Beyond Reach? Maybe not.                                                Home Page                        

Everything Knoxville                                                                                               Print this page

This week I had a discussion with someone who is world famous and at the top of his field. His

success has meant wealth, celebrity status and a unique perspective on goal

setting and accomplishment. 

In the span of my career, I’ve asked many successful people how they achieved success,

and each has his or her own story of breaking through barriers. However, this recent

conversation offers a peek into the mind of someone who has put into practice simple

truths that can apply to you and me. 

In quotes you will see his comments that offer insight into success: 

What makes you happy? It is true that life happens, and often we have little choice

about what we must do in order to provide for our families. However, years can go by

before we’ve looked deep inside ourselves to see if we are doing all we can to achieve

our dreams. “Don’t settle for things, reach for something else.” Ask yourself, “what

makes you happy?”  

What do you really care about? Many people seek to make money, receive a fancy

title or impress others with great credentials. That is good for those fulfilled by such

“things”, but if deep down you still feel that something is missing, you may need to

answer personal questions that define new goals. “It sounds easy, but basic personal

questions can bring a new focus, what do you really care about?”  

What are you chasing? Often we find ourselves in a race to achieve success that

others defined. What is success to you? Success means different things to different

people, and in order to be heading in the right direction, you must first identify what

direction is best for you and those impacted by your decisions. “What are you chasing

and why?” 

What should you do? Once you’ve asked such questions, establish a plan. Do you

wish to change jobs? Go to school? Work less to be home with family more? Do you

simply want to make more money? There are no right or wrong answers, but they

must be clearly defined in order to aim at something specific. The only one who can

establish your target is you. “What should I do about my hopes and dreams?” 

Do you wish for change? Change is good, but it must be defined, targeted and then

pursued with a vengeance. It is important to ask simple questions and establish a

clear target that defines success for us as individuals. Once we add new goals, a fresh

vision emerges and ignites passion. Passion can fuel your efforts and bring energy to

your hopes and desires.  

Don’t simply pursue success. Pursue what success means to you and go after it. Are

your dreams out of reach? Maybe not. It is yet another powerful question that only you

can answer. But be courageous, it just may change your life.