| What is the most important ingredient for | | | | obstacles that you will no doubt encounter along |
| success? Is it having a mentor that can guide you | | | | the way. This means that you see each obstacle |
| through all the vagaries of issues so you don't | | | | as no more than a necessary stepping-stone. |
| make any mistakes? Is it having powerful friends, | | | | Each obstacle encountered should be seen as a |
| relatives, or neighbours that can provide you with | | | | solution waiting for your attention to help you |
| a shoe in to a high paying position? While the | | | | further your goal. |
| aforementioned could be the route for some, | | | | And, what about failures you are surely to |
| these are not what will help you achieve personal | | | | experience? Any failure you meet should be seen |
| and professional success in the long run. What will, | | | | as your best opportunity to learn from your own |
| however, is preparation. Preparation also has the | | | | mistakes. These lessons learned would provide |
| internal benefit of reduced stress. How does this | | | | you with a smoother channel to sail in somewhat |
| work? | | | | like a compass heading to avoid the rocks of |
| You may have heard the phrase "do what you | | | | similar obstacles on your way to your designated |
| love to do and you'll never work a day in your | | | | port. |
| life". Thousands of people worldwide wish that | | | | Every success will also be followed by the desire |
| they were successful, or, able to do something | | | | to proceed further. But before you can move |
| they like to do. You can, but the secret is you | | | | further along your course, you need to know |
| won't be able to be successful without | | | | where you want to go, what you want to |
| preparation. | | | | accomplish as the next successful step. |
| To take advantage of opportunities when they | | | | Reaching a success milestone, however, may also |
| are available, you have to be prepared. You won't | | | | mean that you will eventually encounter stress. |
| have to let the opportunity pass you by. In order | | | | How is stress possible when you are successful? |
| to be prepared to take advantage of these | | | | Stress from success may be encountered in the |
| opportunities may mean higher education, | | | | form of too many demands on your physical or |
| specialized training, enough money in the bank to | | | | overall wellbeing. Sometimes, success may mean |
| buy a business, or it may be establishing people | | | | that it's time for you to step back, step away, or |
| partnerships that can help you obtain a position | | | | reduce your involvement. |
| that requires sponsors. | | | | You're probably familiar with stories of successful |
| Preparation for success may also mean that | | | | entrepreneurs who, after having reached financial |
| you've written a detailed action plan in order to | | | | pinnacles in their life, end up revamping their next |
| set your direction and actions needed to | | | | steps so that they can enjoy a new level of |
| accomplish what you want. This basic goal setting | | | | happiness and joy. This may mean stepping back |
| exercise denotes exactly what you want to | | | | from total involvement to retirement, or, to |
| achieve, and when you want to reach your end | | | | volunteering their knowledge to help others less |
| goal. Goal planning eliminates the stress associated | | | | fortunate. Be prepared. Success is not one |
| with sailing alone without a compass not knowing | | | | specific goal; success is more a journey that sees |
| exactly where you are going and what you have | | | | different ports along the way. |
| to do to get there. | | | | Preparation for success requires hard work, |
| Furthermore, you need to be emotionally | | | | perseverance, a chartered course, and the right |
| equipped with the right attitude to move through | | | | attitude to turn obstacles to assets. |