The Fantastic Life

The Truth about Success

We all strive for the satisfaction that comes with achieving success in life. For me, I get an endorphins blast from the simplest tasks to the biggest wins—everything! I am achievement and success orientated in every area of my life.  I think all of us love to highlight the positives from a task, project, event or a goal. But, there are the not-so-glamorous aspects as well. The truths about achieving success are quite similar. I’ve spent some time on this in the past — there is always the other side.  If you want to read about the other side of success try Tiger Woods by Jeff Benedict and Armen Keteyian or Open by Andrew Agassi.

Here is a short primer about the truth of success:

  • Success needs more time… ALWAYS. You have to make sacrifices to spend more time working toward goals. It’s just what you have to do to be successful.
  • Life isn’t a reality show, and social media doesn’t show the grind.  Trust me, there is a grind and it’s not a week or month or year.  It lasts decades.
  • Envy is not success related.  Follow my Fantastic Life Rule #9 – Set Goals.  Then work your ass off toward those goals.  Your goals.  Your passions.  Your life.
  • The process is never done.  I am still making cold calls 35+ years later in my business.  Why?  That is what it takes to be successful.

Don’t get me wrong…I want success.  I work toward success every day.  You should too.  Just be warned – there is a price to pay.

Rule #6 from my book The Fantastic Life: Set Goals

What does success look like to you? Define success, set goals, and then work them backwards. Every goal costs something, so before you set out make sure you are willing to pay.



6 Ugly Truths No One Tells You About Success

Everyone wants to be successful, but what does that really feel like?

By Jon Levy

March 29, 2018

For over a decade, I have been studying the science of influence, what causes some to lead remarkable and exciting lives. Through founding The Influencers, I’ve met and built relationships with some of the most influential and successful people in the world, from celebrities and royalty to Nobel laureates and Fortune 500 execs.

Surrounded by these titans, I have had an inside look at what it means to be a success, and it’s not always what people expect. These are the realities of success that everyone should know.

1. People always say they would give their life to do x.
Prepare for sleepless nights, frustration, and pain, because that is what it takes to be considered the best. You don’t become a leader in anything without sacrifice. You may have to give up time with family, not go out with your friends, or take fewer vacations, so whatever you pursue, make sure that it’s worth the sacrifice. It requires complete focus and dedication to the process, and there is nothing sexy about it.

2. Don’t believe what you see on Instagram.
It may seem like most celebrities and successful people spend most of their time going to glamorous events and destinations. However, that’s not always the case. A majority of time is spent in meetings, working, or in transit. Also, consider the time it takes for them to look red-carpet ready. It may take five or more hours to prepare for a two-hour event. For every gorgeous, incredible photo posted, there are a hundred others that aren’t at all remarkable.

3. Problems become bigger.
You may deal with the stress of supporting your family now, but imagine running a company that supports 500 or 5,000 families? When your decisions impact an entire industry, it isn’t a responsibility to be taken lightly. As they say, “Heavy is the head that wears the crown.” Success comes with more responsibility and even bigger problems.

4. Beware of the green-eyed monster.
As one of the greatest philosophers of our generation has said, “Haters are gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate.” Do not think that just because you have accomplished something extraordinary, people are going to appreciate it or understand the effort it took. The lack of admiration and recognition teaches you two important lessons:

  1. Whatever you pursue, you have to do it for internal reasons.
  2. Those who want to take you down will be the loudest.

Be aware of your own behavior. If you constantly criticize people for their accomplishments, it hurts your own chances of success. Learn how to appreciate and applaud people for all their achievements, regardless if you like their work or believe that they deserve it.

5. The highs are higher; the lows are lower.
When you win a major industry award, it feels like you are on top of the world, but this also means that you have farther to fall. When all eyes are on you, there’s more to lose in terms of status, reputation, and potential future. As a result, you have to toughen yourself up for when things get rough, because they will.

6. Money isn’t everything.
A hefty paycheck will only increase your happiness to a certain level. Once you earn enough to provide food and shelter without concern, money doesn’t have a significant impact on happiness. Sleep, on the other hand, is the primary influence. If you are working so much that you aren’t getting enough sleep, it is negatively impacting your well-being and happiness.

Successful people face as many or more struggles as everyone else, and their wealth and prestige don’t guarantee happiness, so why do they do what they do? They aren’t in it for the fame or money. They are tackling problems that they care about deeply and that drive them to keep going every day.

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