Start Creating Your Own Success

The number one determining factor of whether you’ll be successful lies within you.  Even if you need a positive answer from someone else like a client or a key stakeholder, the biggest success factor is inside you.  You are the key - more specifically, what you think and truly believe about yourself, about the situation, and about your expectation for success.

When you talk to yourself (come on, I know you do, just like I know you sing in the car…like me), what are you saying? 

Some people aren’t aware of how they talk to themselves.  Some people say things to and about themselves that they’d never say to someone they care about.

I love this quote:

 “Perfectionism is self abuse of the highest order.” 

Ann Wilson Schaef

If you want to create positive change in your life, you need to make sure your biggest asset is on your side.  That asset is you.  If you are undermining your own results, getting in your own way with limiting beliefs, low self-esteem and negative self talk, it’s time to change. 

Change starts deep within, and it can be a long process.  But that doesn’t mean you should put it off to tomorrow.  Get started right away. 

Here’s one small step you can take:  pay attention to how you talk to yourself and catch yourself in the act of negative self-talk.  Next time you hear that voice inside your head saying something negative, something that you would never say to someone else, STOP!!!  Close your eyes, take a breath, and replace those negative thoughts with something positive.

Seems too simple to work, but try it anyway.  Come up with something true and meaningful, maybe even something that makes you smile.  Don’t use something Pollyanna-ish that you don’t believe.

People in advertising make a fortune thinking up memorable and fun slogans.  Why not adopt a couple of your favorites and use them as your very own.  Here are 20 of my favorites.  Can you guess who they’re from?  (answers are below)

1.            Imagine possible.

2.            Never follow.

3.            Have fun while doing good.

4.            Life’s messy.  Clean it up!

5.            When you’ve got it, flaunt it.

6.            Have it your way.

7.            Play. Laugh. Grow. 

8.            Imagination at work.

9.            Never let ‘em see you sweat.

10.        Don’t get mad.  Get GLAD.

11.        It’s time for clarity.

12.        Because I’m worth it. 

13.        Wake up and drive. 

14.        Break out of the ordinary. 

15.        Just do it. 

16.        No rules.  Just right. 

17.        Something to smile about. 

18.        Takes a licking and keeps on ticking. 

19.        It’s not a job.  It’s an adventure.

20.        Imagine it.  Done. 

Turning around negative self-talk is a great first step on the journey towards more control over your own results and success.  Here’s another great quote:

Watch your thoughts, they become words. Watch your words, they become actions. Watch your actions, they become habits. Watch your habits, they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”
–unknown

Do you have a favorite slogan or affirmation?  Share it in the comments below.

1. AT&T
2.  Audi
3. Ben & Jerry’s
4. Bissell
5. Braniff Airlines
6. Burger King
7. Fisher Price
8. General Electric
9.  Gillette Dry Idea
10. GLAD
11.  KPMG
12. L’Oreal
13. Mitsubishi Motors
14. Nestles Butterfinger
15. Nike
16. Outback Steakhouse
17. Quaker Oats
18. Timex
19. U.S. Navy
20. Unisys