Decades ago when I subscribed to the Investor’s Business Daily, they had an inside section called IBD’s 10 Secrets to Success. I clipped out that section, and every so often would go over the list to make sure I was following it. I am sharing it with you all, and archiving this valuable, yellowing scrap of newsprint.
Here the authors do not provide any philosophies or elitist quotes, but simple gems. Not to write in your diary with flourishes, or share on twitter or Facebook, but to apply to your life, every day. This is the real stuff. My pithy comments in parentheses. And could not resist adding a 11th.
- How you think is everything:
Always be positive. Think success, not failure. Beware of a negative environment. (Avoid gossip and don’t believe it.) - Decide upon your true dreams and goals:
Write down your specific goals and develop a plan to reach them. (Writing it down may appear torturous, but is an invaluable exercise.) - Take action:
Goals are nothing without action. Don’t be afraid to get started now. Just do it. (After all the thinking, analyzing and procrastinating, … you still have to do it. And NOW is the perfect time to start.) - Never stop learning:
Go back to school or read books. Get training and acquire skills. (or figure out new things on your own; keep reinventing yourself, or rust) - Be persistent and work hard:
Success is a marathon, not a sprint. Never give up. (Must be when I took up marathon running) - Learn to analyze details:
Get all the facts, all the input. Learn from your mistakes. (I make plenty of them and will make many more.) - Focus your time and money:
Don’t let other people or things distract you. (My office in a different building is such a godsend; away from the noise.) - Don’t be afraid to innovate; be different:
Following the herd is a sure way to mediocrity. (Develop work-arounds, that’s what innovation is all about.) - Deal and communicate with people effectively:
No person is an island. Learn to understand and motivate others. (Good communication is what separates the great do-ers from great leaders.) - Be honest and dependable; Take responsibility:
Otherwise, numbers 1-9 won’t matter. (The best.) - Be Graceful:
Through tough and easy times; with friends and ex’s; at work and play, do everything with grace. Because life is short and it could easily have been you on the other end. Live Well. Life is Beautiful.
My other Life-related:
- I’d pick more Daisies
- Live Well, Today
- You are not special – David McCullough Jr
- Steve Jobs Commencement Speech, 2005
Arun Shanbhag 
how to deal when you are tortured by others
I assume you mean “mental” torture.
Communicating usually works between reasonable people.
If we are grounded in our values, leaving is always an option.
Think of all those folks undergoing physical and psychological torture in hidden away jail cells (some even in this country).
thank you for your help. Th(ese) lines motivate me. (edited for typos)
Reblogged this on A Teaspoon of Turmeric and commented:
Hello everyone!
With the start of the new year (school year, that is and welcoming of a new season ahead) I wanted to share with you this amazing post I read a few days ago from a blog I frequent ~ http://www.ArunShanbhag.com. September is always a great time to renew goals, “get back on track” and start living the life you’ve always wanted to live (if you’re not already doing so right now!!!).
I’m adding a couple of my own thoughts and quotes to the list as well, while we’re at it!
12) LET GO. Whatever does not serve you, your body, mind or spirit in a positive way, let it go. You can’t be a success if you have anything toxic holding you back.
13) IT’S NEVER TOO LATE. It’s never, ever too late for anything. Erase words like, “should have, could have, would have…” from your vocab and live life with no regrets! Here’s a favourite quote, “It’s never too late to be who you might have been.” ~ George Eliot
14) Enjoy. Be Happy. Smile. And Breathe! Sure, we all have stressful patches in life but we can’t let those events or failures bring us down. You have to enjoy each and every day of your journey even when things feel hard. This quote always helps me lighten up! “Life has become immeasurably better since I have been forced to stop taking it seriously.”
~ Hunter S. Thompson
With that, wishing you all a happy September!
Nice…All true but we often tend to forget!
yes, thus the need to keep a little note somewhere and go back and review often.
Thx