Who Defines Your Success

Would you be offended if I told you that the level of your success is set at a predetermined level? That you will never succeed beyond this set level no matter how hard you try? I know I would, but sadly it’s most likely true.

Born for Mediocrity?

I was reading an article recently that was discussing the power of the mind and how it relates to your success, and while it posed a number of interesting points, one really got to me because I related to it. I’ve had this situation happen to me and I’d be willing to bet you have too.

Researchers were conducting an experiment where they placed two ads for a job opening on various job boards and services. The ads both read something like this:

Wanted: Software professional proficient in various X, Y and Z programming languages, AS400 experience a plus. Must be able to meet deadlines and work in an environment with little to no supervision. Key position in a Fortune 100 organization. Reports directly to the Executive Vice President of Development. Salary starts at X dollars. Send Resume to Joe Smith.

The researchers placed the same ad at two different times but one time they listed the starting salary at 35k dollars while the other time they listed it at 150k dollars!

Which ad do you think more people applied to?

People tend to Aim Low

Aim HighIf you guessed the 150k dollar salary then you would be dead wrong. The same exact ad listing a salary of 35k drew nearly 15x the number of applicants than the ad that listed 150k as the salary! Same job description, same qualifications but 115k dollars less in pay yet more people applied for the lower paying job.

Upon further research they determined that many of the 35k dollar applicants had seen the higher salary ad but assumed that they would not be considered. They weren’t making anywhere near that figure now and so they figured they would not be considered for such a high paying position.

They programmed themselves to fail, they had already determined what their worth was before they even started.  They didn’t feel they were good enough, even though the ad read exactly the same for both ads.

Are you Aiming High Enough?

Have you predetermined your success level as a blogger? Most of you will say no and maybe even be a bit offended but if I were to ask you if you thought you could make more money from your blog than say John Chow, what would your answer be?

I already know. I see it in comments section and articles all over the blogosphere. I often see bloggers proclaim that they realize they won’t make John Chow type money or that they don’t expect to be the next Problogger but I say WHY NOT?

Why NOT set your goal to make more money than John or have more readers than Darren? If you aim low then you are guaranteed to hit low, if you aim HIGH then you’ll hit HIGH. It sounds simple, and it is. The higher you set your goal and the harder you work to achieve it then the higher the chance you have of being successful.

Reprogramming

I’d be willing to bet that one of the examples above has struck home with you. Either the job opening or the John Chow reference is probably an example you can relate to so you may be wondering, can you change?

Are you doomed to fail? Are you destined to underachieve? The easy answer is NO but it isn’t as simple as just saying you are going to do it. You are fighting years and years of habit that you have formed. You’ve likely thought this way your entire adult life, it won’t be easy to change but it is entirely possible.

I know what works for me is to set aside time each week to revisit what I want to accomplish. Where am I going and how am I going to get there. I have programmed myself to set a goal for myself that I think is realistic and then double it. I always find it very helpful to have written goals as well.

A goal that is written down along with expected dates of completion will keep you honest. If it’s in writing you cannot conveniently change it as the deadline looms. This will only work if you keep yourself honest, nobody else is going to hold you accountable for your own success other than you.

I am also a person that benefits from “me” time where I revisit my goals, revisit my thought patterns and set aside time to set my goals high and determine a plan to hit them. I am fortunate enough to have a lot of windshield time in my day job which affords me the option to scheme, plot and plan.

You will have to find what works for you. 95% of your problem can be overcome by recognizing that it exists and being determined to fix it. Most people are not self aware enough to even realize that they are selling themselves short to begin with, so if you recognize that then you are ahead of most already.

Conclusion

If you aren’t aiming high enough then you need to rethink your plan. If you’re a MMO blogger then you SHOULD be aiming to be the next John Chow or if you are blogging because you love it then why can’t YOU be the next Darren Rowse?

Your success level may be preset but the good news is that it’s preset by YOU and it can be changed by YOU as well. You will need to revisit your goals weekly and make course corrections as you go but you can change.

You can control the level of your success and you can accomplish more than you ever thought you could.

You just need to Want it Bad Enough. Do you have it in you?

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