What truly is the key to success?

Luck, skill, dedication...all three combined?

I know it's my first post on the forum, but I've been lurking for a while. I just never felt I could really contribute much, since I'm not really "at your level"...yet

I'm 26 and for long I have yearned to be financially successful. I had the education, worked hard, tried many different ventures, but it never truly worked out. I'm not struggling, but still far from success. Can't even afford a car, not to mention a Ferrari.

I'm still spending at least 16 hours per day at my computer, trying various ventures, desperately trying to make it all click together. I have mostly marketing and some technical experience with online selling and other internet related projects, but I have held many positions over the last few years.

This is tough, but I guess you don't really have a choice if you want to become successful. What do you think, guys? How hard did you work to get where you are today? Do you consider yourself successful or lucky?

Also, I'm currently looking to work as a virtual assistant. Since I'm from the third world country, my standards are not as high, but I would still like to find a person who could have a long term agreement with me and outsource their "dirty jobs". This would allow me to use my skills, learn new ones and hopefully become more successful in my endeavors.

Maybe, just maybe some of you could be interested. I can send you the full list of my skills, work experience and degree in pm.

I'm sorry to advertise myself in this "discussion" post, but they say you miss 100% chances that you do not take, so I'm taking this one.

 

So your perception/personal reality of a successful life is financially based? Nothing wrong with that I was just asking.

 

That's because I already achieved everything I wanted in the other areas of life, which I'm thankful for If you truly want to achieve something, you have to focus. And I'm now I'm giving full focus to financial aspect of my life. I want to help others with the skills I have and learn from people more successful than me.

 

I wish you nothing but success.

 

When I was 26 I thought I knew what life was, 30 years later I am finally there. Whatever you think now you will not think ten years from now, and what you think ten years from now you will not think 20 years from now. I held my first child at 47 (my twins) I dealt with almost dying 4 times and after 42 years fulfilled my dream of being a writer. I could go on for hours about the things that changed and shaped my life since I was your age. Success for me has nothing to do with money it has to do with being proud of who you are and giving back to society not just wasting space in it. Not meaning to insult you but you are still far too young to think you have done everything you wanted in any area of life you just have not lived enough of it yet to know.

 

+1

I'm almost 49 and I am still a "work in progress" and will be until the day the Lord calls me home.

 

What if he calls you when you are in the shower?

 

He will be jealous!

 

I am not saying I know what life is. I am saying I know what my current goals are. I'm pretty sure I will have different thoughts when I'm 30 or older, but being born in a poor country and never having wealth in my life makes control of finances a top priority.

 

James,
I think you are already on the road to success, good luck.

 

Key to success/Recipe? No one has one. Maybe 1 thing which can not hurt is do not quit even when 1st time failed in endeavor. Milton Hershey never quit. He could have. Charles Goodyear never quit, even after soooo many failures. he could have. On and on. Still, its not a single point for success. It WILL depend on your personal determination. I failed a few X before I got it right. All I can say right now......

 

My gut reaction to the thread title was the following:

Stop thinking about this:
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And start thinking like this:
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I added something new to my blog because of this thread. My blog is on the mebreezethenovel webpage

 

GMTA! Genius is 1% inspiration, 99% perspiration.


via rubber ducky

 

...and for the love of G, get a pre-nuptial before you begin!

 

I dont think there is one single key to success. But one thing that IS a key is PASSION.

If you have passion for something you can weather the storm much easier. Its like driving through in an SUV while others have to walk.

I never how tough it was to build my companies because I have so much fun doing it. Even when i was broke I loved every day of it. I never chased the money...I followed the passion.

 

Persistence and focus are absolutely vital IMO. All the best entrepreneurs were very focused on one venture before they set off into other businesses.

Carnegie, Rockefeller, Zuckerberg, Carlos Slim, Zara guy, buffett, Gates,...........

Sign up for a silver membership and read the business & investments section too.......

 

What is the key to success ?

Well, if I gave that to you for free I wouldn't be very successful now, would I ?

But, for $499.95 and $75.23 shipping and handling, we've got a deal.

 

And buy today, and we will take off $200 ...for a total of 299.00

Order now

Operators are waiting.

 

I agree with you 100% on persistence. Persistence is vital to success, and is in my opinion the foremost virtue.

Here's a quote from one of my favorite United States Presidents, Calvin Coolidge:

"Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race."

 

+1

Also, luck plays a hand (as it does in everything). It's a combination of a lot of things.

---

I know my goals for the next 10 years, for now they're mostly financially and personal enjoyment related. In 5-10 years, I know some of my goals will change/add more. Perhaps a wife/kids will be in the picture then, but not in the foreseeable future .

 

funny so far I have had over 260 people send me comments about the blog post I wrote after reading this thread. It seems there are a lot more people than I thought who think money has nothing to do with success.

 

Well.....for starters answering people back in a conversation you started asking about "key to success."

 

Right.

Also: don't walk into a room, blurt out a question, and then take off.