The Life-Force of Success

If there’s one thing I’ve come to appreciate more than anything else this past year, it’s the value of hard work.

Hard work pays off. Hard work is about takling obstacels one at a time to chip away at big goals.

When people ask me how I’ve ended up where I am today – my first response is “hard work”.Yes, there’s more to it than that, I’m also extremely fortunate to be where I am, but above all I work hard – nights, weekends, whatever it takes to do great work.

The value of hard work cannot be substituted. It's the life-force of success. It’s also the biggest deficiency for most people. The lack of desire to work hard, especially in a society that demands immediate gratification, holds us back.

Don’t let it. Hustle through all of those late nights, work-filled weekends, failures, and successes. You’ll learn more about yourself and you’re capacity to succeed than you ever thought possible.

Moment of truth: How has hard work paid off for you this year? What are you working toward right now?

Start Where You Are

Last week I met one-on-one with three students to discuss where they are in life and where they are headed. The discussions were loaded and full of unpacking and processing the details that have constituted their life up until this point.

In my last post, “What’s Keeping You From Being Great?” I suggested working through a few personal details that will ultimately position you towards success. In this post I’ll walk you through the pinnacle of these details.

Knowing your purpose.

According to Napoleon Hill, there are three clear ingredients necessary for success:

1. A defined purpose.
2. A burning desire.
3. A definite plan.

Most of us can define our passions- what we love doing, what inspires us and what excites us -and most of us can make plans, but we get hung up at step one. Defining our purpose.

What do you want to do? How do you want to contribute? What story do you want to tell? What legacy do you want to leave?

Defining your purpose is nowhere near as easy as it sounds. Answering these questions requires that we really know ourselves. It takes guts and unwavering courage demanding deliberate decision making. It’s risky.

But it’s worth the risk. If you move through life not knowing what you want and why you want it, you’ll never arrive at the destination you desire. Once you’re confident in what you will accomplish, nothing, absolutely nothing will stand your way.

When I chat with others about how I arrived where I am today as a student, young professional and freelance photographer I share with them how I defined my purpose.

In the winter and spring of 2009 I experienced a season of focus and self examination. This preparation, this bare bone honestly led to taking drastic steps in health, education, and personal development.

My purpose isn’t to make photographs, launch websites, design publications, send invoices or answer emails.

My purpose is to develop. My purpose is to inspire and motivate anyone and everyone who will listen to achieve their purpose. I believe I can make a difference. I believe that the only way to be truly fulfilled is to help others along the way. Once I established my purpose, I worked backwards to turn that purpose into reality.

So today, if you’re unsure of your purpose, take a step back and think about the big picture. Don’t hold back. Think big and dream even bigger.

You have the three keys to success: a defined purpose, a burning desire and a definite plan. Start with step one. The only thing holding you back is yourself. And there’s no better time than now.

What’s your purpose?

What's keeping you from being great?

You've suffered through the process of deciding what field of study to pursue in college. Now you're facing the challenge of finding a company culture where you enjoy practicing your passion.

It's tough work. It requirers your best.

Given this, what's holding you back? What's keeping you from being great?

This week how about identifying your strengths? How about examining where and when you do your best work? Taking time to discern these seemingly simple details will help set yourself apart when it comes time to start talking with potential employers.

When you know who you are, the value you add to society and why you'd thrive in a certain company culture it allows employers to draw their own conclusion that you are the best candidate for the position.