What is success? I guess it means different things to different people. Those with the blessing of limited ambition are able to feel successful in most of the things that they do. Those of us afflicted by the virus Entrepreneurus Unlimitadus have a more difficult burden to bear. What does success mean to you? A promotion? Signing a great business deal? Owning half of the world’s supply of designer shoe wear?
I have come to realize that for me, success is a unicorn: A mythical beast that can only be captured by a virgin pure of heart. No matter how high up the totem pole that I get, I’m not content. I need more. Not necessarily more money (although that’s nice), but more successful contracts, more million-dollar deals, more happy customers, and more of everything that is great about this wonderful country.
I have become a success junkie. Mediocrity is no longer an option. Being ‘average’ is definitely not for me. What happens when you realize that enough will never be enough? You get better at your game. You show others your potential, whatever level you want them to see. For Success Junkies, we know that the only deterrent to our potential is what is between our ears. The more successful we become, the greater our potential becomes. The glass ceiling we have to overcome is our own self-assurance, and not caring about the opinions of others. Once we pass through, it’s all gravy from there!

How does one become a Success Junkie?

I went ahead and took an excerpt from Kirsty Dunphey’s website. According to her bio, Kirsty is a self-confessed Success Junkie. Reading about others’ success gets her inspired and ready to take on new challenge. This is one example of how one becomes a Success Junkie:

Humble Beginnings

I don’t believe that an overabundance of ambition is a condition that one is born into. It is, however, something that can be fostered from early childhood. When a child get’s all A’s on their report card, parent’s shouldn’t be overjoyed. Ask the child what else that they have done, beyond just their grades. Tell them that their report card is but the beginning- they are being graded in life, as well.

Once High School rolls around, it becomes easier and easier to get lost in a sea of busy work. Clubs, Teams, and other extracurriculars can be healthy for a child, but they can also prove to be a detriment. Teamwork is an important skill to have in a workforce, but is it all that necessary when fostering the development an entrepreneur that can and will try to do everything on their own? Of course not! Becoming the Team Captain, Head Cheerleader, or President of the Honor Society may be good for the ego, but it will take away in the long run. How many of us know such “rising stars” that never made anything of themselves? The sense of accomplishment when reaching the top of such a small ladder can be enough to deter further pursuits. For a future success junkie, enough should never be enough. Once they reach the top, it is time to branch out and continue on in life.

Knowledge

Never stop trying to learn things about things. Nothing in specific. Even if you’re not all that interested in a topic of conversation, get interested. Ask questions. There is nothing better than learning from people that have been there and done that. (Why else would you be reading this? Knowledge is power, and power leads to success.

Even at a young age, I would strive for more. In the third grade, I came across a teacher’s guide to a college history book. It belonged to my uncle, who was happy to lend it to me once the semester was over. To be honest, in the third grade, I didn’t have enough of a vocabulary to understand half of what was in that book. What did I do? I read, and read, and read again. I read other books, more in the middle-highschool level, until I understood much of what I was reading in the teacher’s guide. I would do the questions and quizzes, and could then check the answers myself. What did this teach me? I could overcome a difficulty, and do it completely on my own. I didn’t need to answer adults’ questions as to why I was interested in reading this. I didn’t have to question others about the meaning of the words I was reading. I learned, and it felt great. Because it wasn’t something that I could completely master, it made me want more.

Evaluation

Once you are able to overcome the initial hurdles in attaining success, it is time to start reaping the benefits. An entrepreneur is typically not in it for the long run. That is for other classes of business people. After every accomplishment, reevaluate whether or not what you have done to get to that point was worth it. Has it made you happy? Are you content with what you have done, or should you have done better? Hindsight is 20/20- then use it! They say that we learn from our mistakes. Well, why not try our best not to make mistakes and simply learn from our success?
In school,  pat yourself on the back for good grades, but strive for more. If you are taking Algebra, start learning Trig. Taking Gym? Win the next basketball or volleyball game that your coach organizes, remember what you did, and do it again the next time. At work, learn what it is that you are expected to do, and do better. Learn the jobs of those around you, and help them out when they need it. Your boss or supervisor going on vacation? Ask to help fill in. Every step up the ladder takes you closer to that glass ceiling.

Walk the Walk

When you are living the life of a Success Junkie, those around you are going to think one of two things: Either you’re another dreamer, thinking that you’re going to make it big… Or you’re the ‘next big thing’, destined for greatness. Which would you rather be? To be considered the latter, you have to learn to Walk the Walk, and Talk the Talk. I am going to have a post dedicated to this, but I can summarize it here for the impatient ones in the audience!

Walking the Walk means that those around you know that you are successful. It doesn’t take much money to look successful. You simply have to cover a few bases — Attitude, Attire, and Accessories.

Attitude:

If you feel like a loser, no amount of money spent on clothes or nice cars is going to help. You have to feel the way you want to look. Have you ever met that outgoing person that seems to be the life of the party. Seen that women that turns heads, even though she may not be a size 2? It’s all in the attitude. Before going anywhere, take a look in the mirror. Look at yourself, and be impressed by what you see. You are successful. No matter what happens around you, you are the one that will be the one to benefit. You are not vain, but you are sure of yourself. A good self-esteem doesn’t cost you anything, but it is priceless.

Attire:

Nice clothes can make a man or woman. Nice clothes can also break the bank. If you are looking for designer labels on a budget, stay away from the malls and department stores. Go to Ross, TJ Maxx, or other discount stores. You will get the same labels, for a quarter of the price. Always wear clothing that works for your body type. If you need a suit, find a tailor that is inexpensive. Burlington Coat Factory stores often have suits at great prices, along with a tailor on hand that can make it look great. Women- wondering what to wear? Gauge it on the situation. If you are meeting new clients for the first time, wear something inviting yet professional. Harsh masculine clothing can make you look unapproachable, while flirty and colorful clothes can lead to you not being taken as seriously.

Accessories:

A great attitude and clothes to match may not be enough to seal the deal. Jewelry can be a great accessory to facilitate the image of success. Men- stay away from something too flashy, as it can be tacky. Never wear more than one necklace or bracelet at any given moment. Stick to something that is thick and masculine, but not gaudy. Designers such as Russell Simmons have been making an effort to introduce new lines of Stainless Steel jeweelry targeted specifically at upscale men. These lines have something for almost anyone, and the prices are much lower than something comparable in gold.

Another key accessory (albeit a more expensive one) is the vehicle. Nothing can tell you more about a person’s taste and status than their vehicle. Is it a family sedan? Is it a heavy-duty pickup truck? Is the business owner driving a brand new $100,000 Mercedes S550? While this indicator can often be deceiving, it is still good to make sure that you present the right image. If all you have to work with is a beat-up old vehicle, find a friend with a nice car, and ask to borrow it. Another alternative is rent- many large rental chains are offering premium vehicles for much less than a lease payment would be. If your business has started running smoothly, and there are no foreseable reasons not to, feel free to look into purchasing a nicer vehicle for the use of the business. Make sure it is something at least moderately practical, however. Last year I purchased a sporty roadster convertible, and have been pleased to watch the reaction on potential client’s faces when I would arrive for lunch or dinner meetings. Outside of work, I have had people ask me what I do to drive a car like that. This provides me with an opportunity to tell them more about myself and what it is I do.

Tomorrow and Beyond

What happens when you realize that you have become a Success Junkie? What steps do you have to take to make sure that you ‘get a fix’? Well, follow the following steps, and you should be on your way to the top in no time!

1. Maintain a positive outlook regardless what is going on around you.

2. Look for opportunities around every corner.

3. Meet new people, and learn from them.

4. Study your environment, and make decisions accordingly.

5. Learn the importance of networking.

6. Share in your knowledge with others, for the more you teach the faster you will learn.

7. Never stop believing that your ‘big break’ is almost here.

8. Ask questions, and question authority.

9. Find newer and better ways to things. Teach those ways to someone else.

10. Work hard no matter what it is you do.

• The Google Phone For those of us that pay attention to tech news, it's almost impossible to have missed all of the hype about the 'Google phone' in the past few days. Is this hype due to trendy and artistic commercials on the antiquated video delivery system known as TV? Has Google......
• Success Through Failure What happens when you fail? Is this a negative indicator on your chances for leading a life of success? To be honest, if one didn’t fail at some point, then one could not be categorized as human. Look at the story of Adam and Eve. The ‘parents of all humanity’,......

• How to Tackle a Course You’ve Never Played Walking on to a course you have never played can be a little intimidating, especially if you are alone. You may not feel like chatting up the other players to get some tips and some course’s score cards leave a lot to be desired. However, there are some great ways......
• Save Time, Money and Space in Over 80 Ways If you're looking for handy gadgets, tools and various items that can save you time, money or space (or all three!) this list of more than 80 top products is just what you need. Everyone's got saving money on their minds these days. Some of us are always looking to......