How to Be Successful in Life

To be successful means more than just having money and making your mark. It means following your passions, living purposefully, and enjoying the present moment.

1. Identify your passions:
   Before you can achieve success, you will have to define what success means to you. While it may take years to realize what you want to do with your life, identifying your passions, interests, and values will help you set goals and give your life a sense of meaning. If you have trouble identifying these things, then ask a friend or family member to help you. Ask yourself the following questions:
   • What do you want your legacy to be?
   • How would you like to be remembered by others?
   • How do you want to make your community a better place?
   • What are some favorite subjects of interest in your life? For example, think of subjects you enjoyed studying in school. Ask why you liked them.[1]
   • For instance, you may have loved musical theater. Think: was it because you loved the music, or was it because you loved working with a big group towards a common goal?

2. Make a list of your goals, and what you might do to achieve them:
   Be sure to address both short-term and long-term goals; try to think beyond financial and career goals, such as relationship goals, personal goals for bettering yourself, things you would like to experience, or things you want to learn. Draw up a timeline that says when you want to achieve each part.
   Set SMART goals; goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.
   Break big goals down. For instance, if your goal is to see the world, you can set the goal of saving money and visiting certain countries.
   

3. Live purposefully:
   In order to achieve your dreams and be the person you want to be, you will have to start paying attention to your actions. Ask yourself, "Is what I'm doing going to lead me to where I want to be in life?"
   If you find yourself constantly bored, daydreaming about the future or past or counting down the minutes until the day ends, it is probably because you feel disconnected from what you're doing.
   Measure your productivity by engagement, not achievement. Not everything you do has to be productive in the conventional sense, but activities should be engaging and enjoyable.

4. Stick to your commitments:
   Planning is not sufficient; keeping your word is also important. If you tell someone you will do something, do it. Similarly, don't tell someone you will do something if you're not sure you can. Be honest about your limits.
   Avoid canceling plans, and try not to cancel twice on the same person.
   Make commitments to yourself, and stick to them. Write down your commitments and hang them in places you can see.
   Make sure that your commitments are gradually moving you towards your goals. Review your goals now and then to make sure you are moving in the right direction.

5. Be educated:
   Education gives you the knowledge, skills, and credibility to achieve your maximum potential. In terms of financial success, statistics have shown that the more education you have, the more money you are likely to make.
   *Not all education has to be formal. Apprenticeships and long-term training programs are also positively correlated with higher incomes. Obtaining a Certificate in your field can help to increase your salary.
   *Educate yourself for pleasure as well. The more you know about the world you live in, the more questions you will have and the more interested you will be.

6. Manage your time:
   Putting off important tasks until the last minute can cause you unnecessary stress, and increase the likelihood of errors and negligence. Manage your time so that you have enough time to complete tasks effectively.
   Use a planner to help keep you organized throughout the day, week, and month.
   Set reminders on your smart phone and make use of its electronic timer for better time management.
   Make a list of all the things you need to do in a given day, and check off each task as you complete it. This will help you stay organized and motivated.

7. Enjoy the present moment:
   If you are constantly dwelling on the past or daydreaming about the future, you are missing out on the present moment. Remember that the past and the future are simply illusions, and that real life takes place here and now.
   Start paying attention to negative thoughts so that you can move on from them and enjoy the present moment. If a negative thought arises in your head, then acknowledge it, label it a negative thought, and then let it fade away.[7] Regular meditation or mindfulness exercises can help to make this feel more natural for you.
   Get in the habit of paying attention to small details around you. Appreciate the feeling of the sun on your skin, the sensation of your feet walking on the ground, or the artwork in the restaurant you are eating in. Noticing things like these will help you silence a rambling mind and appreciate every moment.

8. Don't compare your own life to other peoples' lives:
   Unfortunately, many people measure their own success by comparing it to the success of those around them. If you want to feel accomplished and happy, you will have to value your life for its own sake.
   Many people have the tendency to compare the low points of their own lives with the high points of other peoples' lives. Remember that no matter how perfect somebody's life may seem, behind closed doors everybody deals with tragedy, insecurity, and other difficulties.[8] Pay attention to and limit your use of social media to help you remember this.
   Rather than comparing yourself with people who are "better off" than you, think about all of the people who are homeless, chronically ill, or living in poverty. This will help you appreciate what you have rather than feeling sorry for yourself. Try engaging in volunteer work to help make this more apparent. This can help to boost your happiness and confidence as well.

9. Follow up on opportunities:
   If you have a chance to shine, take it. If you are worried you won't have time and energy for a good opportunity, ask yourself: would this contribute to my end goals? If it would, then get rid of other commitments in order to pursue this opportunity.
   Remember, some chances only come around once. You can't bank them.
   This doesn't mean you should throw away all your savings or get rid of your safety net. It just means you should say yes when you are given an offer to move ahead.

10. Surround yourself with positive people:
    Make friends with people you admire for various reasons: because they are happy, kind, generous, successful at work, or successful in other ways. Join forces with those who have achieved things you want to achieve, or who are on their way to a common goal. Don't let jealousy get in your way: nobody's success is a threat to yours.
    When making friends with someone, ask yourself if the person makes you feel motivated, positive, and confident, or if they make you feel tired, overwhelmed, or incompetent. Choose to spend time with the positive people, not the ones sucking your energy.
    If you have friends or family members who always make you feel bad about yourself, limit the time you spend with them. Also, make sure to identify relationships that are not helping you to move towards your goals, that stress you out, or that require too much of your time and energy without being reciprocal.
    Look for mentors among the people you admire. If you think you could learn from someone, ask for their advice.

Thanks to all.