Are you cut out to be successful? Many people say they want to be successful, however, only a handful are truly willing to walk through fire to achieve it

Updated: Tuesday January 21, 2014 MYT 10:49:40 AM

Are you cut out to be successful?

BY PAM SIOW

While many say they want success, few are willing to walk through fire to achieve it. – AFPpic

YOU ARE not alone if you want to be a success. And while success means different things to different people, financial independence, more time to enjoy friends and family, and a low-stress lifestyle definitely help to create a fulfilled life.Many people say they want to be successful, however, only a handful are truly willing to walk through fire to achieve it. Here are five traits to adopt that can start you on the journey towards becoming successful.

No. 1: Willingness to do what you hate and love it in the end

In business, as is true with most things in life, there is no shortage of tasks and responsibilities that no one enjoys. Yet these are precisely the things that are necessary for growth. For instance, in the early part of my career, I was terrified of public speaking. Nevertheless, I needed to at least learn to “fake it” for the sake of my business. Over time, not only did I learn to overcome my fears, but I actually began to enjoy speaking to crowded rooms. Today, it’s the highlight of my day when I have the opportunity to speak in public and I became a better businesswoman because I faced my fears.

Remember: The activities and responsibilities that you dread, but are necessary for your business may end up becoming some of your most treasured opportunities.

No. 2: Learn to keep going despite not wanting to

No one wakes up on the right side of the bed every single morning, and there are bound to be days when you simply can’t get motivated and don’t feel like putting in the effort. That’s normal, and it’s okay, even healthy to have “off” days. The bad news is that you must put in the time if you wish to reap the reward. The good news is that things will inevitably turn around, leaving you a stronger, more focused person in the process.

Remember: Successful people go all the way, no excuses.

No. 3: Learn to fall in love with boring activities

Let’s face it, building a business is definitely not all glitz and glamour and there are plenty of things that are downright boring. But success is really all about doing the same things over and over, and mastering them. Expertise comes from repetition, and despite being bored, doing the same thing over and over until it becomes effortless. In many cases, these are the things that you will need to do for the business.

Remember: What you view as boring and mundane, is skilled knowledge and expertise to your customer

No. 4: Be humble and recognise that you know nothing

Regardless of your position or rank in life or business, it’s important to realise that there is always someone who has been there before and is above you now.

And that’s true for everyone in every industry. Learning to recognise this and be humble about your knowledge and your capabilities is the first step in accepting that there is always more to learn. After all, personal growth comes from accepting continued education as a way to stay ahead of the curve, constantly learning, adapting and bettering your trade. No rest for the weary they say, and those who seek not to improve will stand by and watch as the competition passes them by.

Remember: Setting stretch goals, embracing continuous learning and aiming higher is a core element of success.

No. 5: Point the finger at yourself

Perhaps one of the most difficult lessons, yet one of the most important is the ability to hold yourself accountable. Too often in business, when things don’t go as expected, we tend to want to blame others. It’s easy to shirk responsibility — it’s a faulty system or an untrained colleague. The truth is sometimes harder, but always the better path. Recognise that you played a part in the process and be accountable for your actions. The most successful people accept the fact that they are the main factor for the circumstances in their life. When things go wrong (as they always do) they go out and fix it, learning from the experience.

Remember: It’s through accountability and learning from your mistakes that you will be able to transform negatives into positives.

Unfortunately, there is no magic pill for obtaining success and it’s never as easy as following a few steps. But with dedication and the willingness to put in the time and effort while being humble and accountable, the road to success is clearer than ever.