The difference between becoming successful and missing out on what you deserve is very small. By applying yourself and taking your efforts to the extra degree, you can change your entire life.
If you’re like most people, you dream of owning a more beautiful home, having more success on the job, owning your own business, and obtaining ultimate freedom. The difference between you and the richest person in the world is merely, one degree.
Take for example the Olympics. Did you know that in 2004, the men’s 800 meter race margin of victory was .71 seconds? If the other guy would have pushed himself just a little harder, he would have been the one who won the Olympic Gold Medal, and that would have changed the entire history of the race for that year. A different name would have made it to the screen, and a different man’s life would have been changed.
People generally do not believe that a small amount of effort will make all the difference. However, you’ll never know unless you try. Take for example someone who’s goal is to lose weight. If they push themselves just a few more minutes on the treadmill or walk one extra mile per day that could mean the difference between success and defeat.
For the past 10 years, the average margin of victory for the Indy 500 has been 1.54 seconds. Yet again, this is another example of a very small amount of time, and a very small amount of extra effort. Perhaps the individuals who won had more belief in themselves. For some reason, they knew they would make it despite the odds. They had that extra power, belief, enthusiasm, and most of all – passion.
If you apply just a little extra effort to each area of your life, imagine the changes you could make. For example, instead of waking up at 7 am, get up at 6:30 and start working on a few things you’ve been meaning to get around to. It will boost your productivity tremendously and help you to start the day off right.
When you start practicing applying yourself a bit more, you will automatically notice that your attitude changes towards everything in your life. Suddenly, your desire to push harder will spill over into your personal, business, and family life. In a short while, you will have everything you want, and each time you achieve something, you’ll gain a renewed sense of faith and belief in your abilities.
You can apply yourself in plenty of ways, but it all starts within you. The difference between success and failure depends on your outlook. Do you believe that what you are after is achievable? The best way to find the answer to this question is to simply ask yourself if it’s been done before. The answer is almost always, “yes”. If what you want to achieve has been done before, what makes you any different from the person who achieved it? How are you really any different from the people who are already living your dream?
What it all boils down to is how hard you push yourself. People who want success aim high, but they don’t overdo it. Almost no one that tries too hard makes it because trying too hard and giving too much leads to exhaustion and burn out. Achieving success takes time, but it is that one small degree that will get you there.
About the author: This article is courtesy of The Personal Development Company and 212 The Extra Degree by Mac Anderson and Sam Parker.
Credits: Photo courtesy of Richard Masoner.