Why in the world, when success is available to everyone, do so few succeed?

To the vast majority of managers, teachers and parents, this is one of the most perplexing questions with which they can be confronted.

Many will tell you it is a rhetorical question – there is no answer. However, that is just not so. I believe there is an answer and I want to share it with you. Perhaps you have already heard the answer. Albert E. N. Gray delivered it in a speech years ago. The speech was titled, The Common Denominator of Success.

Mr. Gray explained that success is something achieved by the minority of men and women, it is therefore unusual, and not to be achieved by following our usual likes and dislikes, nor by being guided by our natural preferences and prejudices. In other words, success cannot be achieved by doing what comes naturally.

Gray said the common denominator of success is in forming the habit of doing things that failures don’t like to do. Let me repeat — successful people form the habit of doing things failures don’t like to do.

Mr. Gray was asked why the successful people like doing the things that make them successful. He replied, “the beautiful truth is, successful people don’t like doing these things, which is precisely why they have formed the habit of doing them.”   A habit is something you do without any conscious thought given… you automatically do it.

Successful people are laser focused by their dedication for achieving their desired results. Therefore, those whom are considered unsuccessful, are easily distracted by life around them, living from the outside in, allowing their current circumstances, results, or surrounding environment to dictate their course of action. The unsuccessful people are those, who would rather spend time doing the things they prefer to do, rather than taking the necessary action steps on their list of ‘to-do’ items which will help propel them closer and closer towards their goal.

1. •  Successful people stay true to their course in achieving their goal.
   •  Successful people are not distracted by their environments or current circumstances.
   • Successful people know, that they must keep the crystal clear image of “where they want to go” in mind, and taking any action steps required, to continue on their path to achievement.

💥 Take Action Tip!  Make a list of six activities you know will give you the success you seek. Commit to do these things religiously for 30 days and they will become habitual.

Then, as William James put it, “You will wake up one fine day to find you are one of the competent ones of your generation.”

Wishing you all the best!