What Does it Take?

        This has been a tough year so far and undoubtedly will get more difficult. It amazes me how during times of uncertainty and hardship that some people excel in these times. From the people I have talked to and the interviews that I have watched throughout the years I think there are three common attributes that successful people possess. Please take into consideration that this is my opinion and observation that I have done and come up with throughout the years. It is imperative that you (the reader) should take into consideration and form your own hypothesis. Also, success is objective, but no matter how you define it, I think these three qualities still apply. Successful people are ambitious, have great patience, and incredible discipline.

        With billions are people in the world, I know there will be exception, anomalies, to my hypothesis for attributes of a successful individual. There are those born with pure talent and skill that others cannot match. However, we all have the potential to be better than we were yesterday.

        The first quality is ambition. Ambition is important because it is like a foundation for the career you want to build, the driving force, the catalyst for the things you want to achieve. Ambition is the fundamental component that allows for someone to dream big and have lofty goals that maybe seem impossible to others but achievable to themselves. Ambition is the spark, the grand idea to do something that others would doubt you for. However, ambition, a dream, along does not get you to where you want to go. Denzel Washington says that “a dream without a plan is still just a dream.”  Therefore, the following two attributes are necessary to complement one’s ambitious nature.

        After a dream comes the planning and execution of those plans, but nothing good ever happens overnight. It takes patience. All great things take time, nothing happens overnight. There is only one constant thing in life, and that is time. If something stands that test of time, then it has proven itself to be successful. In the age of technology, everything is instant and fast paced. People want instant results; they want the best result the easiest way. Everybody will post about it, talk about it, but no one wants to roll up their sleeves and go get it because it takes time. Progress takes time. Hard work works, but few understand, even less accept that it will take time. Many of those self-made successful individuals are not that young, instead they are a bit more mature in life.

        Knowing and learning how to optimize that time is done with discipline. Discipline is practice, the driver for constant execution. It is the core principal that overcomes laziness and excuses. Discipline is knowing when to work and how to work. Discipline and time together will create a work ethic that will propel you above the others. With the work ethic and discipline developed through time it will at the end make those ambitions, dreams a reality because you have put in the work.

        These are just some of the basic characteristics that I think successful people have, but they are definitely not born with them. I for sure know that I do not have all these attributes, but I believe that everyone has the capability to foster these attributes and evolve over time. Knowing and being self-conscious of what needs to be done is the first step. With COVID and everything being locked down, it is hard to see a brighter future sometimes. Nonetheless, know that your ambitions should not take a backseat or swept under the rug just because times are hard. Know that it will take time and patience along with discipline and hard work to get to THE dream