I’ve finally done it!!! After countless chapters read, papers written, slides created, presentations presented, and hours of team meetings, I’ve finally finished all assignments required to complete my MBA from VCU. Now, it’s time for my wife and sit down and do some reflecting so that we can plan out where we want to go with our lives. The whole experience of getting my MBA has really proven to me that I have have what it takes to achieve great success!
How To Achieve Great Success – Developing the Desire
Remember that old commercial: “No one ever says they want to be a junkie when they grow up?” Well, what do you want to be when you grow up? This is a questions that each of us needs to answer for ourselves. What is your inner desire for achievement?
For me professionally, it’s to have the financial freedom and independence to “retire early.” What I mean by “retire early” is that I really want to be able to work on what I want, when I want, where I want, how I want, and with who I want. This isn’t something that many folks can do without achieving financial freedom. I’d like to be able to realistically achieve this by the time I hit 45. This may sound like a strange way to define success, but that’s my definition of success 🙂
How To Achieve Great Success – Preparation
Now that you have the desire, the next step to achieve great success is to prepare for opportunities that will come your way. Each person will need to do a type of self-assessment to determine what type of preparation they’ll need to achieve their desires.
Personally, getting my MBA and reading several popular personal finance books was the best way to prepare for my journey. Typically, getting more knowledge is one of the best ways to align yourself up to achieve great success.
The other thing you may need to do is really change your line of thinking. I tend to be a pretty pessimistic person for some reason, and I’ve come to realize that this is doing me more harm than good. Being able to see the “silver lining” of every cloud and getting out of “complaining mode” really seems to be a critical component to achieving great success. Many books I’ve read recently like Secrets of the Millionaire Mind and Think and Grow Rich are based on this line of thinking.
How To Achieve Great Success – Specific Goals
The next step to achieve great success is to set specific goals for yourself. I haven’t worked these into specifics yet, but here’s what I’m planning to work on going forward:
- Continue this blog
- Finish writing my Stock Market Investing Book for Beginners (I’m currently on Chapter #6)
- Get a promotion internally within my company and relocate
- Downsize our house
- Start a side-hustle business offering tutoring services
- Start an internet news YouTube channel (still trying to define the customer-value-proposition on this one)
- Actively work to obtain clients for website design and hosting business
How To Achieve Great Success – Final Thoughts
As you can see, the best way to achieve great success is to follow this process: Desires -> Preparation -> Goals -> Achieve great success! I feel like I’ve set myself up on a great path to achieve my desires. What are you doing to make your desires a reality?
Clarisse @ Make Money Your Way says
Thanks for this, I would follow your advice: Desires -> Preparation -> Goals -> Achieve great success! Having a good plan and consistency is the right key to reach our goals.
Clarisse @ Make Money Your Way recently posted…How Can I Retire Early? When You Stop Taking No for An Answer
Derek Chamberlain says
Clarisse,
You’re spot on – having the plan and following it consistently is the way to success. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Lauren says
Congrats on finishing your MBA!
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Derek Chamberlain says
Thanks Lauren 🙂
Brock @cleverdude says
You’ve got some great goals, Derek….and the best thing is, they’re all totally achievable – good luck!
Brock @cleverdude recently posted…Product Review And Giveaway: Honeywell Wi-Fi Programmable Thermostat
Derek Chamberlain says
Brock – thanks! I agree that they should all be completely achievable!
Don @ Breath of Optimism says
Congrats on getting your MBA! I like to sit down and think about my future life and what I want it to look like. Then I think about how I can get there. It’s all about figuring out your dreams and then planning on how to get there.
I set up mini-goals along the way since sometimes the big goals can feel overwhelming at times. But if you have a plan and are invested in reaching your goals, more often than not, you will succeed.
Don @ Breath of Optimism recently posted…Money and Happiness
Derek Chamberlain says
Don – it sounds like we run a similar process. If you fail to plan, then you’re planning to fail 🙂