The key to success? Many people think that only those with talent can make it to the top, but they are wrong. Yes, talented people have a great advantage. But if such talent is not refined constantly, you won’t go too far. Trust me.

Hoping and praying is easier, but don’t produce as good results as hard work.”- Andy Rooney.

This also applies to our prayers. They can fly high, heaven high. The Lord will hear them and turn them into opportunities to test our bravery, skill, tenacity; to evaluate if we are ready to take the next big step. But praying every night without trying every day is not enough to make things happen. Ultimately, our actions are the ones to define the course of our lives.

We can’t wait for things to happen as if by magic. If you are talented in a sport but you do not practice every day, you will just be good, never excellent, never the best. If you want to get good grades but you don’t study, what do you think you will get? Obviously, grades, but not the ones you expect.

Lucky strikes – the art practiced by those who just sit and wait – rarely happen.

If you want something to happen, start acting

And by acting, I mean working on what you want, every day. Consistency is key to get positive results. Always take advantage of opportunities that come your way. You must prepare yourself before you do something, but don’t pretend to be an expert to take a step or you will never walk.

Don’t blame yourself if something goes wrong. We are humans and we make mistakes. They say we are not born knowing everything, and I believe it. Life would be meaningless without trial and error. Living is about collecting experiences. The more you dare to live, the wiser you will become. And even if we make mistakes, we must never lose our drive.

Let your motivation not depend on your victories and failures. These must only be a source of information for you to take future decisions. Don’t push yourself only after you fail. Whether the results are good or bad, at the beginning or the end, effort must prevail.

The mix of persistence, motivation, and dedication will give a fantastic result we will be proud of, and above all, it will feed our desire to eat the world. Keep climbing with each goal you achieve and when you get there, make sure you have good pillars so as not to fall. Be aware of where you are, how you got there, and what you will do to stay there, to avoid falling.

When the expected moment arrives, you will notice a change in the environment surrounding you. That’s another great moment to reflect. Try not to get too big for your boots, don’t believe that you are ready to eat the world, or the world will eat you alive. Keep working, always reminiscing where you come from and what you’ve gone through so far.

Consistency and hard work build that unique talent

Get the most out of your talent. For every person with talent, there are dozens of others who, even without that ability, have a lot of determination and perseverance. These will be the ones who will indeed see the fruits. Do not rely only on your talent. Aim to be excellent, strive for it and you will always be rewarded.

I have a friend who dreams of becoming a great professional athlete. He wants it more than anything else. He loves that sport, and he hates losing so much that when he does, he gets extra-motivated to practice more. That had me thinking, “Do you have to lose to revive your desire for success? If so, you won’t get too far. You have to push yourself before and after the game”.

To which he replied: “I don’t need to lose, it’s just that when I do, I feel a fire inside me that motivates me to fight more“.

I said, “If you’re only motivated for a few days, you’re wrong. You need to stop wishing to be the best, to just trust your talent and start working hard to achieve your goal”. In my opinion, my friend lacks the hard work and determination necessary to make dreams come true, which is to be the best in a sport.

The key to success: Tear the elephant apart

The key to success may be clearer for some than for others. Athletes like my friend, for example, understand that they must train every day, they can easily notice and work on their flaws. Writers know that they must find the time and space to let their ideas flourish on the keyboard or the paper until they gather the text they want to project.

However, many people are creating their own paths, and others can’t clearly see the railroad tracks to success because of how far they are from achieving it. I know how easy it can be to lose your way when your goal seems too big, distant, or unreachable. But this, or any other excuse should prevent you from having the persistence it takes to make your dream come true.

Work day after day, as every little progress counts.  The key to success is dividing that huge elephant into smaller pieces or stages and describe the activities you need to overcome in each of them. Spend time on each task daily. The satisfaction of frequently marking a checkpoint on your huge list will serve as fuel to keep you going.

Setting your mindset: another key to success

We are where we are because of the actions we take every day. Every step leaves a footprint. Everything is connected in our life. A single act you change will trigger a ripple effect in your daily life.

It can be good or bad, only you may know. Stay alert, try hard every day, have fun, and enjoy your achievements, make good friends who share the same emotions you have with every achievement, and who are there for you when you need words of encouragement.

Above all, remember that limits are only set by your mind. Once you are in harmony with it, and with your body at the same time, you will achieve incredible things. Even things we never thought to be capable of doing.

Again, talent, prayer, and hope will only get you so far; hard work and practice will overcome any obstacles.

“If the mind is right and the body follows, then success will surely be achieved tomorrow” – Nico Pengin.

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