Predictors of Success
48 Days to Creative Income, Day 9
Day #9: Predictors of Success
Three quick points
- I think I got outta whack in the day number scheme, whatever, I’m on day 9
- I took the weekend off. My head was hurting and quite frankly you need time off.
- I think I gained weight! I feel awful!
There are 5 predictors of success in this program and none of them are Chris Angel or the Amazing Kreskin!
Predictor #1) Passion
Basically it boils down to how much passion do you have? An examples are how Bill Gates dropped out of school to follow his passion to build Microsoft. I guess he’s doing ok.
Being passionate about a subject gives you goals.
Me: I’m passionate about NOT doing what I do now. Other than that….
Predictor #2) Determination
Can you stay on the path to meeting your goals. Can you put off your own selfish needs and delay gratification?
Me:Absolutely! I’ve given up free time in the evenings, given up lunchtime and have yet to see a single penny (ok a couple pennies) from my endeavors. But I’m not giving up just yet.
Predictor #3) Talent
Just because you want to do something, doesn’t mean it will happen. In this election year the politicians tell us that everyone can be and do whatever they want in life. That’s just not true. But you can discover what you are good at. It might not be what you THINK you should be doing. But you need to discover what you are good at and work on it as long as you WANT to work on it.
Me: Ok first, shut up Desk Coder, I can hear you now: “Uh you have no talent!”. My talents are many, but not at any particularly high level. I’m good at many things, just not great. What I do for a living? Well I used to be be “better” than just good. But I’ve lost the desire. But that could just be place of employment.
Predictor #4) Self-Discipline
Can you put in the long hours. The hard work. The ability not to be pulled from your path?
Me: Well, I’m not watching TV right now, I could be. But in terms of this program, 48 Days to Creative Income, once again I’d have to say I want to work smarter, not harder. I don’t want the 7 days a week, 16 hour days. There is no reason to do that. I’ll let my friends moan to me how hard they work. I’ll work smarter.
Predictor #5) Faith
Luckily this wasn’t some religious pitch. It basically was faith in self. Believe in yourself and keep trying though you may not succeed.
Me: Well I’m a year into blogging and attempting to make alternative non-8to5 related income. Success? No, but I still have several pathways to go.
Conclusion:
I lost a bit of steam not working on the program this weekend, but come Monday I was ready to tackle one of my internet ventures. I’m excited about the prospect. I really need the money though, so I have to see some results soon. Very soon.
As far as 48 Days goes…Hmmm I’m not into the double digit days and I’m ready to put this program down. Must continue…must struggle.
Comments (5)
Clog Money
October 14th, 2008 at 3:48 am
Mate, you need to find a new job and fast. It just seems between this blog and twitter it’s sucking the life out of you!!!
Ms.
October 14th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
You’ve talked about “smarter not harder” in a few posts. While I certainly agree with you, I still think that building anything from the ground up is going to require effort that feels strenuous. Even if you are working as smartly as you can, it’s still going to feel like hard work–at least during the early stages.
From your reports, it sounds like that’s what you are experiencing at the moment.
CubeWarrior
October 14th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
You are dead on. Unfortunately, I let myself drift into the “drone” mindset over the last few years. I let myself become one of those people for whom (for who? for whom? HEY I’m not an English major!) the job becomes “well it’s a paycheck”.
Today specifically was VERY bad.
Management has chosen to smother us with restrictions and then ask why we can’t get things done. Better yet, they praise the work of people who do little or complicate matters.
I could go on and on…but you are right. I have set a July, 2009 deadline to do something drastic, but it may come sooner.
CubeWarrior
October 14th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
Hmmm, I almost responded one way, then reread your post.
Yes I am a firm believer in smarter not better (example below).
Quantity (of work) does NOT equal quality of work. A maxim lost on most management.
I “agree” that in most endeavors you will need to work hard, but working smartly and hard is better than just putting in the time. Planning is key to success. And physical doing. But you just can’t be doing …just to work hard. DID any of that make sense?
And example illustrates frustrations at work:
From project management discussions many many years ago in college, the subject of getting a project done and how to best go about it was discussed in class. “If you had a project that was due and you were offered X more people to work on it…would you/should you accept the help?” The initial answer of “yes” comes up, but..you’d have to get them up to speed on the project and that might slow everyone down. Blah blah lots of discussion and it was clear throwing people at a deadline didn’t make sense.
Yesterday, my manager suggested throwing people at a deadline.
Enough said.
Ms.
October 15th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
You’ve said it much better than I did. Sometimes smart work is hard work. Too often though, bosses want hard work on stupid stuff.
I have also left the full-time workforce to pursue projects of my own and am following your blog with interest. I look forward to your future insights.
In my experience, when people start out on something worthwhile, whether it’s a new business, a new life philosophy, or something else, the work is hard. I’d love to find a different way but haven’t so far. I think the extra hours and the extra effort are just going to have to be there–for me at least.
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