I just finished my fifth reading of a web article called 26 Habits of Exceptionally Successful People by Richard Feloni.  It’s based on the teachings of Andrew Carnegie & Napoleon Hill, both experts on success. It’s not long, it’s not complicated, but every time I read it I feel like it’s almost futile for a person like me to be a person like that.  Or is it?
When you think about a successful person who do you picture? Â I could guess right now who most of you would think of, but I’m not going on record with that. Â But was it a man or a woman? Â Was he or she wealthy? Â Did you choose a celebrity, a relative, or a politician?
The article I read, and will probably read again, lists the number one habit of  success as “making up your mind about how much success you want, and defining the terms of that success.” I never really thought much about habit #1 before because I was busy lamenting over two other things listed that I’m NOT in the habit of doing: being decisive, and paying attention to details.
One other important nugget mentioned (#2) is to know your motives. Â Of course! Â And what does this mean to a person like me? Â It means my motives need improvement.
Sometimes I feel like I was born with defective DNA because I am not motivated to have shiny kitchen counters, vacuumed car mats, balanced checkbooks, or show up on time, every time, with everything I need….  but maybe I just need the right motivation.  Is it possible to change?  That’s an entirely separate lecture, article, and reflection but let’s say it is.  What would be the motivation for that?  Self improvement?  Leading by example? Happiness?
This brings me back to #1 habit listed in the article – defining and measuring your own success.  Given that prescription, I will define my own success by getting up everyday and doing what needs to be done, fix it up and make it do, and going to bed with my husband and three teenagers safely home, whether they like it or not,  and getting the cat in for the night.
It might sound lazy but there you go — success.
If you’d like to read the piece by Feloni, click here and have a very successful Monday y’all.
