WHAT IT TAKES TO BE SUCCESSFUL
Introduction
There is a reason behind every action one takes, be it good or bad, whichever may be the case. We all have targets/ missions and visions about our lives. As one progresses in life, there will be cause to set new targets and goals. For students, success is excelling academically, but to others it means different things depending on their desires. In essence, it is the art of excelling in all things we engage in, in one way or the other.
To succeed in life, one does not have to work in isolation, consultation and collaboration are essential as no one has monopoly of ideas, a person who is desirous of success will have to derive benefits from what others have done by learning from their experiences.
This is one of the reasons why an organization like AIESEC was established to provide a platform that enables young people to explore and develop their leadership potential with a view to having a positive impact in the society.
At this juncture, I would outline and discuss briefly what success is, what it means to be successful and what it takes to be successful
Everyone wants to be successful. There is no statutory definition of the word success. Success is achieving what one wanted or having the effect or result intended. It is viewed differently from different perspectives by different people therefore its meaning is dependent on the context it is being used.
Zig Ziglar introduced an interesting dimension to the definition of success that is straightforward, self-explanatory and it gives a general description of success and I quote inter-alia:
“Success means doing the best we can with what we have. Success is doing, not the getting; in the trying, not the triumph. Success is a personal standard, reaching for the highest that is in us, becoming all that we can be”.
Another motivating factor which can clearly define success and provide enlightenment to young minds is to listen to success stories of successful people. AIESEC facilitates this by organizing fora which provide learning curve for aspiring people.


What does it mean to be successful?
When one has succeeded, one is said to be successful. It basically means achieving a desired goal/ target. It is a state of self-actualization or fulfilment as stated in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
What it takes to be successful.
In other words, how do we approach the attainment of our goals and objectives in life? Having looked at what success is and what it means to be successful, it is pertinent to highlight some major things that should be done in order to be successful, it is instructive to note however, that, this list is by no means exhaustive.
· Set your goals:
There is always a motive behind every plan we execute. For one to admit that one is successful, one must have set targets/ goals. Achieving those goals is a confirmation that one is successful. I belief this should be the first thing that should be done.
AIESEC provides opportunities for young people to lead and discover a new world of opportunities which can help in setting measurable goals to be pursued.
· Craft out your Strategies and make Contingency Plans:
One should draw out plans on how to achieve the set goals, as one who plans has a better chance of achieving the goals. Strategies of executing the plans with a view to attaining the set goals must be developed and carefully carried out.
Another thing is to discover the possible challenges that may arise while trying to accomplish the set goals. Preparations should be made on how to overcome challenges as they arise.
In a nutshell, Planning is a major and essential ingredient of success as failure to plan is surely a plan to fail.
AIESEC being a global organization can also help with this, it is endowed with talented undergraduates and Alumni who have passed through challenges in their chosen endeavours. Through consultations, interactions and collaboration with members and Alumni solutions to challenges can be easily sought before one is confronted with them.
· Take actions
Being successful is not by words of the mouth. One should not only draw out plans on how to achieve the set goals, but also execute the plans, ensure compliance, monitor deviation and take the necessary actions at the right time that would help one to achieve success.
Taking actions involve working smart as against working hard. Take interest in where the world is going by watching what others are doing and benchmarking your performance against peers. Opportunities to work smart exist in AIESEC which has developed a global learning environment for people to learn skills and competencies in their gap areas to improve their eligibilities.
· Determination to Succeed
Determination is a key to success as it plays a vital role in the journey to success. One should make up one’s mind not to give up until one achieves one’s goal. Determination gives one the urge, momentum and the ability to keep going no matter the condition or situation that emerges in the pursuit of one’s goal.
This supports the assertion that Quitters do not win as success can only be achieved by surmounting obstacles.
Membership of AIESEC will widen ones horizon, improves ones attitude to life, develops competences and sharpens skills which jointly build determination to excel.
Conclusion & Recommendation:
When negative moments and discouraging thoughts come, they must be turned around by using the positive factors in our lives to motivate and bring excitement that will help to overcome the hurdles.
Another important key to fanning one’s passion for success is to set fresh goals; some people have lost their passion for life simply because they are not pursuing anything. Pursuance of new goals will keep one fresh and excited about life. Living with low motivation, few dreams, and no realistic goals is bound to make one stagnant. It is unhealthy not to have something to pursue everyday.
We attract what we continually think about, we should be resolute in our ability to achieve the goals we set for ourselves and see every challenge as a bend and not the end of the road.
Above all, one does not need to work in isolation, the principle of synergy is very apt in this circumstance as there is the need to belong to a forward looking and global youth-led organization like AIESEC which will help in achieving fulfilment of hydra- headed humankind’s potential by activating leadership qualities in youth through learning from practical experiences in a challenging environment like ours.

Comments

  1. Nice one guys. I really appreciate you guys for this exquisite writeup

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