As I start publicising my newbook with a vengence (The Recipe for Success, out in May) I find myself getting in to lots of debates about success. Now, I realise that I might be saying something a little controversial when I argue in the book that success in this world is basically about mindset and that those who achieve great things have brought that success upon themselves...but I had no idea it was going to be so controversial especially against the backdrop of the current recession.
The debate I found myself part of yesterday was one where many people felt angry that I was saying that mindset played such a significant part seeing as friends of theirs, through no fault of their own, were losing their jobs or failing to win contracts. This must be proof then, they argued, that it was as much to do with luck as determination or positive outlook.
I disagree. People who succeed have been through rough times. Take a snapshot of Richard Branson's life or Duncan Bannatyne's life and you may discover a time when everything looked hopeless. Right now those people are doing very well and overall they appear to be successful. But there were times for both of them when the chips were down.
Bad things can happen to people through no fault of their own of course. But it is how you choose to respond to those bad things and how you create opportunities out of those that makes the difference between success and failure (or just average-ness). I would even argue that mindset can help you avoid a lot of difficult times through preparedness and the confidence to make changes rather than waiting for change to happen to you but I am sure that will be even more controversial!
This isn't just true in our relatively rich Western world. People everywhere have been capable of remarkable things. They have fought for their rights, they have worked themselves out of poverty, they have wheeled and dealed to get basics for their families...They may not have been able to be millionaires by our standards but they have used whatever little power or influence they had to change their situation, even if in small ways. There are significant limits for most of these people but many use what they have to make things just a little bit better.
My question to anyone who feels totally at the whim of life is to ask whether they are taking every opportunity, using any piece of influence they have? Or are they just resigned to a life where they take no control and no responsibility?
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