Who has Time for Success? You Do…When You Follow 5 Success Principles by Dr. Emma Etuk, Ph.D.

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Who Has Time For Success? You Do…When You Follow 5 Success Principles by Dr. Emma Etuk, Ph.D.

Most people claim that they want to be “successful,” yet few know what kind of success they desire or how to achieve it. They wish their lives were “the profiles of success” or that they could “make it a winning life,” but they have no clue how to turn that desire into reality.

Realize that what you do today has a direct impact on whether you’ll be successful in life later. How you manage your time, plan your goals, and take action will make or break your future. Unfortunately, between 40+ hour work weeks, the push to “do more in less time,” and increasing personal and business obligations, few people actually make the time to follow their dreams. Instead, they resign themselves to their unsuccessful habits of the past, and then wonder why they can’t make any progress.

The fact is that many people do not succeed in life because they think they do not have the time to be successful or to follow success principles.

But we all have the same number of hours per day. Oprah Winfrey and Bill Gates, two of the richest and most successful people in the world, do not have an extra number of hours in the day, yet they have achieved more than most people can imagine. The only difference between them and the masses is that they made the time for success and followed proven success principles. You can, too. The following guidelines will help.

1. Know what kind of success you desire.
Just saying you want to be “successful” is fruitless. It’s non-specific and causes you to waste your time in multiple pursuits. The key is to focus on the specific kind of success you want. Six varieties of success exist:

a) Economic success: the desire to make money and accumulate wealth.
b) Political success: the desire for political fame, power, and influence.
c) Social success: the desire to change the world for the better and to be known as a social reformer, philanthropist, and benefactor.

d) Intellectual success: the desire to gain knowledge and be able to unravel the mysteries behind certain ideas.

e) Spiritual success: the desire for complete spiritual fulfillment.

f) Physical success: the desire for inner and outer beauty or athletic superiority.

Obviously, each success category has positive and negative aspects. For example, someone with a desire for economic success can use his or her money for good deeds, or can cross the line to greed. The key is to know the kind of success you desire and then focus your time on the positive aspects of that desire.

Those who are truly successful take the time to define the exact success they want and what they will do with it. They create their vision for the future and devote time to attaining that vision each day.

2. Get your act together.
To be successful, you must take the time to organize yourself and your life. Realize that success does not chase after a disorganized individual. Being organized or getting your act together means doing the right things in the right order.

In other words, you must take the time to prioritize your daily activities so you focus on what will truly make you successful. Unfortunately, our modern array of gadgets and technology do not help people simplify or organize their life.

While television, the Internet, and cell phones are tools that can aid us in achieving our goals, if not used properly, they can add to an already information overload, thus making it difficult to carve out time each day to dedicate to our individual goals.

To truly get your act together, you must start with the internal, which involves setting priorities and committing to them. Once that internal organization is complete, the external process is somewhat easier, which includes cleaning up the clutter in your life, scheduling, time management, and manifesting the outward qualities of persistence and commitment. Only then can you plan and follow your route for success.

3. Respect your time.
To the degree that you appreciate and respect time is the degree to which you will succeed. If you abuse time, you will surely fail and regret your lack of discipline.

In fact, no one can truly succeed without a proper attitude towards time. We each have 24 hours per day, 168 hours per week, and 8,736 hours per year to devote to our dreams, so we all must schedule our time wisely.
For example, if you were to sleep 56 hours per week, play for 42 hours, work for 70 hours, and earn $10 per hour, you are likely to earn $36,400 per year. In 20 years, you’d have earned over $700,000.

If you save only 10% of that, you’d have $70,000 sitting in the bank. Realize that most people work for more than 20 years during their lifetime, and that $700,000 does not include bonuses, salary increases, pensions, 401K plans, overtime, gifts, or interest from investments. Now, would you consider yourself unsuccessful today if you had at least $70,000 in the bank? Probably not.

The point is to schedule your time and your life so you’re devoted to success 100% of the time. Think long-term and plan everything. The small time infraction you make today may seem small, but the small things add up, compound over time, and affect us profoundly.

4. Be single-minded.

People who are successful devote their time to mastering the one most important detail that will lead them to the type of success they ultimately desire. To be single-minded means you:

a) Are not easily distracted;
b) Have your eyes set on the prize;
c) Devote your time to your purpose;
d) Have a driving ambition;
e) Are determined;
f) Are dedicated;
g) Have a singularity of purpose.

Most people start something but never complete it because they get distracted. The distraction may have been a phone call, a negative criticism, a word of discouragement from a so-called friend, or a personal fear that we may fail.

In order to not let distractions interfere with your success, you must enhance your quality of single-mindedness, which means you devote your time to one pursuit for one endeavor, not break your time up among many activities or goals. Don’t be a “jack of all trades and master of none.” Stand up for one thing and go for it consistently.

5. Cultivate a proper work habit.

If you intend to succeed in life, you must cultivate a proper work habit. You must make up your mind that no substitute for hard work exists. Cutting corners to save time on your journey will only delay you in the end. No matter what anyone promises you, when you work less time or less productively, you produce lower volume of goods and services. But if you have a proper work habit, you produce and achieve more.

In the end, your attitude towards work reflects your attitude towards life and your propensity to succeed or fail.
How do you cultivate a proper work habit?

Realize that a proper work habit involves a change in your mental attitude. If you love to work, then you will likely succeed. If you don’t love your current work, then find a profession or cause that excites you. When your work is enjoyable, you will commit more time to it and will succeed.

The Time is Right for Success
Consider today what you really want to be remembered for – what type of success you desire. Dedicate and rededicate yourself, your time, and your energy to this one pursuit, cause, or ambition for the rest of your life. Do not give up or rest until you reach your goal. Only then will you attain true success and leave a lasting legacy to the world.

About the Author: A former Howard University graduate, member of the National Speakers Association, and prolific author, Dr. E. S. Etuk has published his eighth book, RECIPE FOR SUCCESS: The 21 Indispensable Things That Can Help You Succeed In Life (ISBN #1-881293-06-8; $19.95


Dr. Emma Etuk, Ph.D., will be presenting a book signing at Hue-Man Bookstore and Café located at 2319 Frederick Douglass Blvd. (Between 124th St. and 125th St.). The book signing will begin at 6:00 PM and end at 8:00 pm on June 17, 2005.

You may call Hue-Man Bookstore and Café at 2319 Frederick Douglass Blvd. (Between 124th and 125th) New York, NY 10027. For direction to Hue-Man Bookstore and Cafe for more information and direction on upcoming book signing
Tel: 212-665-7400.