If you’re aiming for a six-figure income, merely discussing it won’t get you there. Dreaming about success is one thing, but without action and dedication, those dreams will remain out of reach. Whether your goals lie in career, academics, or personal growth, achieving success demands a mindset of persistence, discipline, and sacrifice. Tonight, I’ll share three vital principles that will help guide you toward your desired success.
A Lesson from the Guru and the Young Man
Let me share a story—one you might have heard before, but its message is crucial. A young man, eager to achieve great success and wealth, approached a seasoned guru for advice. “I want to be as successful as you,” he told him. Instead of offering typical business tips, the guru proposed an unconventional challenge.
“Meet me at the beach tomorrow at 4:00 a.m.,” said the guru. The young man, eager for knowledge, agreed.
The next day, the young man arrived at the beach at the agreed hour, excited to learn. The guru instructed him to walk into the water. As they ventured deeper into the ocean, the water level rose to his waist, then his chest. Confused, the young man wondered why they weren’t talking about business strategies, but rather swimming.
Without warning, the guru pushed him underwater and held him there. The young man, struggling for air, began to panic. Just as he thought he couldn’t last any longer, the guru pulled him up and asked, “When you were underwater, what did you want more than anything?”
Gasping for air, the young man replied, “I wanted to breathe.”
The guru nodded and said, “When you desire success as much as you desired to breathe, then you will be successful.”
The Power of Desire
This story illustrates an important lesson: many people say they want success, but few desire it with the necessary intensity. If you don’t want success more than your next break, sleep, or leisure activity, it will be difficult to reach your goals. To truly succeed, you need to yearn for it with the same desperation as someone fighting for air.
Achieving your goals requires sacrifices. You might have to forgo sleep, pulling late nights working on your dreams. As rapper 50 Cent wisely said, “Sleep is for people who are broke.”
Sometimes, this means sacrificing parts of your social life, such as skipping a party or avoiding distractions to stay focused. While others take time off, you’ll be putting in the effort that will bring you lasting success.
The Necessity of Sacrifice
The second principle is sacrifice. Success demands that you give up your current comforts for your future potential. This involves putting in effort now—even when it’s difficult or uncomfortable—so that you can enjoy the rewards later.
Consider Emmitt Smith, the legendary football player. After winning his first Super Bowl, he appeared in an ad lifting weights, saying he wasn’t doing it for himself, but for his future success. This level of dedication—doing the tough work when others are resting—is key to success. It’s about pushing through when it feels easier to quit.
When you feel exhausted or on the verge of giving up, that’s when you must dig deeper. Pain and discomfort are part of the process. Don’t give up when the going gets tough; let that struggle fuel your progress. Success is often awarded to those who keep going despite the obstacles.
Cultivating a Success-Oriented Mindset
The third principle is a mindset of unwavering commitment. You must be prepared to work harder than anyone else. While intelligence and talent are valuable, success often hinges on persistence. Those who achieve their goals are not necessarily the most gifted, but the ones who keep pushing when others stop.
This mindset applies to every area of life. As a student, success might mean going the extra mile: meeting with professors, asking for help, or not settling for mediocrity.
Success demands resilience. It’s about choosing long-term gains over short-term pleasures, and the ability to keep moving forward when others give up.
Pain Is Temporary, Success Is Permanent
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that pain is fleeting, but success is enduring. The discomfort you experience may last a day, a week, or a year, but it will eventually be replaced by the satisfaction of your hard-earned achievement. Success is the ultimate reward for enduring temporary hardships.
There’s no shortcut to success. Setbacks and struggles are part of the journey, but you have the power to choose perseverance. Every challenge you face is an opportunity for growth. Keep moving forward, because success is waiting on the other side.
Conclusion
In your pursuit of success, remember that it requires hard work, sacrifice, and a determined mindset. You can’t reach a six-figure income or any major goal by simply wishing for it. You must want it as badly as you want your next breath. And you must be ready to put in the effort, sacrifice your comforts, and remain focused no matter the obstacles in your path.
The journey to success isn’t easy, but if you commit to these principles, you’ll reach your destination. Your dreams are within reach—work tirelessly, push through the struggles, and never give up. Success is yours to claim.