There are hundreds of books available which claim to be
able to teach the secrets of success. And each has at
least a snippet of truth, making it a valuable read. But I
think too many people get bogged down in the process of
"becoming successful" rather than just getting on with what
it is they want to achieve.

Everyone's own recipe for success is personal and cannot be
simply copied from other's experiences. Reading
biographies may inspire us and other people's "can-do"
attitudes will rub off on us if we open our minds to new
possibilities. But the whole process of becoming
successful has become a sort of career in itself for some
people - and the sense of fun is then lost.

I think its possible simply to enjoy the small daily
achievements - the good day at the office, the small
incremental weight loss, a solid hour of piano practice,
the extra chin-up achieved or a small increase in one's
savings ... any and all of the little steps along the way
that are worth taking a moment to pause and smile about, to
make a mental note of.

The simple matter of setting a goal can be so daunting that
many people never get around to it. Should it be worded in
the present tense, as if already achieved, or should it be
in the terms or a promise, with a specific date for its
accomplishment? How many goals should you set and how
often should you pause to visualise the intended outcome?
Should you plan individual small steps along the way, with
intermediate goals and timelines? Perhaps it's possible to
get too wrapped up in analysing the method to either enjoy
what you're doing, or progress far along the intended route.

I see goal setting as the writing a of movie script. Its
important, but only one part of the movie-making process.

Of course, you must be the script writer in your own life's
movie, not just the principal actor. You should also
appoint yourself as the director and control as much as is
possible of the production - but don't forget there also
has to be room to ad-lib, to smile and to enjoy your star
billing. No-one knows the running time of their life's
movie, just that there will eventually be a "The End"
caption. Just a final thought - the cameras are already
rolling!

About the Author:

Brendan McKeogh believes that success is different for
everyone, but involves enjoying the best of the situation
we find ourselves in today, while striving for better
tomorrow. He offers free success resources (including two
free classic texts) on http://www.freedomfactor.co.uk