Traits to Crush Your Goals
Over 5,500 years ago, in the open plains of Kazakhstan, horses were domesticated for transportation, mare’s milk, and advantages in warfare.
This introduction to human society may be one of the most important moments in history. Horses have since been used to pull wheeled vehicles, carry goods across continents for commerce, compete in high-stakes races, and more.
Don’t worry, the history of horses ends here.
The question is:
How did horses contribute to the rise and development of civilization, society, business, and economy?
Well, horses are hard-working, tolerant, reliable, and disciplined — four key traits that every person should have if they want to ‘win the race’ and succeed in life.
Plow the Fields
If you wish to start a business, master a skill, dominate an industry, or conquer the world — there’s a lot of work that you have to do.
If you have the money, you can take the easier route by dictating orders to others while you sit in the saddle and watch them do the work. Using the stick and the carrot can prove useful, but it doesn’t always guarantee long-term, sustainable results.
Instead, if there’s anything worthwhile to have in this lifetime, you must be willing to put in the hours and do the work.
This means getting your hands dirty and spending long hours to plow the fields. Mistakes are inevitable and failure an outcome. But, if you keep your head down and your blinders on, nothing can stop you from achieving your true heart’s desire.
Endure the Impossible
This isn’t a perfect world — not even close.
Sometimes the people who are meant to provide love and support will turn their backs and try to tear you apart.
“What a stupid idea!”
“That will never work!”
“You’ll never succeed!”
“Get a real job!”
“You’re just wasting your time!”
No one said turning dreams into reality was going to be easy. Often, the odds are stacked against you.
“Some people are made stronger by suffering. Others are defeated. The difference is resilience.” — Eric Greitens
At every hardship, whether it comes from a toxic relationship, business failure, or broken dream — resiliency is the key.
Rise to the Occasion
Momentum is the ability to turn the impulse of thought into tangible actions.
In other words, as you focus more time and energy on converting your idea into reality, you’ll eventually discover that specific actions, behaviors, and outcomes appear to work and have results.
As you learn to take two steps forward and one step back, people start to notice you. They’re clicking like, choosing to follow, subscribing for more, and inquiring about how to get started or to buy your product.
This requires you to provide a consistent experience, delivering what you promise, and being a genuine human being if you want the word to rely on you.
Stay in Control
None of this matters if you’re entirely out of touch with reality.
The world revolves around rules, and there are always limitations and restrictions from governments, parents, nature, and G-d.
Rules can be bent. Rules can even be broken. However, not understanding the rules of the game or knowing how to play can lead to death and failure.
This is serious.
Rules are a necessity for the universe to function properly. Without gravity, nothing would exist as we know it. Without evolution, the survival of the species would never be possible.
Perhaps a better way to understand rules is through the lens of self-discipline.
“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.” — Jim Rohn
Self-discipline is a set of rules, defined by you, to guide your thoughts toward actions that result in desirable outcomes.
Your rules could be as simple as watching less TV, writing an article a day, cold calling 100 prospects each week, or eliminating sugar from your diet. Each new rule you create is going to have a direct impact on your thoughts and feelings, emotions and vibrations, actions and reactions.
Ultimately, this a going to be an ongoing experience that requires trial and error, testing and retesting.
However, the practice of building well-disciplined habits can quickly convert laziness into productivity, strength into weakness, fear into courage. Over time, discipline will provide you with the structure and stability needed to make life more enjoyable and goals more achievable.
These are four key traits to work on and develop throughout your entire lifetime — and as you do — please don’t work yourself to death!