Andrew Cordle

Introduction To: The 8 Steps To Sure Success

Your Road to Success   NOTE: The following post is the introduction to a series I’ve titled: “The 8 Steps to Sure Success”   “Let no feeling of discouragement prey upon you and in the end, you are sure to SUCCEED!” – Abraham Lincoln   Through the years, there has been an enormous amount of research conducted on highly successful people. It can be defined in so many ways depending on who is defining the term. When I think of success, it brings to mind great men and women like: George Washington, Michael Jordan, Oprah Winfrey, Jack Welch, or Steve Jobs. The list could go on for hours.   Typically, we define success as attaining a goal or being the best at whatever we accomplish. However, any definition will confirm one thing – success doesn’t “just happen.” It takes hard work and passion. Most of you reading this blog are like me: we want to succeed at whatever it is that we do. And one thing that I want to do is help YOU succeed at whatever it is you were put on this Earth to do! You hold the key to lifelong success – it’s up to you!   Success is rarely an accident; it happens on purpose. It is YOU who decides if you want to step onto the road to success! Interstate 75 is a major freeway running north/south extending from Michigan to Florida. If you told me that you were leaving your house in, let’s say, Chattanooga, TN and heading south to Florida for the winter, but I saw you take the exit that says “75 North to Detroit, MI,” I would be perplexed. Your words were clear, but your actions contradicted your words. So if you told me that you want to succeed, but you don’t take the necessary steps that lead to success, your actions would contradict your words!   WARNING: Along the road to success, there will be bumps, potholes, and bad weather! There will be times that you fail miserably and there will be times in which you have made it to your destination early and the end results were far better than you’d ever imagined. The more you succeed, the more those around you will want to emulate you. They may aid you in your journey and help you achieve greater success. But remember: with the positive also comes the negative. During your journey, you’ll be tried and tested. Some onlookers (or even passengers!) will be envious or jealous of you. They may attempt to disrupt your journey and become stumbling blocks in your path. It is how you handle these people that will determine the final outcome. It is in these cases that it’s so important for you to remember that if people envy you, you have done something right! Keep your eyes on the finish line. With hard...