you, the energy you get… Now when you feel this energy, continue to move on to success.
Martha Beck's formula for success consists of these three steps, and I must note that the famous psychologist developed it based on her personal experiences and a difficult life path.
Since we considered the individual success formula of a person with rich life experience, I want to present a collective success formula taken from thousands of people who have come to their goal in a difficult way. I want you, dear reader, to know that all the instructions on becoming successful leader, as well as general motivational literature, are autobiographical and either based on the life experience of one person, or is the research on the experience of several people.
The second formula for success that I want to bring to your attention is put forward by scientists of the American Gallup Institute. This formula was developed during the study of life positions and characteristic qualities of 1,500 famous people from the Who is Who in America reference book. As a result of the survey, nine common important features among successful people were identified among respondents. The scientists of the Gallup Institute presented the sum of these features as a formula for success:
Healthy thinking
This quality is put forward most often among respondents. 61 % of them said that having a healthy mind to achieve their goal was an important factor. For many people healthy thinking means making an optimal and precise decisions about everyday work. To do this, you need to drop all other thoughts and be able to delve into the root of an event. Is the quality of healthy thinking inborn? According to the respondents, a person must work it out. And in order to develop this inner quality, you need to learn from others, as well as be able to draw conclusions from your own mistakes.
Be an expert in your field
According to the survey, this quality takes second place. In achieving success, nothing can help better than good knowledge of the matter you’re addicted to. This means insuring your knowledge and minimizing all risks. The process of enriching one's knowledge continues even after taking high peaks.
In order to succeed, you must persistently want something, and when you have it, you must be able to protect it and keep it.
Self-confidence
Most successful people generally believe in their strengths and capabilities, in a word, in their own luggage. This faith combined with self-confidence gives determination to act on the path to the intended goal. In addition to knowledge and skills, you also need hard work, patience, confidence, diligence and willpower.
Mastery level
A high level of development also plays an important role in your achievements. Having achieved this level, you can cleverly master complex concepts, as well as learn how to analyze them quickly and accurately.
Respondents identified the following three elements to contribute to a high level of development: rich vocabulary, extensive reading and good writing skills. As it turned out over a year of survey, each respondent read an average of 19 books, 50 percent of which was fiction.
Ability to finish your task
This skill is also considered a necessary factor in the formation of a successful person. Devoting yourself to a fully set goal is one of the main conditions for achieving a positive result.
Many respondents admitted that the ability to complete their work was formed due to three qualities: ability to organize, good business skills and determination. One professor of physics, for example, explains his formula for success as follows: «Hard work + ability to build the rhythm of a given work for yourself.» Professor admits that he works a hundred hours a week. Gallup Institute scientists, in addition to these five main factors, name four auxiliary factors that ensure success.
1. Ability to lead;
2. Creative potential;
3. Relationship with colleagues;
4. Luck.
American scientists wish those ambitious people who studied the success formula they developed, as well as those who will match the conditions presented to enter the «Who is Who in America» book. It’s a wonderful dream.
To conclude, in this part we got acquainted with the main features of success for one person or a group of people, as well as the simplest formulas – the conditions of success.
08. First You Need to Create the Basis for Success
When I was young there was an anecdote: a person in need, having seen enough of the Telelot broadcasts, with enormous sums and astronomical jackpots, wished to be lucky enough to win. This dream haunted him. He was dreaming of getting a lucky ticket and, therefore, paying all his debts, buying a house, an expensive car, sending his children to university, in a word, living a luxurious life with his family. Every morning he prayed to God to win the jackpot.
Month by month, year by year.
Disappointed in his expectations, he began to get angry and complained to Allah: «What kind of Lord are you if you cannot fulfill my sole desire.»
Then he heard a voice from above: «Unfortunate man, you want to win a large amount of money, but you do not want to understand one truth: to win the lottery, you must first buy a lottery ticket. How do you expect to win without a ticket and complaint that your desire is not fulfilled?»
This story is very relevant these days. Today, people want to «gain with no pain.» They don’t study, are not enlightened, they don’t master any profession, in a word, they don’t want to work, at the same time they want to have a comfortable life, live in prosperity and luxury. And when they can’t achieve this, they declare war on all mankind: everyone is to blame except for themselves.
Almost all the people I deal with have this desire for easy money. You see a young man looking for work. You try to help him. You ask some acquaintance to find him a job. The result is not what is expected, and it makes you feel ashamed. You find yourself in an awkward position in front of your acquaintance. A person does not fulfill the tasks assigned to him, does not want to work, counting on my patronage.
Once I had to ask the director of a large company to employ my friend’s son. He was appointed as a shift supervisor. Well, I decided that I had done a good thing, and breathed a sigh of relief. A week later that young man entered the director’s office and said that he had a diploma and didn’t want to work as a shift supervisor. He wanted to be at least a workshop master, so that he had the prospect of working in future leadership positions.
What kind of psychology is this? What a stupid thing! How can one immediately break into management, not having mastered production, not gaining experience, not improving at the initial stages? Is it possible to begin the construction of the fifth floor without the ground floor?
Sometimes it happens that an applicant aspiring to high goals builds illusions about his happy future instead of preparing for the upcoming exams. He doesn’t open his books, does not attend his tutor, does not test his knowledge on test exams. As a result, he does not gain a sufficient score, and then resents his fate, disappointed in his expectations. It doesn’t have to be that way.
In fact, this young man may say that his family is unsecured and therefore he is forced to earn extra money in his free time. However, one should not forget: whoever wants to achieve something will achieve it at all costs.
You cannot become a university student unless you change your usual daily routine and spend sleepless nights on books. If you cannot get motivation from your efforts, then your dream will remain a dream.
Let’s take, for example, an athlete complaining of bad luck. This athlete is engaged in Greco-Roman wrestling. His comrades tirelessly train, monitor their weight, stick to a nutritious diet, take vitamins, carefully monitor the performances of Olympic champions, follow all the instructions of their coach, read specific literature, in a word, devote themselves to sports. But this athlete only dreams about the championship, and makes plans on how to manage his countless prizes. Of course it brings him nothing; the athlete does not succeed. What can he achieve by blaming inattentive coaches and biased judges? Nothing.
The golden rule of life is: to succeed, you must first prepare the background.