In the words of the late, great Earl Nightingale, “Do you act like everyone else – without knowing why?” Why do only only 5% succeed by the time they get to retirement age? Because they conform, because they act like the wrong percentage group. They are in the 95% group. Why do people conform – they don’t know. They believe their lives are shaped by circumstances, things that happen to them by exterior circumstances.
Why do people go to work? Why do they get up in the morning? 95% will have no idea. They do it because everyone else does it. They conform. You need to have a reason why you do what you do. Success is not purely about making money, it is doing what you want to do, not what someone else wants you to do. It’s deliberately doing a predetermined job because that is what you decided to do – DELIBERATELY. Only 1 out of 20 does that. That is why there is not really any competition, and the only competition is ourselves. Those who succeed do so because they have goals. They know where they are going and they work towards their goals.
These words are from “The Strangest Secret” by Earl Nightingale and if you have never heard it, I strongly suggest you listen to it. It could have almost been produced in the last 12 months but it was recorded 65 years ago. Success principles never change. The link to the audio recording is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4s1Fyh4HAg&t=943s. I would suggest you bookmark it and refer back to it on a regular basis.
It is always very easy to follow the masses. A quote someone said to me many years ago is “Observe the masses and do the opposite. The masses are always wrong” When it comes to building a successful business, you cannot ever follow the masses. Remember only 1 in 20 will be successful. You need to have the courage to believe in yourself. In so many cases, other people will believe in you long before you believe in yourself. Surround yourself with people who believe in you. Hanging around with successful or success minded people will have a positively profound effect on your life. I can personally vouch for this.
There will be times when you doubt the decisions you make in life as only 1 in 20 will make those decisions. This is what determines those who succeed and those who don’t. It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.
Question everything. Ask WHY! I have asked this question so many times during my life – in business and on a personal level. I have never been one to conform to anything. I love making MY decisions in life and not following the herd. This is one reason why I am good at what I do and why I am in a position to help as many business owners as I can. I want people to ask that question of me when I am working with clients. I certainly ask it to all my clients. I want to know why they do what they do. We all need to know why we are doing what we are doing.
So in summary, Conformity will never get you the results you want – in any area of your life. Have the courage to make your own decisions, and do not do what everyone else does just because. Believe in yourself, and surround yourself with positive upbeat people. Get yourself immersed in a personal development programme. Have a team of people around you who are successful or success minded and if you don’t believe in yourself now, you soon will.
This article was first published on LinkedIn by Richard Knight on 03/05/2021