Do you know one fact that actually bothers me every time I take the subway to go to the city? It is not the big crowds. Or the lack of air-conditioning. Nor it is the noise. No.

I get really worked up every time I see a bunch of high school students entering the train. Well, the students per se’ are not a problem. It is their backpacks that bother me so much. Everyone and I literally mean EVERYONE is wearing the same “Eastpak” backpacks. It is like there is some unofficial rule that every single kid from the age of 10 to 20 must wear identically styled backpacks that come in 6 or 7 ‘regular’ colors.

Did you have such “unofficial rules” when you were in high school? Have you sometimes felt an outsider, because you did not have the coolest cell phone or because you saw the world differently than most of your friends?

I know I was.

Even now as much as I would love to fit in wherever I go, I still prefer to be me. So what if my work does not fit a “regular job description”? Or that my lifestyle and interests are very different from those of many people? Or that every time I go to parties I have to explain why I do not eat meat or drink alcohol?

I made peace with it a long time ago.

But I meet a lot of people who still carry that fear inside of them, trying to mold who they are to gain the acceptance of their family members, co-workers, friends and other social groups.

It made me reflect whether looking at life differently is really such a big problem?

Being ‘normal’ and going with the flow does seem like a touchstone of life and the number one requirement for success to many people.

But real life shows that those who stand out and let their light shine are the ones who make it Big!

And here is why:

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Usually successful people are praised for their talents, incredible persistence, unbending will-power, high self-confidence, brilliant intelligence and inexhaustible creativity. There is a possibility that just one person can possess all these wonderful and obvious qualities. But I sincerely do not think that ALL successful people are these “god-like” creatures who do not make mistakes or have bad days, like the rest of us mortals.

In fact, my experience shows otherwise. I have been fortunate to meet many highly successful people (some of them are my good friends) and I can tell you that at a first glance they seem no different from me or you. (and, yes, successful people have unproductive days and family arguments, just like everyone else).

But if you look closer you will notice that there are a few things that most successful people intuitively do right. You will never hear them talk about it, because I do not think the majority of them even realize that they are taking these actions.

It is actually funny, but most famous people achieve success first and then assume that they must have done it, because of their unstoppable determination and bright mind.

If you want to be successful, stop comparing your personal qualities with the list of “The top 20 traits of successful people”! You only set yourself up for disappointment and self-esteem problems.

Instead concentrate your efforts on doing just these 5 ridiculously easy things:

1. Do an extra 1%.

In business to gain total control of a company it is not enough to have more stakes than any other stake holder. You need 51%. In politics 1% preponderance determines the future of a whole country. Similar, when your odds for success or failure are equal, it is often 1% of your effort, your attitude, and your determination that makes a difference.

Do you remember a task that you did not have time for, but you managed to do anyway? Or when you were on the verge of giving up, but you persisted a little bit longer? Or the time when you wanted to roll your eyes and slam the door in your boss’s face but you clung to the last note of patience and, therefore, avoided an open argument? This one percent of extraordinary effort often manifests in ordinary situations.

If on a daily basis you manage to: do something a little better, resist the temptation to “throw in the towel” a little longer, try a little harder not to jump to conclusions about what other people are or are not– I promise you that you WILL become successful.

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An old inscription found in a church in Sussex, England, circa 1730, states:

“A vision without a task is but a dream,
A task without a vision is drudgery,
A task with a vision is the hope of the world.”

We think that Goal Setting and the Law of Attraction are modern day concepts. As it turns out they are not. People knew all along that in order to achieve anything significant and long-lasting you must have both: VISION and ACTION.

The Biggest Misconceptions about VISION:

In spite of what many people think, vision is not just a clear image of what you would like to achieve. It is much deeper than that.

1. Vision is not an abstract outcome. The difference between an adult’s way of thinking to that of a child’s, is that we adults, have the capacity to think in abstract terms. This is wonderful, until we start to dream and state our desires using these concepts. “Good health”, “gorgeous looking body”, “happy family”, “stellar career” or “wealth” are concepts that everyone will imagine and understand differently. The problem with these statements is that there is no way of telling when you have achieved them.

Any great vision should always be stated in concrete, specific, and measurable terms.

2. Vision is not a dream. A dream is a castle in the air. A vision starts with a dream, but it also has a foundation that is grounded in reality. Too often when people set goals or state their intentions they ignore one simple thing – their starting point. No matter how great you are at visualizing, you cannot become a millionaire in a month if your current monthly income is $2,000.

Do not be afraid to dream big. But also be realistic about the time it will take you to get from where you are right now to where you want to be.

3. Vision is not an “ideal” that you should pursue. An ideal is something that we feel we SHOULD achieve guided by our own “idealistic” standards or by trying to meet other people’s overly high expectations. Vision, on the other hand, is a goal that we willingly and eagerly CHOOSE to pursue. How to tell the difference? Listen to yourself! If your goals make you feel frustrated, angry and resistant, then you are trying to force yourself into doing something that you do not want to do in the first place. But if you feel empowered, enthusiastic and inspired by your vision then you are on the right track!

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