How to Be Successful in Life

Co-authored by Kamila Tan

Last Updated: February 8, 2023 References Approved

Regardless of how old you are, where you live, or what your career goals are, it's likely your ultimate goals in life are to be happy and successful. To be successful means more than just having money and making your mark. It means following your passions, living purposefully, and enjoying the present moment.

Things You Should Know

Identify your passions, interests, and values so you can set goals based on things that truly matter to you.
Pursue the knowledge and skills you need to achieve your goals and maximize your potential.
Create a schedule to manage your time wisely. Set aside time every week to work on passion projects and explore new interests.

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Developing a Path to Success

1
Live purposefully. In order to achieve your dreams and be the person you want to be, you will have to start paying attention to your actions. Ask yourself, "Is what I'm doing going to lead me to where I want to be in life?"^{[1]
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- If you find yourself constantly bored, daydreaming about the future or past or counting down the minutes until the day ends, it is probably because you feel disconnected from what you're doing.
- Cherish your time. Try to spend your free time doing things that you enjoy doing, rather than wasting time. For example, rather than spending your weekends watching television, spend them partaking in your hobbies or spending time with loved ones and new friends.
- Measure your productivity by engagement, not achievement. Not everything you do has to be productive in the conventional sense, but activities should be engaging and enjoyable.
- Keep in mind that it is perfectly fine to spend some time doing nothing and just being lazy each day. This can actually help with your imagination and self-awareness. Strive for a balance between doing things you want to do and allowing yourself to just “be.”
2
Identify your passions. Before you can achieve success, you will have to define what success means to you — and no one else can do that for you.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Kamila Tan
Life and Recovery Coach
Expert Interview. 24 June 2022.} While it may take years to realize what you want to do with your life, identifying your passions, interests, and values will help you set goals and give your life a sense of meaning. If you have trouble identifying these things, then ask a friend or family member to help you. Ask yourself the following questions:
- What do you want your legacy to be?
- How would you like to be remembered by others?
- How do you want to make your community a better place?
- What are some favorite subjects of interest in your life? For example, think of subjects you enjoyed studying in school. Ask why you liked them.^{[3]
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- For instance, you may have loved musical theater. Think: was it because you loved the music, or was it because you loved working with a big group towards a common goal?
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3
Make a list of your goals, and what you might do to achieve them.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Kamila Tan
Life and Recovery Coach
Expert Interview. 24 June 2022.} Be sure to address both short-term and long-term goals; try to think beyond financial and career goals, such as relationship goals, personal goals for bettering yourself, things you would like to experience, or things you want to learn. Draw up a timeline that says when you want to achieve each part.
- Set SMART goals; goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.
- Break big goals down. For instance, if your goal is to see the world, you can set the goal of saving money and visiting certain countries.
4
Stick to your commitments. Planning is not sufficient; keeping your word is also important. If you tell someone you will do something, do it. Similarly, don't tell someone you will do something if you're not sure you can. Be honest about your limits.^{[5]
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Trustworthy Source
American Psychological Association
Leading scientific and professional organization of licensed psychologists
Go to source}
- Avoid canceling plans, and try not to cancel twice on the same person.
- Make commitments to yourself, and stick to them. Write down your commitments and hang them in places you can see.
- Make sure that your commitments are gradually moving you towards your goals. Review your goals now and then to make sure you are moving in the right direction.

Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Achieving External Success

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Be educated. Education gives you the knowledge, skills, and credibility to achieve your maximum potential. In terms of financial success, statistics have shown that the more education you have (i.e. the higher degree you achieve), the more money you are likely to make.^{[6]
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- In 2011, the median weekly earnings for high school graduates was $638 while those with bachelor's degrees made $1053. That same year, those with masters or doctoral degrees made $1263 and $1551 respectively.
- Not all education has to be formal. Apprenticeships and long-term training programs are also positively correlated with higher incomes. Obtaining a Certificate in your field can help to increase your salary.
- Educate yourself for pleasure as well. The more you know about the world you live in, the more questions you will have and the more interested you will be.
2
Manage your finances. Learning how to manage your money will help ensure your financial stability over time, regardless of your income.^{[7]
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- Keep track of your expenses. Subtract your monthly expenses from your monthly income to determine how much spending money you have available each month. Also, review your bank statements often and notice where you spend your money. This will help you prevent overspending and ensure that your bank statements are correct.
- Understand your income. When calculating your income, be sure to take into account the federal, state, and social security taxes that will be deducted from your gross pay. Don't overlook miscellaneous deductions, such as health insurance premiums, savings bonds and loan payments. The resulting number is your net pay, which is what you end up taking home with you.
- Cut back. If you are not earning enough money to cover your net expenses, then look into your expenses to see where you might be able to cut back.
- Save money. Every month, you should deposit some of your money into a savings account. Consider asking your employer to directly deposit a portion of your income into your savings account.
- Invest cautiously. If your workplace offers a retirement savings plan, put your excess incomes in that.
3
Manage your time. Putting off important tasks until the last minute can cause you unnecessary stress, and increase the likelihood of errors and negligence. Manage your time so that you have enough time to complete tasks effectively.
- Use a planner to help keep you organized throughout the day, week, and month.
- Set reminders on your smart phone and make use of its electronic timer for better time management.
- Make a list of all the things you need to do in a given day, and check off each task as you complete it. This will help you stay organized and motivated.

Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Achieving Internal Success

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Enjoy the present moment. If you are constantly dwelling on the past or daydreaming about the future, you are missing out on the present moment. Remember that the past and the future are simply illusions, and that real life takes place here and now.
- Start paying attention to negative thoughts so that you can move on from them and enjoy the present moment. If a negative thought arises in your head, then acknowledge it, label it a negative thought, and then let it fade away.^{[8]
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  Research source} Regular meditation or mindfulness exercises can help to make this feel more natural for you.
- Get in the habit of paying attention to small details around you. Appreciate the feeling of the sun on your skin, the sensation of your feet walking on the ground, or the artwork in the restaurant you are eating in. Noticing things like these will help you silence a rambling mind and appreciate every moment.
2
Don't compare your own life to other peoples' lives. Unfortunately, many people measure their own success by comparing it to the success of those around them. If you want to feel accomplished and happy, you will have to value your life for its own sake.
- Many people have the tendency to compare the low points of their own lives with the high points of other peoples' lives. Remember that no matter how perfect somebody's life may seem, behind closed doors everybody deals with tragedy, insecurity, and other difficulties.^{[9]
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  Research source} Pay attention to and limit your use of social media to help you remember this.
- Rather than comparing yourself with people who are "better off" than you, think about all of the people who are homeless, chronically ill, or living in poverty. This will help you appreciate what you have rather than feeling sorry for yourself. Try engaging in volunteer work to help make this more apparent. This can help to boost your happiness and confidence as well.
3
Count your blessings. No matter how much you achieve in life, you will always feel unhappy if you constantly focus on what you don't have. Instead, devote time every day to appreciating the things you do have. Think beyond material items; appreciate your loved ones, and cherish happy memories.
- This is also important when thinking about the future. Instead of fearing what might happen, try to be excited for the new experiences you will have.^{[10]
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  Expert Source
  
  Kamila Tan
  Life and Recovery Coach
  Expert Interview. 24 June 2022.}

Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Cultivating Success in Every Aspect of Your Life

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Look after your health. A healthy body supports a healthy mind. Eat a balanced diet and ensure that you aren't lacking in any necessary nutrients. Establish the cause of any problems you may experience, such as a lack of energy or a lack of concentration and deal with them by discussing with a doctor, nutritionist and related health professionals. Get plenty of exercise too but make your fitness choices according to what you enjoy.
2
Follow up on opportunities. If you have a chance to shine, take it. If you are worried you won't have time and energy for a good opportunity, ask yourself: would this contribute to my end goals? If it would, then get rid of other commitments in order to pursue this opportunity.
- Remember, some chances only come around once. You can't bank them.
- This doesn't mean you should throw away all your savings or get rid of your safety net. It just means you should say yes when you are given an offer to move ahead.
3
Surround yourself with positive people. Make friends with people you admire for various reasons: because they are happy, kind, generous, successful at work, or successful in other ways. Join forces with those who have achieved things you want to achieve, or who are on their way to a common goal. Don't let jealousy get in your way: nobody's success is a threat to yours.^{[11]
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Trustworthy Source
PLOS ONE
Online peer-reviewed, open access scientific research journal
Go to source}
- When making friends with someone, ask yourself if the person makes you feel motivated, positive, and confident, or if they make you feel tired, overwhelmed, or incompetent. Choose to spend time with the positive people, not the ones sucking your energy.
- If you have friends or family members who always make you feel bad about yourself, limit the time you spend with them. Also, make sure to identify relationships that are not helping you to move towards your goals, that stress you out, or that require too much of your time and energy without being reciprocal.
- Look for mentors among the people you admire. If you think you could learn from someone, ask for their advice.
4
Set boundaries with others. Advocate for your own needs. Be caring towards others, but don't accept abuse from anyone. Remember, being a good person does not mean you have to take violent or disrespectful language or actions from anyone.^{[12]
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- Respect the boundaries others set for you, too. Listen to your loved ones when they tell you they need space, or want to do something alone.

Expert Q&A
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Question

What is first step to success?

Kamila Tan
Life and Recovery Coach
Kamila Tan is a Recovery Coach, former Division I Collegiate Athlete, Inspirational Speaker, and Mental Health Advocate. She is the Founder of Embracing Strength LLC, a coaching business with the mission to provide support for athletes recovering from disordered eating and body image issues and provide support for their families. Kamila informs her work helping athletes pursue recovery with her experience playing beach volleyball as a Division I NCAA collegiate athlete. Kamila holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master of Public Health from the University of California at Los Angeles, and is currently pursuing her Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California.

Kamila Tan

Life and Recovery Coach

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Define what "success" means to you! For some, "success" means finding a sustainable career that enables them to support themselves and their families. For others, "success" means healing from or successfully managing a chronic illness. Still for others, "success" means owning a thriving business and donating to their community of choice. John Wooden said it best—"Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming."