Right now, you are 100% successful, when measured against your own definition of success. Whatever you are, whatever you have, whatever you’re doing now — these are the things you’ve set your sights on achieving. These are the things you’ve committed to with your behavior and your actions.

If your definition of success is to sit in front of the TV with a beer, then that’s probably what you’re doing, and your lifestyle reflects it. You may not think of that as "successful". Yet whatever you’ve set as your priority, is your own true personal definition of success.

It is almost impossible for you not to attain the goals to which you are truly committed.

You’ve been completely successful at designing and achieving the life you now live. If you’re not happy with that life, all you need to do is change your own definition of success. Change it, that is, not just in your thoughts and words, but in your actions, in your commitments.

You have what it takes to be successful at anything. Already, your priorities have been successfully manifest in the life you now live. You can have any life you want, when you adopt the necessary priorities.

The only way to control your own life is to take responsibility for it.

Yes, there are always circumstances to blame. Yes, there are those who would hold you back. Yes, there are things beyond your control.

Take responsibility anyway. People who achieve greatness, believe that whatever happens to them, they are responsible for it. It may seem unfair, yet it is ultimately liberating.

Whining will get you nowhere. Stepping up and taking responsibility, puts you in control. Take responsibility. Even if it’s not your fault, it’s your life. Even if it’s not your assignment, it’s your job.

You have a choice. You can always find someone, or something, to blame, and thereby allow circumstances and other people to control your life. Or, you can step up and take responsibility, no matter what. That puts you firmly in control, and gives you the power to live your life the way you choose.

Treasure your failures, because they will lead you to success. Each negative result gets you closer and closer to the ultimate goal.

If you’re not failing, you’re not getting anything done. Failure is nothing to be ashamed of, but rather something to learn from. Often you can learn more from undesired results, than you can from something which works the way you planned.

To be a winner, you’ve got to keep stepping up to bat. Even if you struck out the last time, and the time before that. To each new attempt you bring more experience, more knowledge, more determination.

With each failure you greatly increase your chances of winning. It would be a shame to stop just short of your goal. Every day you’re getting better and better. With each attempt you learn, and become more effective. The prize is closer than you think. You’re becoming a winner. Keep it up for as long as it takes.

Never has it been more important, or more interesting, or more fulfilling, to be open minded and curious. The world is changing at an explosive pace. The winners in today’s world are those who can recognize and embrace new ideas and concepts, while maintaining a strong, continuing foundation of life values. The older and more experienced you get (and we’re all headed in that same direction), the more you’re in danger of becoming closed minded. When you’ve seen it all, you begin to think like you’ve seen it all, acting out of habit and pre-conceived notions. Experience is a wonderful teacher. Don’t let your past experience limit you, though. Experience is best used, when it is continually renewed and updated. Make an effort to keep your mind open. Try something new today. Do something in a different way. Meet a new person. Turn down an unexplored road. Consider an opposing opinion. Read a magazine that’s completely out of your field. There’s a whole world out there, that wasn’t even in existence yesterday. Don’t miss it!

Frustration is nothing more than a reaction. The situation does not cause frustration. Rather, you choose to be frustrated by it. And as such, you can choose to transcend your frustration. Realize there is always something you can do, even if that something is just to accept the situation as it is. Frustration is useful because it helps you identify things that need changing and improving. It helps you understand what you want, what you don’t want, what works, and what doesn’t. Welcome your frustrations for what they can teach you. Then move on past them, and take the actions that they indicate. Once you’re aware of the problem, frustration is of no use. Discard your frustration, knowing that you’re in control.

If life would just stand still for a while, it would be easy to achieve our dreams. If we didn’t have all the everyday concerns, accomplishing great things would be a breeze. That’s not the way things work, though. Life goes on. The bills keep coming. You keep having to drive the kids to soccer practice. You have all those voice mail messages to answer. Don’t wait for it all to stop. It won’t. Go ahead and find a way to make the extra effort, in spite of it all. Do your dream while you do your life. There is no other way. Do what you can, when you can, always keeping your eye on the goal. While others are waiting for some ideal set of circumstances that will never come, you’ll be moving steadily ahead. Success comes from making a consistent effort, in spite of the continuing, compelling reasons not to. Start enjoying it right now.