So, you’ve found your passion. What's next on the road to success?
Most of us are probably already familiar with Malcolm Gladwell’s “10,000 hour rule.” His theory is: when you pour 10,000 concentrated hours into an activity or field of interest, you eventually become a master of the skill, achieving the ultimate goal of success. For The Beatles, success came in the form of fame and worldwide recognition for their music after putting in 10,000 hours of practice (eight hours every day of the week). For Bill Gates, it was after devoting 10,000 hours into computer programming that he was able to become a tech titan and founder of Microsoft.
Several studies following Malcolm Gladwell’s theory of the “outliers” have contested the “10,000 hour rule,” pointing to other factors like personal background and genetics that are equally (or more, as some studies suggest) important as time spent perfecting a skill. Granted, 10,000 hours may not be the magic number applicable to all stories of success. But it certainly reflects the average amount of dedication it takes to achieve mastery - or form an expertise, at the least.
Needless to say, success doesn’t happen overnight, even if we are working on the things we are deeply passionate about. For the majority of us, it takes a significant degree of effort and commitment to develop a passion over time. People who have already found their passion or calling can fail too, if their passions are only found and yet to be developed. We have to constantly remind ourselves of this (rather obvious) fact, since most stories we hear aren’t those of people who gave up on their dreams because they were afraid of failure or too tired to commit all the way. Such stories of failure, which (to be brutally honest) constitute most of the stories out there, often are swept under the rug and go untold. We have to break our circuit of giving up easily when things get too hard, and stick it out if we want a better chance of success.
How do we do this?
1. Start small.
Focus on one task at a time. Try breaking down your aspirations into smaller, more digestible chunks so that you can celebrate small milestones along the way and that you don’t get overwhelmed by everything on your to-do list. Don’t forget that you are in it for the long haul - small progress is still progress!
2. Consistency is key.
You’ve heard it a million times, and you’re hearing it again here. The inevitable truth - and a great equalizer of life - is that progress only stems from consistent hard work. Constantly reinvent yourself by forming and tracking your habits.
3. Reach out for support and help.
Failures and obstacles are an inescapable part of the process on your road to success, and it is so important to think positive and know your self-worth. It doesn't hurt to receive a little help.
Need a helper? Check off steps 1, 2, 3 using Dreamfora.
1. Say that you decide to pursue your dream of launching your very own startup. Set your dream, and break down your goal into smaller tasks.
2. Dreamfora provides helpful habits for achieving your dream, advised by experts. Set a recurring deadline and keep track of your habits for the long run. You can add and delete habits by pressing ‘edit.’
3. Information is power. Expert advice is "super" power. Get started immediately, with expert advice provided to you in the form of notes! If you decide to do additional research, well, more power to you! You can always edit or add more notes.
Dream it. Plan it. Achieve it.
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