We want to be successful in different ways in life. To have it all. To make a difference. But are we willing to do what it takes? Are we willing to work for it?

In his book, “The power of positive thinking”, Norman Vincent said that “to achieve something, you have to want it enough such that you are willing to do everything to have it helped by the power of your mind and the God given abilities”. Whatever it is, do you want it bad enough?

In my reading, I got interested to know what the mantra of the successful people is, or rather those the world considers successful. Three things stood out:

1. Hard work

2. Believing in self

3. Reading

The lives of these people are about believing in their dreams, working hard towards achieving them and revitalizing their minds with new knowledge. There you have it. That’s the formulae. Most of us however choose to be lazy, to doubt ourselves and our abilities every chance we get and books! We would rather have a home theatre and watch all the movies rather than have a home library and read as many books as we can.

Take the case of a candle and a match box with match sticks in it. For there to be light from these three, someone has to go to the shop, get a candle and a match box then do the work of lighting the candle and boom! There is light. Some work has to be put into it for you and the people around you to enjoy the light. That’s what life is about. It’s about you knowing the difference such little light can make and doing what it takes to bring that light to the world.

Visualize two flowers, a withered one and a flourishing one, which looks beautiful? I’m sure you will say it’s the flourishing one. What’s wrong with the withered one? “It’s withered. It has no life.” – Most of you will say. Now, which flower are you between these 2? Are you the kind that has watered their garden and pruned it to present beauty to the world or are you the kind that has neglected their garden, plucked flowers leaving them to wither, robbing the world the beauty and fragrance of your being?

You need to believe in self and in the value you bring to the world and put in the work to represent such beauty. The beauty the world needs. To be a gift to the world.

By Wanjiru Kaburu

Author|Speaker|Communication & Branding Strategist|Coach| Writer & Editor|Founder, Infinite Space