5 essential steps to becoming financially successful in life and at work

In life, as in work, we constantly strive for success. People collectively spend billions of dollars each year learning how to achieve more success in their business and personal lives. Self-help is now a multi-billion dollar field and has its own writing genre. Everyone has their own opinions on how to achieve more success or happiness.

It would be impossible to discuss every suggestion here, but here are 5 consistent topics that help put people on the path to success.

1. Keep an eye on the prize

To increase the odds of success in any field we must keep a goal in mind. That's why so many people take the time to write down their goals at the beginning of each year, hoping that those goals will start to emerge. As important as our focus on this goal is, we must bear in mind exactly what constitutes our individual vision of success. We have to understand that our definition of success will change over time, and we will need to adjust our near-term goals along the way.

Our work may begin with one goal in mind, while we learn over time that there is another goal that is more consistent with the required work-life balance or our vision of the world. At the same time, we may discover that a certain area of our business – or even something in another industry – brings us more happiness, or a different lifestyle brings us more personal satisfaction.

2. Do not bother with the little things

Although it may seem obvious, we must constantly remind ourselves that things will not always go in our favor. There will be twists and turns along our journey. What may at first glance look like a major setback may be a blessing in disguise, while in others what appears to be progress may be a big step in what we later discover is the wrong direction. In the same vein, we must accept that we will never please everyone. We need to learn to let go, and we also need to learn to say "no." After all, not every opportunity is worth seizing. Some may not fit our broader goals, while others may provide near-term satisfaction while risking long-term success. This fully applies to work or our personal life.

3. Learn how to grow

We all have room for improvement in areas of our lives and business. When we go through different stages of our lives, we all have weaknesses to overcome, bad habits to get rid of, and perspectives to expand. We all face adversity in some respects, and from these challenges will emerge lessons for us to learn. Each of us will always face obstacles in different regions and at different times. Many of us will grow up in more limited environments, or have businesses that face early success, and it's natural to face our challenges later.

Others may start their lives by falling at the deep end and facing obstacles early. This will make them better able to deal with challenges later in life or at work. However, many of these challenges will teach us lessons that will affect our visions and goals; they should not be ignored.

4. Promote independence

There is nothing wrong with coexistence, but each of us must learn to be a self-reliant person both at work and in our personal lives. We cannot allow others to determine or dictate our happiness. Certainly, we must make sure that our goals are aligned with the important people in your life, such as a spouse or partner, for example. However, it is important to know that no friend, family member, business partner or customer will ever be present. People come in and out of our lives. You may have someone early in life that you can rely on for guidance or support, who may not be there later to help you. These people can be very helpful in parts of our lives and teach us valuable lessons, but perhaps the most important lesson they can teach us is not relying on them indefinitely.

5. Enjoy the trip

If there's no other part of this guide for you, let this be what you are gleaning. This applies to any area of our personal life, work, marriage, family and simple mission. No part of life should be about destination; our success and happiness lie in enjoying the journey and enjoying the conflicts. In all areas of our lives we must find something we love to do; find the work area you love, the lifestyle you want to live, or the person you want to share your life with.

We shouldn't settle for a job that's hard to afford just because we think it will make us rich (and yes, there is a difference between wealth and success). In the same way we should not settle in marriage. In any of them there will be trials and tribulations, and it is natural that we will grow and change over time. The key is to look at life and work as a journey, and find satisfaction in designing your trip to your liking.

Finding success in life, as in work, is an ongoing process. The road is never the same for any two people, nor is it straight or barrier-free. There are twists and turns, but we continue to make progress. With each failure, we pick ourselves up and move forward with new knowledge and experience. Achieving success is not an overnight endeavor, but we hope that these steps will put you on your own path towards success and satisfaction in life and at work.