success rules

Jul

2021

How To Not Give Up Today

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Do you ever have days when you feel like giving up? Sometimes, negative emotions can be quite overwhelming. Intense sadness, grief and pain can even lead to depression. When you feel like you are at the lowest point in your life, don’t give up just yet. At least, not today! Remember that tomorrow is a new day. You just have to wait until zero o’clock and it is already a promise of a new day. So, how to not give up today?

1. Listen to Music

The first thing that you need to do is to listen to music. Music has the power to relieve stress and relax the mind. It affects both your mind and body. However, not all music is created equal. To calm your mind, it is best to listen to slow, meditation, classical or piano music. You can also opt to listen to positive affirmations. The purpose is to help you calm down.

2. Breathe Properly

Once you have calmed down, the next thing to do is to concentrate on your breathing. Have you heard of the ‘fight or flight’ response of the body? It is a natural reaction of the body to confront or avoid danger and to survive. When we are stressed, our heart rate and blood pressure increases. Our pupils dilate. We are tense, trembling and are on edge. Our breathing becomes shallow. The best way to control this is by deep breathing.

Get yourself in a comfortable position. Then, begin by inhaling through your nose. Fill your abdomen with air, expanding the belly outward. Then, hold your breath for a few seconds. Now, release your breath slowly through your lips. Repeat until you feel relaxed.

3. Start a Gratitude Journal

Then grab a notebook and a pen. Start your gratitude journal. A gratitude journal is a diary of all the things that you are grateful for. Compared to an ordinary diary where you record the events of the day, regardless of whether they are happy or sad memories; a gratitude journal simply focuses on the positive things in your life. By reflecting on all the blessings that you have received in your life, you are shifting your focus from the negative to the positive. Remember, what you focus on expands. if you focus on the positive, good things will happen to you. In the same way that if you focus too much on the negative, bad things will continue to happen to you.

Focus on the positive things in your life and you’ll be shocked at how many more positive things stat happening.
– Sophia Amoruso

Note that a gratitude journal has the power to change your life. Make your life happier by making it into a habit.

4. Create / Update Your Bucket List

Do you have a bucket list? If you have, then update your bucket list. If you still don’t have one, then it is time to create a bucket list.

A bucket list is a list of things that you want to accomplish in your lifetime. While in the process of creating a bucket list, you will begin to dream of a brighter future. instead of focusing on the things that you lack now, you will become excited about the possibilities of a better tomorrow. The bucket list will give you something to look forward to. it will also give new direction to your life.

5. Love Yourself

At this point, you are now ready to redesign your life. But before you do, it is important that you believe in yourself first. Always remember that happiness is a choice. The same is true with success. Choose to be happy. Choose to be successful. Any you can only do this if you love yourself. Keep in mind that you are special. No one has the power to hurt you unless you let them.

Feature Photo by Brett Jordan from Pexels

Jul

2021

Courage Counts the Most

Reading Time: 2 minutes

As human beings, we often forget that courage counts the most. We are always in pursuit of something new. When we achieve a goal, we go on to the next goal. This means that success is not a final destination. Success is a string of victories that we celebrate as some of the highest points in our lives.

On the other hand, people who have failed to achieve success are mostly those who are afraid to fail. The fear of failing leads people to just be content with what they have currently achieved; and not ask or want for anything more. The fear of failing discourages us to take risks that might lead to greater opportunities.

Life is not about how hard of a hit you can give… it’s about how many you can take and still keep moving forward.
– Sylvester Stallone, Rocky

Successful people know that failure is part of the journey to success. It is only when we look back that we are able to connect the dots. Then we see how one failure lead to an opportunity; which lead to the right path to get to the goal.

It is not how many times you get knocked down that counts, it’s how many times you get back up.
– George A. Custer

People who have achieved success know that when faced with failure; it is the courage to get up and continue pursuing their dreams that count the most. As long as you get up and stay determined to find a way through the obstacle to your success; you will still reach your goal.

Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
– Confucius

Whether you failed because of a mistake or through unforeseen circumstances; don’t give up. Learn the lesson and try again. Learn to welcome challenges. If you have the courage to fail and stand up again; you are on the right path to success.

Updated. First published on Pinoy Smart Living on 2018.10.13.
Feature Image: Original Photo by Razvan Chisu on Unsplash.

Mar

2021

How to Look Expensive on a Budget

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Did you know that how you dress influences how you perform in life? Numerous studies show that how you dress affect your physical and mental well-being. If you look good, you feel good. If you dress well, you will exude confidence and this will simply affect how others perceive you. Whether you like it or not, appearances do matter. Thus, if you want to become successful, you need to dress the part. You need to learn how to dress for success. The good news is that you don’t need to actually wear expensive clothes to look expensive. Here are some secrets on how to look expensive even on a budget.

1.Wear Black

If you have been to Paris, London, Milan, New York and other fashion capitals of the world, you will be surprised that most people in those cities prefer to wear black. Black has been the symbol of power, elegance, luxury, and fashion.

Black is a neutral color. It blends perfectly well with any other color of clothing or accessories because it is very versatile. It will look good on anybody regardless of skin color or body shape.

Black is the most slimming of all colors. It is the most flattering. You can wear black at any time. You can wear it at any age and you can wear it for almost any occasion.
– Christian Dior

Black is simple and modern. You can experiment on different fabrics and styles without hurting your budget. The black pieces that you purchased more than a decade ago can still look good until today. You can wear it 24 hours a day. It works perfectly in the morning as well as the evening. You can never go wrong with black.

2. Wear White

If black is not your thing, then wear white. The color white is the color of perfection. It is pure and it looks clean. A white on white ensemble is simple yet it is chic. You can wear it on the street or you can wear it on the beach. You can match it with any other color. A white shirt or blouse paired with a pair of jeans still looks elegant despite its simplicity. Just add any accessories and you are good to go but don’t forget to wear nude or white underwear.

3. Use a Structured Bag

A bag is very useful. It is not only functional, it also completes an outfit. If you can spare a few bucks and do your budgeting responsibly, a designer handbag can be a form of investment too as long as you stick to the classics. If you visit some designer outlets in some parts of the world, you might get lucky and find your investment bag in outlets at a discounted rate.

On a budget? Fret not. It is possible to find a stylish bag that looks expensive without actually splurging. Forget about those knockoff designer handbags with big logos. Instead, opt for a structured bag. They are chic and timeless. The simple lines and hardware gives the added poise and polish that will complete your look. Use the structured top handle bag in the office and use the cross-body strap for a more casual look on the weekend.

4. Wear Pointed Shoes

Wearing pointed heels or shoes create an elongated effect. It instantly makes your legs longer making you look taller, slimmer and more graceful. They give a sleek, sophisticated and expensive look. It is also easier to dress it up or tone it down. A black pointed heel is a must have in every closet.

Pointed shoes can be paired in almost everything. If you are a woman and you are not fond of wearing heels, fancy flat pointed shoes on formal occasions will do the trick. If you are wearing casual clothing and you want to dress it up a little, pointed shoes will also do the trick.

5.Wear Clothes That Fit You

Fit is the most important aspect of dressing. Well-fitting clothes will complement your body. If you wear something too tight, not only will it make you uncomfortable, it will also make you appear fatter. On the contrary, if you wear something too big or oversized, you tend to be more relaxed. Although it will cover your true body shape, you will end up exhibiting a poor posture. You will come off as sloppy.

Unfortunately, most people buy clothes that don’t fit them, especially if the clothes are on sale. If in case you end up buying one, make sure to visit the tailor first and have it adjusted to your size before you even consider wearing it.

6. Don’t Wear Wrinkled Clothes

Going out looking like you slept in your clothes is a big no, no. If you want to look nice and expensive, you have to make sure that your clothes are properly steamed or pressed. Wearing wrinkled, dirty and sloppy looking clothes gives the impression that you don’t care or you don’t put importance to people that you are meeting. Put it this way, it will turn off prospective clients, your boss or even your date.

Well ironed clothes make them look more expensive than they actually are. Pressing your clothes before going out makes a lot of difference in your overall look.

7.Have a Signature Scent

Have you ever met someone that you are drawn to because they look so elegant and lovely because of their scent? A signature scent is a fragrance of a person that lingers in your memory that it becomes a part of that person’s very essence. Your task is to look for your very own signature scent. The scent need not be expensive. It can be a perfume, a cologne or an eau de toilette. The important thing is that it has to be scent that suits you. It has to be something that you like that will make you feel confident about yourself.

8.Choose the Right Materials

When it comes to clothing materials, choose the ones that are made of natural fabrics like cashmere, cotton, leather, linen, silk and suede. Unfortunately, not all can afford these materials because most of them come with a price tag to match. The good news is that there are some affordable clothing materials out there that look expensive. All you need to do is to look for these fabrics the next time you shop.

9.Add a Statement Piece

A statement piece always works in improving an outfit. You can use a scarf, a belt, necklaces, bracelets or other jewelries. If you have extra cash invest on vintage accessories or a luxury watch. Just choose something that will accentuate your outfit and bring it to life. Just remember not to overdo it.

10. Pay Attention to Small Details

Little things do matter. It is the finishing touches of an outfit that help complete your look. Here are some small details that you should pay attention to that people normally overlook:

Lining should be invisible.
Zippers should not be exposed.
Clothes should be correctly buttoned.
No loose threads on hems.
Threads should be the same colour as fabric.

First Published in Pinoy Smart Living on 01.28.2019.

Feature Image by Pixabay Images

Oct

2020

Life-Changing Lessons from Walt Disney

Reading Time: 4 minutes

If you can dream it, you can do it.
– Walt Disney

Have you ever been to any Disneyland park around the world? If you have been there, you will probably agree that there is something magical about the place. A Disney experience is such an emotional experience. It is like being in a world of imagination where everything is joyful and blissful. It magnifies all your senses. Minus the crowd and the long lines, Disneyland will make you feel like a child again, full of laughter and dreams. Disneyland truly deserves the title as the “happiest place on earth”. But did you know that everything that you see and feel in the Disney parks all started in the imagination of one man? Yes, millions of people around the world can feel and experience the Disney magic today because one man was able to dream it and visualize it. It’s all thanks to Walt Disney. Take some inspiration on some life-changing lessons from Walt Disney.

The Story of Walt Disney

Walter Elias Disney, popularly known as Walt Disney, was born on December 5, 1901 in Chicago, Illinois. He was one of five children. At a tender age of seven, he already started working. To help his family make ends meet, he worked as a newspaper boy. While in high school, he attended the night classes of the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts. At 16 years of age, he joined the American Red Cross as an ambulance driver in France, after being rejected by the army for being underage during the first World War.

After the war, he became a night watchman. While working he began drawing animals at night. Although he wanted to become an actor at first because of his love for Charlie Chaplin, he opted to become a newspaper cartoonist instead. After his own cartoon “Laugh-O-Gram” became popular, he was able to acquire his own studio that produced a seven-minute live action and animation called Alice in Cartoonland. However, the studio went bankrupt after a few years in operation.

After some time, Walt, and his brother Roy decided to move to Hollywood to start anew. There, they created a character called Oswald the Lucky Rabbit together with cartoonist, Ub Iwerks. They were then able to strike a deal to have their cartoons distributed. Unfortunately, the rights to their cartoons were stolen by the New York Distributor.

The Birth Of Mickey Mouse

Out of desperation, they produced a new cartoon based on a character named Mickey Mouse. The audience was not impressed but the team did not give up. On the third animated film, Steamboat Willie, Mickey Mouse became an instant hit!

Video Credit: Walt Disney Animation Studios

In 1929, Disney introduced Mickey’s friends – Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy and Pluto. In 1937, the first full-length animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was shown in movie theatres. The movie earned $8 million dollars despite the Great Depression happening at that time. The film made Walt Disney a millionaire.

The Birth of Disneyland

Despite the financial success brought about by the film production company, in Walt Disney’s mind, he still envisions an imaginary world of fairy tales. Unfortunately, investors were wary. Even his brother Roy, did not support him with his new idea. Still, Walt Disney persisted. After being turned down 302 times, he finally got financing for his dream in creating the Walt Disney World.

In 1955, the first Disneyland Theme Park opened in Anaheim, California. Today, there are 14 Disney Theme Parks around the world: 2 in California, 4 Disney parks and 2 water parks in Florida, 2 in Tokyo, 2 in Paris, 1 in Hong Kong and 1 in Shanghai. As of 2018, about 726 million accumulated visitors were recorded to have visited the Disney parks since they opened.

Life-Changing Lessons from Walt Disney

Walt Disney’s life story is so inspiring that there are so many life-changing lessons the we can learn and apply in our lives:

1.Nothing is Impossible

Walt Disney grew up in poverty but this did not stopped him from reaching his dreams. If he just accepted his circumstances back then, then he would have not been able to inspire millions of people around the world today.

If you are born poor, it’s not your mistake, but if you die poor it’s your mistake.
– Bill Gates

2.Stand Up After Failure

Walt Disney did not just fail once or twice. He failed multiple times on his businesses. He also was rejected 302 times before he was able to secure funding for Disneyland. What is inspiring is how he was able to stand up despite all the failures and rejections. How about you? Did you give up the first time? The second time? How about after 50 failures and rejections? How about 100? 200? Will you be able to go on? It takes a lot of courage and perseverance to be able to do what he did.

Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising every time we fall.
– Confucius

3. Do What You Love

One of the reasons why Walt Disney stayed motivated and did not give up was because he followed his passion. It will be very difficult to continue doing what you are doing if you do not love what you are doing. Passion is your key to success. Why do you think the likes of Bill Gates, Kobe Bryant and BTS are so successful in their own fields? What’s the rule of success that these people followed?

4. Believe in Yourself

Although the odds were not on his favor, Walt Disney believed that he can do it. During that time, the first world war had just ended. And remember that it was also the time of the Great Depression. It is quite similar to what is happening right now. People lost their jobs and the world economy was in recession. They just emerged from the flu pandemic that affected one third of the world’s population. Yet, he believed in the power of his dreams.

5. Visualization Works

Everything that you see and experience in Disneyland today started on Walt Disney’s imagination. He was able to imagine a whole new world on his mind. In fact, every man-made thing that you see around you started on one’s person’s imagination. That’s how powerful the mind is. As what Walt Disney believed, if you can see it in your mind, you can do it. Pursue your dreams and turn them into reality.

All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.
-Walt Disney

Updated version. First published in Pinoy Smart Living on 09.06.2018.

Feature Image by Aline Dassel from Pixabay

Jun

2020

Building Wealth and Success Through Leverage

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Many people dream of becoming wealthy. However, the road to wealth and success is long, hard and winding. This is the reason why only a few made it big. Most people gave up along the way. Unknown to many, there is a shorter way to success and that is through leverage. It is possible but very difficult to make it on your own. After all, we are all humans and we all have limitations. But building wealth and success through leverage will allow you to use resources that is beyond what you can offer making the journey a lot easier and faster.

What is Leverage?

The Cambridge dictionary defines leverage as to use something that you already have in order to achieve something new or better.

In short, leverage is using something to achieve something with less effort. Think of it as a lever. A lever is a bar that you use to make your work easier. It allows you to use less force to lift or move objects. Items such as scissors, nail clippers, hammer, staplers, bottle openers, brooms and gym equipments are all examples of levers. They are machines or equipments that you use on a daily basis to make your life easier.

A Lever is used to make things easier.
Image Credit: OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay Images

Just as you use leverage to make your life easier on a daily basis, you can also use leverage on your journey towards building wealth and success. Using leverage is the same as working smarter rather than harder.

The hours that ordinary people waste, extraordinary people leverage.
– Robin Sharma

What are the different forms of leverage?

There are many forms of leverage that you can use on your journey to wealth and success. Here are some of them:

1. Financial Leverage (Other People’s Money)

In finance / economics, leverage is defined as to use money to get more money. In short, it is using other people’s money to start a business, buy an asset or finance an investment. Examples are borrowing money from a bank to purchase real estate or looking for an investor to your business.

2. Time Leverage (Other People’s Time)

Did you know that the wealthy thinks that time is more valuable than money? Why? It is is simple you can use time to buy more money but you cannot use money to buy more time. Even if you lose all you money, you can still get it back but with time, you cannot do that. Whether you are rich or poor, successful or struggling, we all have 24 hours in a day, no more no less.

So, stop doing everything on your own. Delegate some of the work to others so that you can focus on doing the important tasks.

3. Talent Leverage (Other People’s Knowledge)

No one is a master in everything. Let’s face it, there are other people who are more talented than you. They have more experienced and have greater skills than you in a particular field. Why not use them to have an organizational advantage? Make them a member of your team and a part of your support group.

4. Network Leverage (Other People’s Connections)

Networking is important in our lives especially if you have a business or you are into sales. However, humans have limitations as far as connections and social relationships are concern. That’s why you need to tap into other people’s network to expand your own.

5. Marketing Leverage (Other People’s Audiences)

If you are a business owner, a blogger or a social media influencer, you know that it is hard to establish a brand especially if you are a start-up. Through marketing leverage, you utilize other people’s audiences through their magazines, newsletters, etc. to communicate your message and build awareness of your product or service.

In short, what matter your goals in life are or what industry you are in, leverage can multiply your efficiency. You can use just one form or you can use all at the same time. The point is, you accelerate your growth through leverage.

Remember, work smarter not harder.

Feature Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay Images

Feb

2020

Fundamentals for Success from The Winners Manual

Reading Time: 6 minutes

Do you consider yourself a winner in life? If you’re not that confident to answer “Yes” to this question, then you may be struggling with some issues in different areas in your life. There is no one rule book that we can consult on how to succeed in life and this is because each person’s experience is different. However, there are some fundamentals for success that we can apply to get better in each area of our life, so that when we look back, we can say that we’ve had more wins than losses.

Jim Tressel is an Ohio State football coach and through the years he has learned a lot of life lessons from working with different people on the team, from the players to the staff. The nuggets of wisdom he gained from his experience is shared in the book The Winners Manual: For the Game of Life.

The book is given to everyone on the team and even if the lessons are gained mostly from his experience coaching a football team, the lessons are applicable even to regular 9-5 workers trying to be “adults” in dealing with life’s hurdles.

First, Jim wants everyone to focus on 2 major goal areas:

Your Purpose

This includes your personal/family, spiritual/moral and caring/giving aspects of your life.

Many people often grow up defining themselves by what they do (e.g., their job title) and in the process of pursuing success in their career, they end up forgetting who they are. If you cannot find or define your life’s purpose, then you will never find success or happiness, and never feel like a true winner in life even if you achieve your goals.

Your Goals

This includes matters pertaining to strength/fitness, family, academics/education and career.

Whatever your specific goals, you must view this in the context of your entire life and should be aligned with your life’s purpose. It is hard to get motivated if you don’t have a purpose.

Your purpose is your inspiration and your goals are your motivation. However, there is a huge difference between the two. While inspiration helps you think and create, motivation gets you moving to make things happen.

Spend some time to think about your purpose and goals. It helps to write things down and when you are ready, you can study how to apply Jim’s 10 fundamental for success to win at life.

1. Attitude

There are 3 types of people: 1) those who make things happen, 2) those who watch things happen, and 3) those who say: “What happened?”.

Attitude is a choice so you need to choose which one you are going to be each day. You can choose to live your life as a celebration or as a chore. An attitude of gratitude is one of the best attitudes to adapt as it is impossible to be grateful and unhappy at the same time.

If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies within yourself.
– Tecumseh

TIP: Keep a gratitude journal. Each day, write down at least 3 things that you are grateful for. Count your blessings daily and you will notice that you will have more things to be grateful for as each day passes.

2. Discipline

Discipline is often seen negatively – as punishment for bad behavior, when in reality, it is something that is helpful to us. Discipline prepares us and keeps us focused on our goals.

You can’t get much done in life if you only work on the days that you feel good.
– Jerry West

TIP: Remember that practice makes perfect. Do it right, do it hard and then do it again. When it’s time to practice, focus on the practice. You should be confident enough in your skills and be tough enough to follow through.

Whether you are practicing a sport or trying to write a novel, it’s the discipline to constantly show up and do the work that allows you to correct your mistakes, polish your moves so you can deliver and perform perfectly whenever you need to.

3. Excellence

Strive to deliver excellence each time. In competitive sports, it isn’t good to be good from time to time. You need to deliver a good performance every day in order to be considered great

If you listen to your fears, you will die not knowing what a great person you might have been.
– Robert H. Schuller

TIP: Consistency is the true test of greatness. It takes discipline (constant practice) to turn a violinist into a master, a student into an expert, you get the drift?

More importantly, our intentions have a great impact in determining how we reach our potential. So your intent to be excellent should be reflected in your performance. Your number one intention is to seek excellence in all phases of your life.

4. Faith and Belief

All champions believed in themselves even if no one else did and that’s how they motivated themselves to become great; and that’s how they ended up inspiring others in return.

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
– Eleanor Roosevelt

TIP: It helps to write down your dreams. Unless you write down your dream or vision, you can’t start planning how to achieve it.

So write down your dreams, describe it, make a collage out of it and make sure to consult it everyday as a constant reminder of why you are working hard each day. More importantly, don’t be the first one to doubt yourself when your plans don’t go the way you wanted to. Instead, focus on finding a solution.

5. Work

Work is a lifelong pursuit so you better do it passionately. Not everyone can love their work but with a good work ethic, you will increase your opportunities to gain success.

Everyone has a plan until they are hit.
– Evander Holyfield

TIP: Persistent effort is key to success. You only fail when you quit. Remember that failing is an event; failure is a temporary status and you can always turn it around as soon as you succeed. So don’t be put down by obstacles and see them as opportunities to better yourself instead.

6. Handling Adversity and Success

The road to greatness is never easy but if we face our struggles with an attitude of learning, then the adversity we experience can become our stepping stones to success.

Success is a lousy teacher. It makes smart people think they can’t lose.
– Bill Gates

TIP: Embrace the struggles as much as the successes. Your struggles should help you build strength of character, and this is what can elevate your good performance into greatness. Handle adversity as a learning experience and learn from your success as well. Both are opportunities to improve yourself and fine tune your plans to reach your goals.

7. Love

You won’t win in life thru talent alone. Just like in winning championships, you need love and discipline. If everyone in the team loves one another, then they will strive to not let one another down. This works in any relationship, be it you and your partner, your whole family, your friends and even work mates.

Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: what are you doing for others?
– Martin Luther King, Jr.

TIP: Do not hesitate to help others succeed. When you help someone else succeed, you get closer to your own success.

How you treat others who can do nothing for you is how you show your love towards your fellow man. In your own relationships, you can only survive tough times by being tough yourself and the only way to do that is to give and receive love from those around you.

8. Responsibility

There are different areas in your life where your individual conduct is not just attributed to your own self but reflects on a larger group of people such as your family or the organization that you work for. So take care to be responsible in all your actions as you may also affect the reputation of other people.

The reputation of a thousand years may be determined by the conduct of one hour.
– Japanese Proverb

TIP: Associate yourself with good people. By good people, we mean people who have a “do what’s right” mentality. These are the people who will help you conduct yourself responsibly in the different areas in your life. They will be the people who will push you to live a life with a clear conscience.

9. Team

Although your own life purpose and goals is yours alone, most of our life endeavors is a group journey. That’s why unselfishness and team work are important qualities to succeed in life.

There is no delight in owning anything unshared.
– Seneca

TIP: Be in service to others. Unselfishness is one of the greatest quality of great teams as this enables each person to work for the good of the greater whole. This means that each person is willing to listen to others and in this way each one is able to influence the others positively.

10. Hope

Have realistic hope both for your goals and for your team (family, friends, etc.). It is ok to indulge in wishful thinking once in a while but unless you put your faith to work, you will not achieve success.

There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something tomorrow.
– Orison Marden

TIP: Be a dealer of hope. When people around you are losing hope, they become susceptible to criticism and their own doubts. Lead by example and show them that hope is still alive. It may not be in the form you initially “hoped” for but it may take form in another opportunity disguised as an obstacle. When you keep hope alive, you will see good things happen in your life and in the people around you.

Do you think you can apply these rules to the different areas of your life? If you have been practicing some of them, or all of them, tell us how it has helped you achieve success in the different phases in your life.

Original Photo by Razvan Chisu on Unsplash

Feb

2020

The 10,000 Hour Rule of Success

Reading Time: 4 minutes

What do Bill Gates, Kobe Bryant and BTS have in common? Yes, they are all highly successful in their own fields. Aside from achieving greatness in their professions, what are their similarities? What is it that separate them apart from the rest? What is their recipe for success? Is it innate talent, passion for their chosen fields, hard work or simply luck? The answer is they all followed the 10000 hour rule of success.

In the book Outliers: The Story of Success, Malcolm Gladwell attributed success as the result of 10,000 hours of training. According to Gladwell, if you study, practice and do something for 10,000 hours; you will excel in that particular field. The world’s most successful people spent years of intense focus and training on their area of expertise.

Gladwell cited the violinists in Berlin, the Beatles and Bill Gates to illustrate his point:

Violinists in Berlin

In a paper written by Anders Ericsson, a University of Colorado professor on the Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance, it is said that the world class violinists or the elite performers have an average of 10,000 hours of practice compared to the regular performers who have a practice time of about 4,000 hours only.

Surprisingly, no naturally gifted talents emerged in the study. Although the innate ability helped them in the early years, the subsequent level of excellency was highly dependent on the amount of accumulated practice. What was once taught to be innate talent was actually a result of intense and deliberate practice.

The Beatles

In 1960, an unknown high school rock band went to Hamburg, Germany to play in local pubs. There the band played an average of eight hours per day seven days a week in front of rowdy bar crowds and unpredictable audiences. By the time the band debuted in the international scene in 1964, they had already performed about 1,200 performances together.

The hours and hours of practice that they did during those four years in Hamburg honed both their musical and songwriting skills. By the end of the sixties, the Beatles had taken the world by storm with a series of hit singles and best-selling albums making them the greatest band in the history of music.

Bill Gates

If you think that Bill Gates’ story is as simple as dropping out of college, starting a company and becoming an instant billionaire, think again. His interest on computer programming started at the age of 13. He was then a student at Lakeside school, Seattle’s most exclusive prep school for boys. Studies reveal that Bill Gates actually sneaked into the school terminal to practice programming every night. During that time in 1968, a computer terminal was very rare. When he met Paul Allen in his teenage years, the two were already addicted to programming.

By the time Microsoft was launched, the two were ready. The thousands of hours spent studying programming paid off and catapulted Bill Gates to become the richest man on earth.

Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant, one of the greatest NBA player who ever lived is also an example of somebody who gained success through 10,000 hours of practice. When asked several times during interviews to where does he attribute his success; Kobe Bryant would always talked about his intense work ethic -from crack of dawn workouts to marathon shooting practices. He was often seen practicing in the wee hours of the morning while everyone else was still sleeping. He is also known for staying behind to continue practicing long after practice was over.

Video Source: Evan Carmichael

For Kobe, it not just about the 10,000 hours alone but it is about practicing with the proper mindset. It is about mindfulness practice. It is being aware of what you are doing every single time. It involves deliberate attention and focus. To be successful, the body, the mind and the heart should work as one during those 10,000 hours.

“It’s not about the number of hours you practice, it is about the number of hours your mind is present during the practice.”
Kobe Bryant

BTS

The global pop sensation from South Korea, BTS, is also another example. In 2019, in less than 12 months, BTS beat the Beatles’ Billboard Chart Record, when they landed their third number 1 album in the Billboard 200 chart. They have captured the world not only because of their music and the message behind each of their songs but also because of their on point choreography and intense dance moves.

Video Source: Big Hit Labels

The group which consists of 7 members are all extremely talented, both their rap line and vocal line but that did not happen overnight. What the audiences see right now is a result of years and years of continuous practice and hard work. Even the members themselves admitted that some of them don’t even know how to dance, sing or rap at first. They had to undergo a rigorous and intensive training to be able to do what they can today. In fact, even up to this day, despite all the things that they have already accomplished, people who worked with them could attest that they still sometimes spent 16 hours of practice a day just to hone their skills.

No Shortcut

Successful people got to where they are because of the number of hours they have spent improving their craft. There was no shortcut. It has taken them a lot of hard work and determination. It takes passion, willpower, dedication and as Kobe Bryant said, mindfulness . These people were able to do it because they love what they are doing.

If you want to be great at something, you need to follow this life rule on success. Allot 10,000 hours of learning and doing it to develop expertise in your chosen field. Start by allocating an extra hour each day to improve your craft.

If you spend one extra hour each day in your chosen field, you will be a national expert in that field in five years or less.
Earl Nightingale

Find your passion and and you won’t have a problem clocking in 10,000 hours of deliberate practice in that area.

Good luck!

Updated version. First published in Pinoy Smart Living on 03.01.2019

Feature Image Credit: Free-Photos from Pixabay Images