You've heard the saying, "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything." Well that doesn't just apply to moral issues; it can also be applied to success as well. Many times if you ask people who are unsuccessful in life what their goals are, they will reply, "I don't know." When it comes to success, you can't afford not to know what you want.
Don't be afraid to be an overachiever. For some reason when people are ambitious and have goals, others try and talk them out of succeeding. And oddly enough, the term "overachiever" has many negative connotations. Well, the fact is that when unsupportive people see that you refuse to sit on the sidelines and do nothing, they will do everything in their power to keep you from moving forward. The best thing you can do when these types of people try to squash your dreams is ignore them. People usually act like this when they are afraid that you are going to have a better life than them. Fear can either be a great motivator or a great inhibitor. When people are afraid of failure, they can either let that consume and cause them to be unproductive, or they can make their fear their main motivator.
Stick to your success shopping list. It has been said that shoppers who use and stick to a shopping list save on their grocery bills because they are not tempted make impulse buys and purchase things they don't need. Well, the same can be said for knowing what you want in life. While it can be acceptable to change your plan for your life, try to avoid "impulse buys" when it comes to success. If you are constantly changing your mind about what you want in life, you will be sabotaging your success. If you never see something through to the end, then you could realize that it's been 10 years, and you're still going in circles. By keeping a clear vision of what you want, you will be able to self correct when you veer from your path. However, when you don't know what you want, it is impossible to know what you are staying from your ideal life.
Visualization is the key. Have you ever had a big presentation at work, and to help yourself prepare, you imagined yourself giving in the conference room giving a successful presentation? Well, this is because when we tell our mind to see something, our brain actually works to make what we see become a reality. When we positively visualize things for our future, we can improve our chances of success. By the same token, if you are constantly seeing yourself as a failure, chances are, you will always fail.
Know what to order. If you've ever gone to a restaurant with someone who has no idea what they want to order, you know how frustrating it can be. Everything sounds good to them, and it takes them 30 minutes to finally order. However, the people who have at least an idea of what to order, such as a burger, pasta or a salad have an easier time. When you have a general idea of what you want, success is much easier to obtain. As you determine what you want to life, try to narrow down your options so you won't get discouraged and give up.