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Success Advice

3 Principles That Can Make You Ultra-Successful In 10 Years Or Less

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Being successful is a really big deal, but the truth is you’re already a success. I know, you probably don’t believe it, but Merriam-Webster dictionary defines success as, “a person that succeeds.”

What that means is simple. You don’t attain success only when you’re on the cover of magazines. You attain success when you’re one step ahead of where you were a second ago.

One prayer my dad taught me to say was, “Help me ensure that every day is a plus for me.” It didn’t make sense, especially to a 5 year old. But 20+ years later, I realize that it’s something we all need to say to ourselves every day.

However, that doesn’t happen by magic. It takes some super-duper dose of conscious effort to make it work. As humans, we often have a very twisted definition of success and this makes us depressed when it looks like we’re not “there yet”.

You’ll never enjoy the process if you keep asking, “Are we there yet?” That kind of yapping can get anyone pissed. A much better and relieving question is, “Where are we now?” It creates an opportunity to explore and appreciate the momentary happenings, pending when you eventually “get there”…whatever that means.

In the context of this post, being ultra-successful doesn’t mean having a billion dollars to your name. It means reaching a point where when you look back, you can clearly recognize you’ve crazily stretched yourself, broken limits and scaled borders you never thought were possible for you.

So here are principles you can apply to your work and life to ensure when you look back 10 years or less from now, your jaw drops:

1. Leverage Your Comfort Zone

Your comfort zone is a place where you’re most confident and comfortable. It’s not a place where you’re lazy. With this kind of definition, I wonder why people tell us to leave our comfort zones. I love mine.

A writer is most confident and comfortable when he writes. Same with a craftsman when he creates, a painter when he paints, a strategist when he creates strategy, a developer when he codes, a work-from-home entrepreneur when he works from home, and so on.

Leveraging your comfort zone then means pushing yourself to limits you never thought you could be pushed to. It means learning everything you need to know about your craft and implementing everything. It could mean writing books instead of just articles, creating a design course instead of just designing for clients, or helping people get medical help easily through an app instead of just building 2D games.

However, to get to the point where you’re able to perfectly leverage your comfort zone, you need to build expertise through practice. That’s the next point.

“You cannot push anyone up a ladder unless he be willing to climb a little himself.” – Andrew Carnegie

2. Exercise Daily

When I made a decision to write on a daily basis, it sounded sweet to my ears. When I started, I had to wonder whether or not I was in my right senses when I made that commitment.

A newbie developer who just learned his first line of code yesterday can’t build a viral app today. Mastery takes time. Consistent daily practice in whatever makes you most confident and comfortable makes time work in your favor. It somehow bunches time up and helps you achieve more in a lesser amount of time.

Little drops make a mighty ocean. Nonetheless, you can’t compare one drop per week to the same drop per day. The latter makes a mighty ocean faster.

There are now several platforms to help you express and show the world whatever your hands find to do. Whatever you choose to do daily doesn’t always have to be for public consumption. Yes, public feedback is good, but if you’re not the type who takes criticism lightly, start by showing a few nice people, before you move to the blunt ones.

The positive feedback from the nice guys will help you emotionally when you take the plunge. When you do, choose the right platform.  

3. Create On The Right Platform

When Seth Godin, bestselling author of Purple cow, started writing daily, he did it on Typepad, not Youtube because he shared articles, not video content. Today, over 10 years later, even some of his posts that are less than 100 words get more than 200 shares. What you have to offer determines where you share it.

The right platform isn’t just defined by what format your work is in. It’s also defined by where you feel most comfortable (remember our point on comfort zone?). The right platform could be online or offline. The bottom line is you’re sharing something through a medium that reaches a certain number of people, with the lowest number being one.

Don’t bother about going viral with what you share, or getting 10k likes every time. You’ll be tempted to, but that’s not the point. Stay focused on being a success every day. Push yourself beyond limits right there in your comfort zone. In a couple of years, you’ll be surprised at how those little drops make you mighty. Anyone who comes in contact with you wouldn’t know when they get drowned in your work.

“I never dreamt of success. I worked for it.” – Este Lauder

How are you creating momentum towards success today? Comment below and let us know!

Image courtesy of Twenty20.com

Lanre Solarin is a writer and content marketer who helps people build businesses from their talents and skills. He writes about business, work, personal development and faith. Connect with him on his personal website - lanresolarin.com or download a copy of the Workaholic’s manifesto – a small pdf guide on how to change the world with the work you do.

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Success Advice

Inside the TikTok Resume Hack That’s Fooling Recruiters (For Now)

A viral TikTok resume trick promises interviews overnight, yet one wrong move could blacklist you from future jobs.

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Life

9 Harsh Truths Every Young Man Must Face to Succeed in the Modern World

Before chasing success, every young man needs to face these 9 brutal realities shaping masculinity in the modern world.

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Image Credit: Midjourney

Many young men today quietly battle depression, loneliness, and a sense of confusion about who they’re meant to be.

Some blame the lack of deep friendships or romantic relationships. Others feel lost in a digital world that often labels traditional masculinity as “toxic.”

But the truth is this: becoming a man in the modern age takes more than just surviving. It takes resilience, direction, and a willingness to grow even when no one’s watching.

Success doesn’t arrive by accident or luck. It’s built on discipline, sacrifice, and consistency.

Here are 9 harsh truths every young man should know if he wants to thrive, not just survive, in the digital age.

1. Never Use Your Illness as an Excuse

As Dr. Jordan B. Peterson often says, successful people don’t complain; they act.

Your illness, hardship, or struggle shouldn’t define your limits; it should define your motivation. Rest when you must, but always get back up and keep building your dreams. Motivation doesn’t appear magically. It comes after you take action.

Here are five key lessons I’ve learned from Dr. Peterson:

  • Learn to write clearly; clarity of thought makes you dangerous.

  • Read quality literature in your free time.

  • Nurture a strong relationship with your family.

  • Share your ideas publicly; your voice matters.

  • Become a “monster”, powerful, but disciplined enough to control it.

The best leaders and thinkers are grounded. They welcome criticism, adapt quickly, and keep moving forward no matter what.

2. You Can’t Please Everyone And That’s Okay

You don’t need a crowd of people to feel fulfilled. You need a few friends who genuinely accept you for who you are.

If your circle doesn’t bring out your best, it’s okay to walk away. Solitude can be a powerful teacher. It gives you space to understand what you truly want from life. Remember, successful men aren’t people-pleasers; they’re purpose-driven.

3. You Can Control the Process, Not the Outcome

Especially in creative work, writing, business, or content creation, you control effort, not results.

You might publish two articles a day, but you can’t dictate which one will go viral. Focus on mastery, not metrics. Many great writers toiled for years in obscurity before anyone noticed them. Rejection, criticism, and indifference are all part of the path.

The best creators focus on storytelling, not applause.

4. Rejection Is Never Personal

Rejection doesn’t mean you’re unworthy. It simply means your offer, idea, or timing didn’t align.

Every successful person has faced rejection repeatedly. What separates them is persistence and perspective. They see rejection as feedback, not failure. The faster you learn that truth, the faster you’ll grow.

5. Women Value Comfort and Security

Understanding women requires maturity and empathy.

Through books, lectures, and personal growth, I’ve learned that most women desire a man who is grounded, intelligent, confident, emotionally stable, and consistent. Some want humor, others intellect, but nearly all want to feel safe and supported.

Instead of chasing attention, work on self-improvement. Build competence and confidence, and the rest will follow naturally.

6. There’s No Such Thing as Failure, Only Lessons

A powerful lesson from Neuro-Linguistic Programming: failure only exists when you stop trying.

Every mistake brings data. Every setback builds wisdom. The most successful men aren’t fearless. They’ve simply learned to act despite fear.

Be proud of your scars. They’re proof you were brave enough to try.

7. Public Speaking Is an Art Form

Public speaking is one of the most valuable and underrated skills a man can master.

It’s not about perfection; it’s about connection. The best speakers tell stories, inspire confidence, and make people feel seen. They research deeply, speak honestly, and practice relentlessly.

If you can speak well, you can lead, sell, teach, and inspire. Start small, practice at work, in class, or even in front of a mirror, and watch your confidence skyrocket.

8. Teaching Is Leadership in Disguise

Great teachers are not just knowledgeable. They’re brave, compassionate, and disciplined.

Teaching forces you to articulate what you know, and in doing so, you master it at a deeper level. Whether you’re mentoring a peer, leading a team, or sharing insights online, teaching refines your purpose.

Lifelong learners become lifelong leaders.

9. Study Human Nature to Achieve Your Dreams

One of the toughest lessons to accept: most people are self-interested.

That’s not cynicism, it’s human nature. Understanding this helps you navigate relationships, business, and communication more effectively.

Everyone has a darker side, but successful people learn to channel theirs productively into discipline, creativity, and drive.

Psychology isn’t just theory; it’s a toolkit. Learn how people think, act, and decide, and you’ll know how to lead them, influence them, and even understand yourself better.

Final Thoughts

The digital age offers endless opportunities, but only to those who are willing to take responsibility, confront discomfort, and keep improving.

Becoming a man today means embracing the hard truths most avoid.

Because at the end of the day, success isn’t about luck. It’s about who you become when life tests you the most.

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Change Your Mindset

Work-Life Balance Isn’t a Myth: Here’s How to Actually Make It Happen

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Change Your Mindset

The Four Types of Happiness: Which One Are You Living In?

Most people chase success only to find emptiness, this model reveals why true happiness lies somewhere else.

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