Create your own success

What is success to You? Many of my young people get confused on what success should look like. Some feel that success is someone who has money, great ability,  intelligence and great vision.

You may think this is crazy but I have heard many young people, when they are talking about success, talk about all the people that have these things. They then start chasing to be like them. 

Here is a good example, some see Lionel Messi as a successful person for having great ability and money. So they feel this is what their own success should look like. My young people, you must understand that is Messi’s success, not yours. You have to create your own.  

The picture of success will never look the same for any two people, because we are all different. 

But you should be made aware that the process is the same for everyone. The basic principles of hardwork, dedication, sacrifice, learning skills and knowledge for your field will never change. These are the same principles successful people like Messi had to go through. 

Each and every young person looking for their success must first start by knowing three things:

1. Knowing your purpose in life

Why are you here? What drives you? What motivates you? 

This will help determine your purpose in life and help start your journey toward your own success.

When you find out what it is that moves you then you will need to figure out what you want out of it or what are you looking for from your purpose. 

If your purpose is being a professional soccer player then you need to figure out your final goal and outcome. Mine was winning a championship, owning my business and helping young people. You will have to figure out yours.

2. Grow and work hard to reach your full potential

The only way to grow towards your success is to continue to learn and develop your mind.

You will need to be able to process the good from the bad and never let anyone around you decide your agenda as this is your journey. To reach your full potential you will have to concentrate really hard on the main goal.

Do not get yourself going in different directions because reaching your full potential will require your full focus.

You would have to concentrate, continue to improve and forget things that happen in the past.

Reaching your full potential will call for sacrifices. If you are planning to accomplish little then sacrifice little.

But if you are looking to accomplish great things than be willing to sacrifice much.

3. Develop the ability to help move others

Once you understand your purpose in life and have worked hard in reaching your full potential, it is only then that you have the ability to move others. 

You will find that many successful people get very lonely at the top, especially if they do not know how to help move others on their journey. 

There is a saying ‘We make a living by what we get, but a life by what we give’.

It will be those little things that are asked of you, like helping a team-mate or a friend in your class, helping out with the family or spending more time with them or just helping out in the community.

So for all my young people out there make sure never to follow anyone else to find your success.

Your journey will only go as far as your continued learning , you must stay focus on your purpose and maximize your full potential, but always remember to help give back to others, if not the journey could be a lonely one.  

Until next time! 

David Bascome is the coach of Baltimore Blast and founder of the Hope4Life Foundation and the Bermuda100 initiative, which aims to support schools, and recruit and train leaders in our community to address youth development challenges.