If I were to ask one hundred people “how do you define success?” I would probably get one hundred different responses.  The responses would include achievements related to money, relationships, notoriety, health and many others.

The more important question, for those who identified some level of success, is how did you get there.  I would guess that most would say hard work, some might say luck (if you have been following my blog, you know how I feel about luck … when preparation and opportunity collide) but most would most likely identify some kind of action on their part that led to their accomplishments.

My point is this, successful people all have in common, that they were proactive in becoming successful.  I get tired of people that do nothing but make excuses why they can’t do this or can’t do that.  If it weren’t for ….., I could be successful.  if only ….., then I could accomplish what I want to.  Do you know this person?  Maybe you are this person.

I used to be this person.  Making excuses for all the things that were holding me back.  All the reasons why I have a list a mile long of things I want to do but didn’t.  Then one day I realized that the only one that was ever going to change this was me.  One of my favorite quotes:

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”

— Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States

I didn’t see the message in this picture until after I took it.  Follow me on this:

1.  THE MIRROR

When you look into a mirror what do you see?  A reflection of yourself.  You are the only one that you see.  You are the only one that controls your destiny.  You are responsible for the way you act, the people you spend your time with and ultimately, each and every decision you make.  There is no one else in the mirror that will make decisions for you and no one else to do it for you.

2.  THE SWITCH ON THE WALL

What will be your switch?  More importantly, what will be the catalyst for you to flip that switch?  We all want to be successful at something and I am not here to tell you what that something is but some kind of decision needs to be made to flip that switch.  Think about how many times you walk by switches during the day and don’t flip them.  Isn’t life pretty much like that?  We have opportunities to flip the switch all the time and most of the time we walk right by it.

3.  THE DOORWAY

There is an open doorway in the picture.  I have come to appreciate the idea that anything is possible.  Now I acknowledge that there are some things that just won’t happen but work with me here.  It is our own self-limiting beliefs that hold us back, that keep us from flipping the switch and keep us from walking through the doorway of opportunity.  We can see what’s on the other side of the door but we simply take a look and keep on walking.

Alright, I know this is a little deeper than I usually get, but what can I say, sometimes you just throw out what’s on your mind.  My message though, is simple.

Take responsibility for your life, flip the switch and walk through the door.  The success you have been looking for might just be on the other side.

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Barry Smith   www.buildingwhatmatters.com   10/11/12            photo by author