Let’s be honest – most people aren’t living the life they dream about.
They feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure of what steps to take.
They talk about success but never define it. They wait for motivation instead of building discipline.
They fear failure more than they crave growth.
And often, they let negative thoughts or fear stop them before they even start.
Chances are, you are here because some (or all) of that is something you can identify with.
The truth is, achieving success isn’t about luck, talent, or being born into the right family.
It’s about daily choices, consistent effort, and a willingness to keep growing no matter what life throws at you.
If you want to learn how to be successful in life, you need to take control of your journey.
That starts with a clear vision, the right habits, and a plan that fits your unique goals.
Whether your definition of success is financial, building your own business, or creating a comfortable life with strong relationships and self improvement, you have the power to make it happen.
Let’s break down 10 simple principles that will guide you toward success in life.
How to Be Successful in Life
1. Define Success: What Does It Mean to You
You can’t reach a destination if you don’t know where you’re going.
That’s why it’s important to define success for yourself.
What does a comfortable life look like to you? What does a successful career mean?
Some people want to start a business, others want personal and professional growth, and some want strong relationships with their family and close friends.
Success means something different to everyone, and that’s why it’s so important to get clear on what it looks and feels like for you.
Your definition of success is personal. Write it down. Be clear.
Then, create a vision of the life you want to live.
Here is how I encourage you with figuring this out.
First, get a notebook and just start writing about things that you think equal success in life.
You may want to close your eyes and just visualize success and write down what you see.
Don’t worry about if it’s right or wrong, just write everything down that comes into your mind.
If you feel stuck, go for a walk, exercise, or play with your kids.
Be patient and let the ideas come to you.
Once you have your list, let it sit for a few days and then review what you wrote down.
The key as you are reading through your list is to pay attention to how you feel inside.
Do the things you wrote make you feel happy or excited? Do they not give you any emotional reaction?
Keep the ones that make you feel good, and toss out what doesn’t.
Then re-write everything into a definition that has significant meaning to you.
2. Create Achievable Goals with a Plan
Once you know what you want, the next step is goal setting.
Too many people think they know how to set goals but really don’t.
When they fail to achieve their goals, they blame something else.
The key when it comes to goal setting is to be specific.
In other words, you have to create SMART goals.
Don’t just say, “I want to be rich” or “I want to be happy.” Turn your dreams into SMART goals – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Time bound, and Realistic.
For example, instead of saying, “I want to improve my career,” say, “I will take a course in digital marketing and apply for three new jobs this month.”
Don’t just say “I want to lose weight”. Say “I want to lose 15 pounds by being more active and making smarter food choices.”
The more specific you can be, the higher the likelihood of you achieving your goals.
Need help in defining your goals?
Use this framework as a guide:
- What do I want to feel accomplished?
- Why is achieving this goal important to me.
- Who is/are the players involved?
- When do I want my goals to be completed?
- Which necessary steps do I have to take to meet the goals?
Asking yourself these questions will help you set powerful goals for you to achieve.
3. Build Daily Habits that Support Your Goals
Highly successful people don’t wait for motivation. They build habits.
Think of your habits like bricks that build your dream house. If you lay a brick every day, you’re always making progress.
Wake up early. Eat healthy foods. Get enough sleep. Practice self care strategies. These small things add up over time.
Self discipline is an essential part of success. It helps you stay committed even on hard days.
There are two keys to making new daily habits.
The first is starting small.
The easier it is to do, the more likely you will turn it into a routine.
For example, most people will fail if the new habit is waking up and working out for an hour.
It’s way too drastic of a change.
A better option is to wake up and do 25 jumping jacks as you wait for the shower to get warm.
It’s simple and easy to do.
The second key is to tie the habit to something you already do.
In the example above, I tied it to taking a shower.
Try to associate the new things you are doing with things you already do.
For example, in the morning as I am packing lunches for school, I periodically take a break and do 40 pushups.
Now, you might be thinking that these small things are pointless.
But the truth is, they aren’t. The benefit of these small things compound over time into progress.
When I started my pushups, I could only do 25 at a time. Now I can easily do 40 and will increase the number accordingly.
Not only am I getting stronger, but this is motivating me to exercise even more.
And that is the most critical part: keeping you motivated for the long term.
The easier it is to do, the more likely you will keep doing it, which in time will motivate you to do more and more.
4. Develop a Growth Mindset
If you want to achieve long term success, the first thing you need is a growth mindset.
This means believing you can improve through effort, learning, and persistence.
You believe you can overcome challenges and try again after failure.
It’s the opposite of a fixed mindset, which tells you that your talents and intelligence are set in stone – like you’re either “smart” or you’re not.
Let’s say you’re not good at math. A person with a fixed mindset might say, “I’m just not a math person,” and give up.
But someone with a growth mindset says, “I’m not good at this yet, but if I keep practicing and learning, I’ll get better.”
That small shift in thinking makes a huge difference.
Many of the most successful people in the world – whether they’re in sports, business, or digital marketing – started out just like you: struggling, learning, and failing.
The only difference? They kept moving forward, embraced change, and believed in their ability to grow.
That’s what self improvement is all about.
When you have a growth mindset, you don’t see failure as the end.
You see it as constructive criticism, a lesson that helps you make progress.
You understand that every skill – from emotional intelligence to social skills to running your own business – can be developed with time, self discipline, and effort.
So if you want to succeed in your daily life, build a successful career, or reach your growth goals, start here.
Remind yourself: You can learn anything. You can grow into the person you want to be.
All it takes is a positive mindset, the right tools, and the courage to keep going.
5. Take Care of Your Mind and Body
Your body and mind are the engines that power everything you do.
If you don’t take care of them, it’s like trying to drive a car with no gas. You won’t get far, no matter how great your goals are.
Success doesn’t mean pushing yourself until you crash.
In fact, one of the biggest mistakes people make is ignoring their mental health and physical well-being while chasing success.
But the truth is, long term success depends on balance.
Eat healthy foods that fuel your energy. Get enough sleep so your brain can function.
Move your body regularly – even a short daily walk can make a big difference in how you feel and focus.
These are not just wellness tips; they are critical parts of achieving success.
And don’t forget your mind.
Practice self care strategies like journaling, meditation, or taking time to unplug from social media.
If you’re struggling emotionally, reach out for support from close friends, family members, or even a counselor or therapist.
6. Surround Yourself with Positive People
You’ve probably heard the saying, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”
That’s because your environment has a powerful effect on your mindset, motivation, and the goals you believe are possible.
If you’re serious about learning to be successful, you need to build a strong support system of positive people who lift you up, not drag you down.
Think about it like this: If you’re trying to eat better, but your friends always encourage you to eat junk food and skip workouts, how long will your motivation last?
Now imagine being around people who celebrate your growth, share new ideas, and cheer you on when you’re overcoming challenges.
That’s the difference between staying stuck and moving forward in life.
People who have found success know that emotional support is critical for staying successful over the long term.
It’s not just about having cheerleaders, it’s about having people who will also give you honest feedback, challenge your mindset, and help you stay grounded.
Look for people who share your values.
These could be close friends, family, mentors, or even a career coach.
These relationships give you more than encouragement.
They help you build confidence, grow your social skills, and stay inspired.
And if your current circle is full of negativity or drama?
It’s okay to stay flexible and start creating a new circle that supports your growth.
- Read now: Here is how to make new friends
7. Learn New Skills and Keep Growing
Success isn’t a one-time achievement. It’s a continuous process of learning, evolving, and adapting.
If you want success over the long term, you must make growth a regular part of your daily life.
High achieving people don’t stop learning once they get a diploma or land a job.
They stay curious. They ask questions. They explore new ideas.
Why? Because every new skill they develop opens up more opportunities and builds their confidence.
Here’s an example: Imagine two people working the same job. One shows up, does the minimum, and goes home. The other one reads books on leadership, watches online tutorials, and takes a class to get certified in something valuable.
A year later, guess who’s in line for a promotion or starting their dream side hustle?
Learning doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming.
You can read 10 minutes a day, listen to a podcast while driving, or spend one night a week learning a new skill online.
These small actions add up fast, and they separate those who grow from those who stay stuck.
Here’s my personal experience with this. At the start of this year, I committed to doing 100 pushups a day.
It’s only been 3 months and I’m already noticing how much stronger I am – I can do a lot more in one sitting than I could before.
Also, I’m noticing muscle development in my chest as well.
The point here is, you don’t need to be perfect at something before you start. You just need to begin.
Personal development is a lifelong journey. The more you invest in your growth, the more capable and confident you become.
8. Take Responsibility for Your Life
One of the most powerful things you can do on your journey to success is to take full responsibility for your life.
Not just the good parts, but the hard parts, too.
It’s easy to blame circumstances, other people, or bad luck.
But here’s the truth: Most people who are successful didn’t get where they are because everything went perfectly.
They got there because they refused to let excuses hold them back.
They owned their choices, learned from their failures, and kept moving forward.
Taking responsibility means saying, “I may not control everything that happens, but I do control how I respond.” That mindset shift can completely change your life.
Let’s say you don’t get the job you really wanted.
A person avoiding responsibility might say, “The interviewer didn’t like me,” or “It wasn’t fair.”
But someone who takes ownership will say, “Okay, what can I improve for next time? Should I work on my interview social skills or gain new skills in my field?”
That’s the mindset of someone who’s committed to self growth.
When you stop waiting for someone else to fix your life, you start creating your own path to success.
That’s how people build a great career, launch their own business, or achieve financial success. They take initiative and act.
It doesn’t mean you never ask for help.
In fact, strong people know when to seek support and guidance. But at the end of the day, your results are your responsibility.
9. Don’t Fear Failure – Learn From It
If there’s one thing that stops people from ever getting started, it’s fear of failure.
But here’s the truth: Failure is not the opposite of success. It’s part of it.
Every successful person you admire has failed, probably more times than you know.
The difference is, they didn’t let those failures define them. They used failure as fuel for growth.
Think of failure like falling while learning to ride a bike.
Do you quit after falling once? No. You get back up, adjust your balance, and try again.
That’s how you build the skills and confidence to ride.
The same is true in life, whether you’re trying to start a business, get in shape, or pursue a career.
When you have a growth mindset, you stop seeing failure as something shameful.
Instead, you treat it like constructive criticism from life itself. You ask: What can I learn? What can I do differently next time?
Let’s say you launch a project or apply for a job and things don’t go your way.
A fixed mindset says, “I’m just not good enough.” But a growth mindset says, “That didn’t work, but I’m making progress and learning. I’ll try a new approach.”
Some of the most successful people in history – Walt Disney, Oprah Winfrey, Thomas Edison – faced rejection, ridicule, and massive setbacks.
But they kept going. They understood that failure is a part of personal and professional growth.
Don’t let fear of failure keep you in your comfort zone. That’s where dreams go to die.
Instead, reframe failure as feedback and identify actionable steps . Each mistake brings you closer to the clarity, experience, and new skills you need to truly succeed.
They way I’ve learned to look at failing is to tell myself I’m one step closer to success.
This outlook may not work for you, but the point is to find to reframe failing into a positive thing.
10. Give Back and Stay Grateful
When we talk about success in life, we often think about goals, money, and achievements.
But real, lasting success isn’t just about what you gain – it’s also about what you give.
Successful people understand that fulfillment comes from contribution.
When you help others grow, share your knowledge, or simply offer support, you don’t just lift others, you lift yourself, too.
Giving back is a part of living a life with meaning.
This doesn’t mean you have to donate millions of dollars.
Giving back can be as simple as mentoring someone, volunteering a few hours, helping a friend in need, or just being a kind, encouraging presence in someone’s life.
Every act of kindness makes an impact.
And just as important as giving is being grateful for what you already have.
Gratitude changes your mindset. It shifts your focus away from what’s missing and helps you appreciate how far you’ve come.
It strengthens your mental health, improves your mood, and helps you stay positive, even during tough times.
It’s important to remember that success that’s built only on self-gain is fragile. But success built on gratitude, giving, and connection? That’s the kind that lasts.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to be successful in life isn’t about being perfect.
It’s about staying committed, doing your best, and believing that you can grow and change.
There are different paths to success, but the core ingredients are the same: a clear vision, smart goals, hard work, a positive attitude, and people who believe in you.
Whatever your version of success looks like, keep going. You already have what it takes to live a life you’re proud of.
Success isn’t a destination. It’s a daily choice. And every day, you get another chance to choose it.
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The post How to Be Successful in Life: 10 Principles That Actually Work appeared first on Unfinished Success.
