The “success” industry is huge.
One example is love. There are people out there telling and selling us on how to:
- find it
- revive it
- maintain it
Another example? Weight. There are people telling and selling us how to:
- gain it
- lose it
- maintain it
- redistribute it, e.g., from fat to muscle
Further examples abound, e.g., effectiveness, profits, etc. The list goes on.
And there’s something I’ve noticed in lots of the selling approaches. It goes like this:
“I do/did this [whatever ‘this’ is] so do the same as what I do/did and hey presto – you’ll be successful like I am! Oh – and by the way – here’s how much money you give me in order to achieve this same success.”
Some of what’s being sold is superb – results-based and statistically significant. Some is mediocre. Some though is rubbish.
And it can be difficult to distinguish between them.
Imagine Joe is being interviewed on what allowed him to survive to the ripe old age of 103. And he says that he drank 2 glasses of whisky a day and smoked 40 cigarettes a day. If you’re a non-drinker and non-smoker are you going to start copying Joe?
Nope. Because you intuitively know that Joe survived in spite of rather than because of those habits.
But what of less extreme examples?
What can you do?
One thing to consider is whether there is a scientific basis to what is being recommended.
Another criterion to consider is whether or not the idea sounds solid, sounds like it makes sense.
Here are a few ideas for you to consider. They’re going to sound like they make sense. AND the good news is that they’re backed up by science.
- You’re more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down rather than just think about them.
- You’ll accomplish more if you formulate actions to take (in pursuit of the goals) AND if you then send those goals & actions to a supportive friend.
- You’ll accomplish even more if you send weekly progress reports.
It’s that simple. You want to accomplish things? Do the above!