Whether or not you're a big fan of Jordan Belfort or the movie The Wolf of Wall Street, you have to admit that he's pretty darn good at what he does and that he's one heck of a salesman. In an hour long interview I watched last night, Belfort claims that to become successful in anything you do, you should follow these 4 principles, consciously or not. I thought it was pretty interesting so here goes.(Source)
Vision
There's a clear distinction between having a goal and having a vision. Vision is bigger than goals. Vision is something you want to see happen or you have an idea of how something should be. For example, your vision might be to help your parents pay their bills, but your goals might be to become richer or to get a well-paying job. Setting goals is good, but it is more important to have a vision.
The ability to manage your state/mood
This is perhaps the most important thing because it shapes how you see the world. Being in the right state allows you to access the resources you have inside you. When you're angry or sad, everything you do seems to produce a negative result. However, when you're in the right state, you'll feel that you're more efficient and productive.
There are 3 specific states that you must be able to control:
* Certainty - be certain about what you're doing
* Clarity - be perfectly clear about what you're doing
* Courage - be courageous enough to take action
Beliefs
Beliefs govern everything you do. From going to the gym to starting a new business, you're governed by your beliefs and it is your beliefs that determine the outcome of your action. Belfort says he always tell his trainees, who are often crack heads, that their past is the past. It does not matter if you're poor or uneducated because these are limiting beliefs that are not going to let you move forward.
Strategy
Strategy is a plan of action. Pretty straight forward, figure out what you need to achieve your vision and follow it. For example, if you're trying to start a business, you might want to first look for the right mentor, business partner, etc.
Additional to all this, the glue that holds everything together is your standard. Never settle for mediocrity. You should always follow your ambition and set a high standard for yourself so even if you don't reach it, you're still ahead in the race.
Belfort himself might not be the quintessence of excellence given the things he did in the past, but I think there's some good advice here that we all can use.
