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“Success is about living the life of your dreams whatever that might mean for you. It’s about being perfectly content and honestly saying to yourself that you would change very little about your current existence.”

I believe that the definition for “success” is as unique as an individual’s fingerprints. If you think that being successful is only about having a hefty bank balance then you are wrong.

You could have a lot of money and still live a very miserable life. Take for example Mother Theresa of India, who knows how much money she had? 

Yet she was admired and adored by presidents and kings around the world. Would you say she was not a success? Today her name still lives on long after she is dead.

As a matter of fact, money should be used as a medium to help us continue with our purpose in life. They say money is good but the love for money is the root of all evil.

Be careful what you want in life, is it to promote your God-given talents and gifts in order that you do not deprive the world of them, or is it riches you want to accumulate?

I want to promote both my talents and acquire wealth. Let me mention here that I am not saying that you should stay poor no, nor am I stopping you from accumulating wealth no-no-no. 

I am just emphasising the point that success does not necessarily mean having a hefty bank balance.

I have read many books on success and have discovered that one of the most important ingredients to success is knowledge. 

More Knowledge Means Improved Skills

In order to have more, you must become more. “Your success is but a reflection of the value you bring to others and your value is a direct reflection of your skillset.”

The more valuable your skillset, the better your chances for higher achievement. Every one of us wants more from life yet only a small percentage of us are willing to pay the actual price for it.

If you are not willing to put in the effort required for success, then you do not deserve to be called successful and will remain exactly where you are.

Success does not come easy. It is not a destination but a journey. If you want to make more, then you must start giving out more. The more you give the more you receive.

The first part of the success formula is to make yourself more valuable by improving your knowledge and skills set. The world is willing to pay higher prices for better skills.

How do you add value to your skillset, of course by acquiring more knowledge through obtaining an education. Now, education does not necessarily have to be formal. 

If you want to succeed at whatever you want to do or are doing in life, you cannot escape the process of acquiring more knowledge, and one of the best ways of doing it is by reading relevant materials.

Today, there is an abundance of reading materials available on nearly every topic imaginable. With easy access to books through various platforms, including the internet, there is no excuse for failure.

Equally, important to the concept of improving your value is the avoidance of stagnation. Once you’ve taken the initiative to enhance your value then keep the fire burning by continuously working to improve yourself.

There is always an opportunity to expand your knowledge. The more knowledge you acquire the more valuable you become and the better the service you provide.

Remember that humanity is all about service regardless of what you are doing. I know for certain that there is more pleasure derived when you are of service. 

Apply the Acquired Knowledge and Skills

Acquiring knowledge is the first part of the success formula, applying that knowledge is the second and sometimes the most difficult part.

Knowledge acquired and not put to practice or implemented is a waste of time and energy.

Imagine, you decide to study brokerage as a part-time career. You attend seminars and read books about it. 

Then after a while, your free time seems to have been overtaken by having to work late at your office so much that you cannot do anything after your work.

In the end, your aspiration to become a broker has died and life has gotten in your way. Look at how much time and energy has been wasted.

Am sure this story is familiar to many of us. The bare truth is that you wasted time in the first place and sadly the acquired knowledge will also go to waste as long as you do not make time to put it to use.

Sometimes it could not be that life has gotten in your way but the fear of failure has crept in. Fear is also one of the most common detractors of success.

Let me encourage you that whatever, obstacles you may encounter when implementing or putting your acquired knowledge to use, should be treated as a challenge.

Life has so many challenges and it demands that you overcome them in order to succeed. Imagine a life without challenges, wouldn’t that be boring?

When you triumph and succeed you will look back and say well I have come a long way.

Remember that in order to have more you must become more. The more obstacles you overcome the more you become.

Applying your acquired knowledge will propel you towards achieving greater heights of success be it in your career, business, or indeed your relationships.

Conclusion

There is no universal formula for success. This article serves as a guide based on what has worked for me, and I believe it can also support you on your own path to success.

Personal development is not an easy task. It demands discipline, consistency and integrity in your life. You will always be compensated according to the value you are able to deliver to other people and nothing more.

Every new level of income you wish to attain demands a new you. You alone hold the key to either thrive, survive or fail and you alone will determine the path to your own success based on how valuable a resource you are.

I believe that life is about creating and value addition.