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Daniel Ally (/profile/daniel-ally) March 21, 2016

by Henry Cloud (/profile/henry-cloud)

When I was 21, I was ready to take my life to the next level, but I felt stuckI still lived at my
parents' house, I was making $8 an hour at a side job, and I was enrolled in a never-ending
MBA program. Deep down inside, I knew I had to escape. But unlike I was used to doing, I
wasn't going to run away from myself.

This time I was determined to make a changeI wanted so bad to become successful
(http://www.success.com/article/4-secrets-of-insanely-successful-people), except I didn't by Jim Rohn (/profile/jim-rohn)
know what to do or where to start. What I firmly believed, though, was that if I changed my
habits, my habits would change me. So instead of fooling around with miscellaneous
activities like sports and TV, I started reading books (http://www.success.com/article/rohn-
read-all-the-books-to-rise-above-the-ordinary) and giving speeches.

Related: The 4 Powerful Ways to Change a Bad Habit

(http://www.success.com/article/rohn-the-4-powerful-ways-to-change-a-bad-habit) by Jim Rohn (/profile/jim-rohn)

And I saw positive results (http://www.success.com/article/if-you-want-to-change-your-

results-you-have-to-change-your-thinking-first). Professionally, I became more competent.
Personally, I became more confident. This realization, that competence breeds confidence,
was the pivotal point that changed my life. It enabled me to reach the summit of success, to
create wealth and inspiration for so many people.

The habits I created are what made me who I am todaythey are what took me from $8 an
hour at 21 to a self-made millionaire (http://www.success.com/blog/9-things-i-learned-from- (/blog/if-
talking-to-9-millionaires) at 24. And they can change your life youre-
(http://www.success.com/article/john-c-maxwell-it-only-takes-6-steps-to-change-your-life), searching-
too. for-purpose-
How well do you spread your message? Millionaires know how to share their message in
simplest terms. They use their words with precision and possess deep meaning in what they
say. Personally, I peruse the dictionary every day, but I would never attempt to use every (/blog/success-
word I know. By speaking pompously, many people exterminate their opportunities. In what-does-
it-really-
short, never drown people in the sea of verbosity.
mean)

To learn to speak with ease, join your local Toastmasters (http://www.toastmasters.org/)club

to brush up on your communication skills. Unfortunately, too many people get lazy with their
communication and subtly conform to the habits of others. But millionaires diligently work on
improving what they say and how they say it (http://www.success.com/article/9-tips-to-say-it-
better).
(/blog/5-life-
changing-
books-
Before you are able to face the new, you must relinquish the old. If you want a new car or written-by-
house, then bless the old one and search for a new one. When you want to achieve a
positive mindset (http://www.success.com/article/it-takes-a-positive-attitude-to-achieve-
positive-results), you must get rid of the negative one first. To abandon your negative habits,
you must replace them with positive ones.

I realized this one day as I was feasting on a couple cheap burgers at McDonald's. I decided
to venture out to find the finest steak houses in the area to seek a new and delectable
experience with my meals. Instead of indulging in $1 burgers several times a week, I was (/blog/the-
happier to splurge my money on a robust steak once or twice a month. one-
obsession-
We are what we repeatedly do. Therefore, excellence is not an act, but a habit. Aristotle of-every-

Every day, I set my goals on paper. This is an inspiring habit that I promise to keep for the
rest of my life. Whether you're writing your financial projections, planning your weekly tasks
or scheming new ways to build your empire, you'll want to create a daily goal-setting habit
that will give you momentumon a daily basis.
(/blog/this-
When you set your goals every day, it helps you prioritize and keep "first things is-why-
first." Prioritization is first doing what matters most. Instead of pursuing $100 actions, this women-
habit will promote you to embody $1,000 activities. Once you accumulate more profitable dont-get-
activities in your day, you'll add money to the bank.

Related: 4 Tips for Setting Powerful Goals (http://www.success.com/article/rohn-4-

tips-for-setting-powerful-goals)

You must do what you say you're going to do. There will be many times in your life where
you'll be asked to sacrifice your personal values to reach professional goals. Dont do it.
There's nothing more valuable than remaining congruent in your personal and professional
livesit allows you to mix "business with pleasure." (http://www.success.com/article/why-we-
need-work-life-blending-not-balance)

Many people will tell you that you can't mix business with pleasure, but theyre wrong. When
you're doing what you love, business is pleasure. When you're living a life that is based on
integrity, your reputation will grow, enriching yourself and many others in the process. Never
put your reputation in jeopardy by failing to remain congruent with your highest values and
ideals. (http://engine.adzerk.net/r?
e=eyJhdiI6MzA1NjIsImF0Ijo1LCJidCI6MCwiY20iOjUyNjMwMywiY2giOjE

The more decisions (http://www.success.com/article/5-ways-to-make-sure-you-dont-regret-

your-next-decision) you make, the more successful you will be. While one person could
make a dozen decisions in a day, another one can make hundreds. The person who makes
the most decisions will win, even if their decisions lead to failure. Just imagine, if you were
going the opposite way on a one-way street, you'd learn to quickly make adjustments!

But most people are afraid to make crucial decisions because they are conquered by fears
(http://www.success.com/article/5-tips-to-overcome-your-probably-irrational-fears),
which leaves them paralyzed. Being paralyzed prevents them from making decisions, forcing
them to forfeit opportunities. Always make a decision, even if you don't know where it will
lead. Soon enough, you'll find the answers you need.
Most people assume that they know answers. Their assumptions actually hold them back
from knowing the truth. You should want to ask questions
(http://www.success.com/article/the-power-of-asking-questions) to gain clarity about
the direction you are heading, but the fact is that many people don't ask any
questionsthey habitually guess their way. Why? Many people don't want to ask questions
because it exposes them to confront the reality of their circumstance, which may scare them,
or asking questions forces them into the laborious task of thinking, which is why they fail to
do it.

To become a millionaire, don't answer your questions, but question your answers. When
you need to know the facts, you must inquiredont just make assumptions.

Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers. Voltaire

One time, a fine pianist performed at a party. After she was done, a woman from the party
said to the virtuoso, "I'd give anything to play as you do." As the master pianist sipped her
coffee in slow motion, she took a brief pause and said, "Oh no you wouldn't." Soon, a great
hush filled the room as they were baffled in astonishment and massive confusion.

She continued, "You'd give anything to play as I do, except time. You wouldn't sit and
practice, hour after hour, day after day, year after years." Then she flashed a warm smile
while repositioning her coffee cup. "Please understand, I'm not criticizing," she said. "I'm just
telling you that when you say you'd give anything to play as I do, you don't really mean it.
You really don't mean it at all."

Every master was once a disaster. T. Harv Eker

Good habits are as addictive as bad habits (http://www.success.com/article/7-steps-to-break-

your-bad-habits). Once you've adopted a good habit, keep gaining new ones. An average
person develops up to 10 new habits a year, which also means that they are dropping that
many old habits. Regardless, think about your daily habits and how they affect you.

And remember, you make your habits in the beginningthen your habits make you!

Related: 16 Rich Habits (http://www.success.com/article/16-rich-habits)

15 Comments SUCCESS Login

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Francis Vargas 6 months ago

Very powerful article
Reply Share

Daniel Jozic 9 months ago

According to Dan Pena, Daniel Ally is one of those "self-help gurus or clowns", that
made their money by getting people to come to seminars, not being a millionaire
powered by PubExchange
first, and then giving seminars (https://welcome.pubexchange.com/promo/pub/success_magazine)

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Corbin Rodrigues > Daniel Jozic 4 months ago

what source would be a more credible source and why? I'm not big on the
self help media made millionaires.
Reply Share

Peter Menkin > Daniel Jozic 6 months ago

If what you say is true then what does that say about the people that bought
a ticket to the seminars.
Reply Share

ziest wilky 9 months ago

Great article,it really got me inspired
Successful people always practice a successful habit everyday
Reply Share

Archana Deepu 9 months ago

Thank u for this wonderful and informative article..This had made me think about
the changes and ideas that I need to start implementing in my day to day activities..
 (/article/this-is-how- (/article/are-you-confident- (/article/how-to-find-your-

students-are-actually-spending-their-school- or-just-cocky) drive-to-succeed)

loans)

Attitude (/sections/attitude) Motivation (/sections/motivation)

Money (/sections/money)

Be brave and answer these questions Knowing your motivations can be the
honestly. difference between just getting by and thriving.

Sophia Dembling (/profile/sophia- Sean K. Murphy (/profile/sean-k-murphy)

dembling) March 1, 2017
Hint: It's not on textbooks. March 3, 2017
SUCCESS Staff (/profile/success-staff)
March 3, 2017

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