7 Ways to Gain Success

In this world there are many ways in which a person can become successful. Most of the time hard work is involved in order for this to occur, but luck can also play a large role as well. Everyone wants to be successful, but most of the time no one wants to perfom the necessary steps in order to make this possible. Shortly, I will discuss a few simple activities that if done daily can help achieve your full potential. If these rather mundane tasks are followed a well rounded knowledge can be gained and a Renaissance Man persona will emerge.

The first part of achieving your goal is to perform tasks which the majority of the population overlook. Most people are content with thier idyllic lives and don't strive for anything great. Instead of seeking knowledge which will lead to success they sit in front of the T.V. for hours on end and don't think about anything. Be different, don't be complacent, read a book instead of sitting in front of the T.V., and while surfing the web look up things that will help you learn. The internet is the greatest source of knowledge anywhere, so when not on Facebook put it to good use.

1. News- Every day or so I suggest the news be looked at. Be it either from a newspaper, the internet, or the T.V. This enables one not only to keep up with world events but also on discoveries as well. I generally use Google News to see what's happening. It's a good source of varied topics, ranging from politics to celebrities.

2. Reading- By doing a little reading every now and again, this helps improve cognitive ablitity, writing skills, and vocabulary. Anything can be read in order to gain these improvements, but I say try something challenging. Pick up an old book, written for say 100 hundred years ago. By doing this a sense of what life was like back then will prevail. And more often that not these authors use a greater and more eloquent vocabulary so even if the book isn't interesting at least some new words will be picked up.

3. Science- Learning about new discoveries and other fascinating scientific topics gives one a greater knowlege and appreciation of the world. Many of life's mysteries are waiting to be found and understood, by utilizing scientific methods we are able to help mankind by delving into the most simplistic and also the most complex aspects of life. By understanding both we are able to solve almost every problem that we face. A couple useful and interesting sites are Discovery News and Live Science.

4. Politics- Understanding politics is key to ensuring that "We the People" have adequate rights that will not be violated. If our back is turned on this important subject we not only jeopardize our own prosperity but that of others. Too often people ignore this, and one day it will come back to haunt them. Make your voice heard, don't be silent. And educate yourself on the current issues so ignorance will die. Einstein said "Politics is more difficult than physics." This may be true, but it doesn't mean we should give up on navigating through this treacherous sea. Check out the news for political information and gain some principles so a rightful stance can be formed.

5. Philosophy- In order to be successful some famous philosopher's views will have to be reflected upon. By knowing other people's positions one can analyze them, absorb parts, and eventually form brand new and completely unique philosophies that will help with every task in life. Philosophers are incredibly numerous, but it's relatively easy to locate a few whose opinions can be agreed with and fit your own values. So I say read up on the works of philosophers that you find interesting.

6. History- This is a highly important subject that everyone should know. Possessing a basic understanding of the world's colorful history is a must. As the old saying goes "those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it". So do a little research in order to make sure that mistakes don't arise like they did to others. Essentially, build off other's pasts, construct a building upon sturdy foundations that were already laid down. One fun way to look back in time is through the internet archive aka The Wayback Machine. On this site one can view web pages from as far back as a decade ago. Just type in the URL and a glimpse of the past will emerge; it's a good way to see how things have evolved over the years.

7. Writing- Another important task which everyone should do every day is write. It doesn't matter what is written about or where it is recorded. The main thing is just to express yourself, simply write what you're passionate about. I suggest keep a journal or perhaps even a blog like this one. Out of all the topics previously mentioned I hold this one with the most esteem, don't get me wrong the others are vastly important as well, but being able to have a firm grasp upon the English language and how to record thoughts envelops all the rest. And the more one writes the better this skill becomes, that's why something should be written at least once a day. A fulsome amount doesn't have to be put down, a 15o words will suffice. This can be easily accomplished in as little as 10-15 minutes. I myself keep a journal and I have been doing so for over three years; I basically just record what happened throughout my day. Besides gaining necessary writing experience it also instills self discipline onto an individual. For even though many days I don't feel like writing I do it anyway. If enough strength is had to push youself to write even when not in the mood, then eventually other even more important things will be achieved when enough will power is obtained.
Even if everything I have said doesn't appealing, simply write in order to have a tangible record of your thoughts. A journal entry a day will ensure that these don't get lost in oblivion. Years later they can look back upon and past events will be remembered, these will show how much everything has changed. This is probably the best result of daily writing. So make sure to do it for yourself and no one else. See the changes in the world, but above all those that are taking place within your life.

If the preceding 7 steps that I have just listed are followed, I do confidently believe that success will be found at one time or another. But even if it's not the type that is expected, success will in fact be achieved, for gaining knowledge and individual thought makes a person invincible. People who fit into this small part of the population can expect to accomplish great things. Along with this, I cannot forbear mentioning that besides the topics I have covered there are many more which are unable be expressed in words. Certain things can't be taught they have to learned first hand. So it is necessary sometimes for one to brave the unknown in order to gain truth and all the other aspects of life that make success possible. Teach yourself what you desire, don't idly sit back while another dictates what should be learned.

"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other."-Abraham Lincoln

"Don't confuse fame with success. Madonna is one; Hellen Keller is the other." -Erma Bombeck

"Success is dependent on effort" -Sophocles