Have you ever wondered what sets apart the extraordinarily successful from everyone else? It turns out, it's not about waking up at 5 AM, chugging a protein shake, or even entering "monk mode." Contrary to the flood of advice videos online promising you a shortcut to success if you just follow a set list of habits, the reality is starkly different. Real success, which puts you ahead of 99% of the population, requires something far less common.
Extreme success is not gonna make you happy. It amplifies who you already are and how you already feel.
THE MYTH OF COMMON ADVICE
We've all seen the videos and articles. They tell us the same things—set goals, be disciplined, and eliminate distractions. While these are good practices, they're hardly the silver bullet to outstanding achievement. The truth is, that almost everyone has goals. Discipline and focus are not rarities but essentials that most strive to incorporate into their daily lives. So, if everyone is doing it, how can it possibly be the secret to exceptional success?
THE THREE PILLARS OF EXCEPTIONAL SUCCESS
The real success that distinguishes you from the rest hinges on three critical factors:
DARE TO DISAGREE
First, you need a contrarian idea—a viewpoint or approach that goes against the grain. Remember, most people never entertain thoughts that challenge the status quo. They prefer the comfort of widespread agreement. But history is replete with individuals who saw the world differently and dared to question the obvious.
BE RIGHT
However, it's not enough to just have a different idea; you need to have the right idea. This is the crux of the matter. For every successful contrarian, countless others have fallen by the wayside, their ideas not passing the test of reality. Being contrarian is easy; being correct is where the challenge lies.
MASSIVE EXECUTION
And then comes the part about turning your contrarian, correct idea into reality. This is where determination, resilience, and sheer hard work come into play. However, the focus here is not on mundane tasks but on the willingness to risk failure and ridicule to bring your vision to life.
EXECUTION: NECESSARY BUT NOT SUFFICIENT
It's easy to get caught up in the details of output—what time you wake up, what you eat, how you plan your day. Yet, these are not what forge the path to extraordinary success. Steve Jobs didn't change the world by his diet or morning routine, but by envisioning a world where every home and office had a computer—a radical idea at the time, which he made a reality.
Warren Buffett's success isn't about his breakfast choice but about his unparalleled skill in identifying undervalued companies. Execution matters, but it should not overshadow the importance of having the right, contrarian idea and the guts to pursue it against all odds.
THE TRUE COST OF EXTRAORDINARY SUCCESS
Before you set your heart on surpassing 99% of the population, consider the real implications of such success. It's not all accolades and admiration. Often, being contrarian means standing alone, facing skepticism, and sometimes outright hostility. And success, even when achieved, doesn't always translate to happiness or fulfillment.
CONCLUSION
Achievement beyond the norm isn't about productivity hacks or morning routines. It's about thinking differently, being right, and pursuing your vision with unrelenting perseverance. But more than that, it's crucial to understand why you're chasing this level of success. Is it for recognition, self-fulfillment, or something else?
In the end, defining success on your own terms might lead you on a more rewarding path than any contrarian idea ever could. So, before diving headlong into the pursuit of being better than 99% of people, take a step back and consider what success truly means to you.
If you enjoyed the above article, you will surely love the below articles also:
HOW TO BE HAPPY WITHOUT CHANGING YOUR LIFE
HOW TO TALK TO YOUR ENEMIES
SECRETS TO LEARNING FASTER: INSIGHTS FROM NEUROSCIENCE
