Success: It’s something that many wish for but only a few achieve. The reality is that there is no magic secret to triumph, as it takes a tremendous amount of dedication, hard work, and passion. After observing many successful women, I’ve found a few qualities they all possess in order to reach where they are now.
1. They Don’t Procrastinate
I’m not saying that successful women don’t have time to occasionally take a step back and relax or have fun, but their time management skills are stellar. People say that they want to accomplish a million different things; however, many don’t even bother to start, or they keep pushing agenda items off to the next day. Gabby Giffords, a successful politician once said, “Strong women get things done!” It’s that simple. No matter how intimidating the journey or dream might seem, there has to be a starting point. Without the beginning, there will of course be no end.
2. They Love What They Do
“One child, one teacher, one book, one pen, can change the world,” Malala Yousafzai famously declared. Her belief in this statement is so strong that we can see how her vision and her love for her purpose made her successful. What else could give someone the motivation to work harder and longer than the average person? Yes, staying up late the extra hour can be painful, but if you like what you do, it is certainly worth it.
Following your dreams and doing something that truly calls your heart is the only thing that will push you enough to reach your peak. If you’re not feeling inspired, it is obviously not going to motivate you to continuously develop your skills and grow. You must love what you do in order to be successful. The passion will automatically shine through your work.
3. They Focus
Oprah Winfrey said, “Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.” All successful women have this ability—they know how to concentrate. If you are trying to do 10 different things at once, you will quickly realize that you are not being productive. In order to put your best foot forward and your best work forward, you must deeply focus on one thing at a time. Once you are done focusing on one thing, simply move on to the next and repeat. Get rid of the distractions and you are bound to earn your best results.
4. They Are Persistent
It’s no secret that you have to practice in order become good at your craft. However, only a few practice the extra hour and very few continue to persist during good times and the bad. It’s a fairly simple concept, but not quitting when life gets rough could be the most exhausting yet rewarding aspect of your journey. As the saying goes, if it is easy, it is most likely not even worth it. No matter what big plans you have, hanging in there regardless of what happens will take you far. As Hellen Keller once said, “We can do anything we want as long as we stick to it long enough.”
5. They Seek Happiness
No matter what happens, you should always keep in mind that this should be a top priority. In fact, Indira Gandhi, who was the third prime minister of India, once said that, “…happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” Being the first woman prime minister, we can see how she is quite successful yet keeps one of the most fundamental ideas of life in mind.
Take each day one at a time, each step one by one and each moment as it passes. Always remember to take a step back and enjoy the beauty of simplicity. If you’re continuously stressed and don’t take time out to relax or enjoy, you will realize how much of a waste those past years were. Don’t be the one to realize too late. You still have time, so go and simply practice happiness.
Cover image courtesy of Shutterstock.
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