In an article entitled, “Gifted or Hard-Working? Which is Better for Long-Term Success for our Children?”, Psychologist, Dr. Sherrie Campbell stated, “The greatest predictor of success is how many hours are devoted to any goal. The more someone practices a skill, the better they become at what they are trying to accomplish. It means that children learn the value of taking the necessary time, sticking with a goal even when it is not enjoyable, persevering in the face of obstacles and failures and developing the skills necessary to become successful at the end of a long road.” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sherrie-campbell-phd/gifted-or-hardworking-which-is-better-for-long-term-success-in-our-children_b_5377130.html

You set goals a long time ago but you didn’t reach them and now, you feel like you’re going nowhere. You’ve gone to college or obtained advanced training in a popular field, but now you’re working a job you don’t want and you aren’t happy. Is it time to pull out that dusty goal from a while ago and try it again. Maybe we can learn from the advice Dr. Campbell shared for youth.

Setbacks and roadblocks occur to more people than you may think. Setbacks may require you to change your course a time or two, or you may have to alter the goal a bit. A little less—a little more isn’t going to hurt the overall goal once it’s firmly set.

Research has found that people get discouraged and give up without fully attacking their plan. You’ll notice I didn’t say, ‘they don’t work hard enough’. How hard you work isn’t really the point. Hard work, at anything worthwhile, is a given. But sometimes we spin our wheels or work too hard in the wrong direction.

In a June 2012 “Time” article, “Is Success Due to Hard Work and Determination — Or Is There a Lot of Luck Involved?” writer David Futrelle quoted Author Michael Lewis — best known for the nonfiction classics Moneyball and Liar’s Poker. Lewis told Princeton graduates “That success in this world isn’t entirely a matter of hard work and merit, but that the mysterious mystical force known as “luck” plays an enormous part. And that they were some of the luckiest souls on planet earth.

Futrelle goes on to say, “Though Lewis didn’t put it so baldly, he was talking about the advantages of class in America, where fortune deals out its cards from a stacked deck. As I pointed out in a previous column, research by economist Tom Hertz demonstrates how rare it is for those born poor to go from “rags to riches,” with only 1.3% of those born into the poorest 10% managing to “struggle upward” into the top 10%, while nearly one third of those born into the top 10% are able to hold on to their class position.” (June 2012, Time Magazine)

Other research has also shown that environment and poverty can prevent breakout success. No matter how hard the underprivileged work and no matter how smart they are, other factors will come into play. Those factors include: failure to go to the right schools; failure to get the right internships after college; and failure to land the right jobs and careers will hinder their prospects of attaining the same kind of riches or success as the wealthy.

Wow! Should we even try? The answer to this question is a resounding, Yes! Hardwork and perseverance can prepare you to make your own luck.

Vision is the first step in goal attainment.
Allowing a vision to manifest itself to the point that you see yourself performing the steps to reach your success, and then enjoying the celebration party is vital to the psychology of success.

Building a Network is step two.
How does your network stand right now. Do you encourage and support others in your field, in your church, group, or organization? Are there people who owe you favors, money, or labor? These are people who can move you forward in reaching your goal.

Make a list and begin to cold-call them. Step up your support. If you’re a writer, begin to review, reblog or leave comments on other writers’ sites. You never know who is reading someone else’s blog. Create a culture of positivity where people expect good things from you. That can payoff in unexpected ways.

Sometimes talking to someone positive can encourage you. Put your ideas and goals out on front street. Once you put it out there, you can’t pull it back because people will be watching your perseverance and progress.

Surround yourself with a cheerleader or two. You’ll need a person who calls to ask about your progress and who will prod you to get out of your comfort zone when you’ve been stagnant too long. Invite a friend to drinks or dinner tonight and ask them to partner with you while you write or blog, for example. Not only will they encourage you, but they will share with others or provide resources to help you. This will expand your network.

Finally, identify your key Resource People.
These are people who know something you don’t know, do something you can’t do, or have friends and connections who can move you ahead a step or two. Do you know people who have succeeded in doing whatever you desire to do? Don’t hesitate to ask for their help. Many successful people want to pay it forward and will be glad to help you in countless ways!

You can change your direction right now! Become new! Remember that a person who desires to become a boss shouldn’t spend all their time developing skills meant for followers. Leadership and administration is a whole different animal and learning how to become a better worker isn’t going to help you become the boss.

Begin to think, dress, and speak like who you are becoming. Don’t go off-course, spending too much time on something that has no direct impact on your goal. Set a series of short-term goals. Accomplish them as quickly as possible and then, move on and set new goals.