7 RULES OF SUCCESS – WILL SMITH
WILL SMITH is undoubtedly one of the most successful people of the last century. He’s an actor, rapper, producer, and song writer and has been nominated for 5 Golden Globes, 2 Academy Awards, and has won 4 Grammy Awards. Newsweek called him “the most powerful actor in Hollywood” and Forbes called him the “most bankable star worldwide.”
With that in mind, let’s hear what he has to say on success and the 7 steps you can take to get there.
MAKE A CHOICE
There is a redemptive power in making a choice rather than allowing your circumstances to affect you. Decide who you’re going to be and how you’re going to do it and from that point the universe will get out of your way just like water moving around an obstacle. We are who we choose to be.
WORK ON YOUR SKILLS
The separation of talent and skill is one of the most misunderstood concepts for people who are trying to excel. Talent is something you have naturally but skill is only developed by hours of constant practice. There is no shortcut; no matter how talented you are, if you are not skilled, your talent is going to fail you. Never stop working on your skills.
BE GREAT
Greatness is not some wonderful, esoteric, elusive godlike feature that only the special among us will ever taste. Will Smith once said that greatness can be summed up in one simple statement; “This is what I believe and I’m willing to die for it.” It’s that simple. All you need to do is know who you are and what you believe in and you will achieve greatness.
DON’T BE OUTWORKED
Will Smith once said in an interview: “I am not afraid to die on a treadmill. I will not be outworked, period. You might have more talent than me or be sexier than me but if we get on a treadmill together, there’s two things; you’re getting off first or I am going to die.” The one who is willing to work the most, is the one who succeeds.
LET FEAR MOTIVATE YOU
Fear can be a great motivation especially when what you fear is fear itself. Will Smith was afraid of many of the opportunities that came his way when he was an up-and-coming rapper and he grew to hate that fear. That fear eventually became his motivation.
HAVE A PURPOSE
The difference between depression and joy is purpose. Purpose is when you wake up in the morning and your life means something to somebody other than you. You have a purpose when, if you don’t do your duty, people’s lives suffer. Living in service not to yourself but to humanity, to your family, to your community, to your city and to the world is the purest form of joy.
COMMIT TO SOMETHING
The road to success is through commitment and the strength to drive through that commitment when it gets hard. It will get hard and sometimes you may even want to quit but the strength of your commitment will be determined by who you are and who you want to be. Will Smith was committed to acting because he wanted to use it as a platform to convey a meaningful message to people.
Have a dream. Make a plan. Stick to it.
