Some things cannot be presented in a simple, step-by-step guide.
Success is one of them. Take a look at these famous quotes on success.
Eighty percent of success is showing up. ~Woody Allen
Don’t aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally. ~David Frost
Success is blocked by concentrating on it and planning for it…. Success is shy – it won’t come out while you’re watching. ~Tennessee Williams
Those quotes, while very cool, are about as helpful as the saying, “Love shows up when you stop looking for it.”
Um… really?
That stuff is for the movies. It’s all very entertaining – the idea that all you have to do is be yourself and amazing things start happening to you.
The truth is – it all depends on who yourself really is!
What Things Bring Success?
Common sense seems to reign supreme here. If you’ve ever taken any sort of marketing or public relations course, you will not be surprised by anything you read there. It’s the same with blogging (good read: A-list bloggers). It’s all common sense. The specific steps people take toward success may be different, but the underlying principles are the same.
- Learn from others – and emulate rather than copy.
- Get out from under your own blog. It’s just like with dating, if you EVER want to get a date in your life, you’re probably going to have to lift your rear up off the couch at least once – if only to answer the door. So circulate. Get around. Unlike with dating, you won’t get a bad reputation, I swear. :)
- Celebrate when you achieve small goals. The rush of endorphins your brain sends through your body will provide fuel for your next goal.
- At some point, you gotta start believing in your own abilities.
- Make friends. They help you.
- Even people who achieve success in 30 days, do it because they worked their butt off for those 30 days.
- Time or money – you gotta have at least one of those things. Even better if you have both. If you have neither, wait until you do.
This Isn’t Another Good Content Speech
I know it’s painful to hear over and over that you just have to have good content. Some of you are probably thinking, “that’s just not helpful enough.” I agree with you there. But at the same time, if you look around, you will find so many examples of good content to learn from. At some point, you have to start drawing some conclusions of your own.
Something Practical You Can Do
I am addicted to things that are practical and usable. I wouldn’t just want this to be something for you to think about. There is something you can do, if you are at a loss of how to become successful as a blogger in your niche.
Instead of looking for a break down of what good content is, try using Google or Wikipedia to find notable bloggers in your niche. Wikipedia especially, will have the term notable bloggers which you can search for. In Google, try searching for “famous [whatever your niche is] bloggers” and see what you come up with.
When you find a few bloggers that are notable in your niche, observe their blogs and make sure you go all the way back to the beginning of their archives so you can see how far they’ve come. Then, create a story of their success in your mind. Fill in the gaps of what you don’t know with common sense. I do this all of the time and am constantly coming up with new ideas – new ways to promote my blog, new ways to present content, and new ways to engage readers.
Conclusion
I don’t want to leave you with a feel-good word or two about how you can create your own path to success. Successful people are proactive and sometimes have to walk with their eyes closed, making stuff up as they go. They don’t always get a cheat sheet. If you’re willing to do that, you will eventually achieve success. Go get it. :)
What’s blocking your success? Is it you?
About Tia Peterson
It is so true that doing what you love would make you successful. Successful people don’t aim for success. They just love what they’re doing and success will come naturally. Success is not easy. There’s a lot of obstacles towards it but if you have the determination and perseverance surely you’ll achieve your desires.
Nice post,I like the quote ‘Success is blocked by concentrating on it and planning for it…Success is shy it won’t come out while your watching’very inspiring!thanks for sharing.
Peter Dunin recently posted..Know Your Limits
Hi Tia, i can’t remember all the success quotes out there but I believe that success is always there.. It’s just a matter of how much effort you are putting in plus a bit of luck plus some knowledge and knowing some people.
Sounds like I’m sort of mixing things at random but really there is no real formula for success. Each individual is different and success comes to them in different ways.
Excellent article. I am very glad that got to your site. Now I’ll go regularly.
New movies for you.
I love quotes and often when I can’t find something to write about i will look for quotes to get my thought moving.
I feel sometimes people get the way of their own success but over analyzing things.
Awesome message here. Success never comes easy if you dream big enough but if you never let yourself slack off, that dream will seem small compared to what you realize you can accomplish.
Great post and I agree that there’s not one way to success but there’s always great quotes to help us through the tough times and keep us on our toes.
Thanks! :)
hey tia nice post i enjoyed every bit of it spl the quotes they are awersome
I so enjoyed this post. I like quotes but you are right some are just for the movies. For me it is about persistence, patience and of course passion. By sticking at it eventually I will get it and of course by forming relationships in the blogging community I am learning all the time. The path to success isn’t instant and those who have gone before me can teach me the mistakes to avoid too.
In my chosen niche; other than researching my topic I just write in my own style and hopefully my passion comes across.
Patricia Perth Australia
Patricia recently posted..Lavender Health-Lavender in treatment for hair loss
Great list! Showing up and putting in the effort. Funny how much we try to complicate it instead of embracing it. :)
Clearly Composed recently posted.. Nutrition Spotlight- The Autumn Salad
We all need a wee bit of inspiration to stay on the path to success. Keep on believing, never give up and I work hard that is what will get you to the top. Along with a lot of smarts and a little bit of luck!
William K Wallace recently posted..PALLADINI PRODUCTIONS Presents Black Comedy By Peter Shaffer
I am a sucker for quotes, but I agree with what you are saying. It seems like everyone says that success is easy, but in the real world it seems very hard. Showing up is not enough anymore. Hard work and dedication are the only ways to get ahead.
Trevor B. Reed recently posted..FeedBurner is Stealing Your CommentLuv Backlinks
I know, right!? lol If just showing up were enough, many more of us would be successful.
But Woody Allen is right, :). If you never get started, there is no possible way to be successful. The interesting thing to me is in what he is NOT saying, which is that the 20% remaining is actually really hard. That’s because I am great at starting and not so great at finishing.
It’s good inspiration, though, to keep believing in yourself. I’m not the best motivator. I’m like the gym teacher who says, just climb the freaking rope! LOL
Thanks for your comments.
Tia Peterson recently posted..Two Cents Tuesday- One Amazing Blogger Broke All the Rules
Now that’s being realistic! Thanks for the perspective.
Arlene recently posted..Can Money Buy You Happiness
I’m a huge fan of learning form others. I will be the first to admit I go and visit the top bloggers of blog engage all the time. I get most of my great ideas from blogs just like this one Tia.
@Kathy that’s an amazing quote!
Tia we know people hate hearing the good content line but it’s so true. Bloggers have to put out good and readable content or they will have little to no success.
bbrian017 recently posted..Comment week @blogengage continues
You’re right, Brian. Do you ever feel, though, that to some people, good content just comes second nature? It’s seems to me that people like you, for example, don’t necessarily need to read that good content matters. It’s intuitive.
Tia Peterson recently posted..What the &! To Swear or Not to Swear
Eighty percent of success is showing up. ~Woody Allen
There are some other good one liners in there too. One thing you are going to find common among bloggers is that they are doers. I don’t understand why so many quit so early when they were able to muster the courage to get started in the first place.
Once you get started and begin creating your vision, you are already 80% of the way there. All you need to do from there is remind yourself to reconsider, from time to time, why you are doing it and what you are trying to accomplish. If you can remind yourself to do that, you will make the proper adjustments along the way that will ultimately guarantee your success.
Persistence……
Kathy recently posted..Website for people who need a blogging guide
Hi Tia,
I enjoyed your breakdown.
Although the quotes mentioned carry truths it’s the practical application of certain practices which bring success, whatever that means for the individual.
Thanks for sharing with us.
Ryan Biddulph
Ryan Biddulph recently posted..4 Oversights Which Prevent Readers from Seeing Your Blog
Hey Ryan – You’re welcome! I love quotes, too, for motivation and inspiration but many people live off the high of inspiration and forget what you said, ‘practical application.’
Tia Peterson recently posted..What the &! To Swear or Not to Swear