Making Accomplishment An Exciting Challenge
One of the most important keys to success in business and life is the sense of zest and DRIVE which really successful men and women almost universally have and cultivate in their work and in their lives. This is certainly one of the most important qualities which has made this very Work of God grow rapidly in size and scope over a period of some thirty years.
Anyone reading Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong's Autobiography can sense the unusual CHALLENGE this Work of God has been to him, and the unusual ZEST and DRIVE he has put into it with God's help.
Currently, the newspaper and magazine reporters are almost fascinated by the tremendous drive and zeal which President Johnson pours into his job. For the President, who has already suffered a heart attack several years ago, rises about 6:30 in the morning and goes fast and hard all day until 10 or 11 p.m. nearly every night!
The same drive was exhibited by his predecessor, former President John F. Kennedy.
A noted Washington correspondent reported: "Kennedy is amazing many old-timers in federal government and almost horrifying others by the speed and DRIVE with which he conducts the presidency. (Emphasis mine)
"It is quite common for the Chief Executive to stride into his office about 9 in the morning, calling to various staff members as he crosses the threshold. He wants detailed information on a certain situation in government and he wants it in a hurry; at least, before the day is over.
"This, to some veteran administrators, is quite a shock. During the past administration, they frequently had more time on comparable assignments. But what surprises these men even more is that Kennedy is waiting in his office at 7 or 8 at night when the requested report arrives."
Certainly the above description of former President Kennedy's work day indicates the zest with which he tackled his many responsibilities and the DRIVE he put into their accomplishment. In case after case, this is certainly the "key" to the success of many great leaders.
Learn the KEY of TIME
Your life itself is composed of just so much time. Viewing it in this manner, your time is your life.
This realization and the guarded use of time that naturally follows from it is a success "key" that has been or is being used by nearly every great leader of our time.
We are all "millionaires" in time. Each of us has just as much time as the early Rockefellers, Morgans or Fords. Each of us throughout each day —has just as much time as Einstein did.
The question is — how do we use this tremendous gift of TIME? You can only waste the present moment. You cannot waste tomorrow. It is kept fresh and waiting for you. You can turn over a new leaf every hour if you choose.
Day by day, you can learn to use time to tremendous advantage!
Realizing the value of time, learn to get up early, learn to get up when you wake up. Learn to dress quickly in the morning and prepare for the day with ZEAL.
Organizing the layout of your bathroom and your wardrobe saves a great deal of time. Housewives will find that applying efficiency techniques to their kitchen will save them a great deal of time in getting the family fed and off to work — and for their own activities as well.
Again, the thought of scheduling your time throughout each day, week and month comes into the picture. You certainly don't need to be a schedule slave, but you Do need to have a schedule!
The late Henry J. Kaiser was an extremely successful and wealthy man — the leading figure in at least sixty different companies. Referring to his success techniques, an article in Reader's Digest stated: "Henry Kaiser is one of the most time-conscious people in the world. Even the five hours he allots himself for sleep are productive. This is what he calls his 'idea period,' and he always has a pad and pencil next to his bed."
To be truly successful in every area of life, you will learn as other successful people by the millions have — to guard and CONTROL the use of your time intelligently and zealously. You will set your mind to use the time God gives you in this life in an organized and productive manner. And through this very means, you will be enabled not only to accomplish your goals in business and personal areas, but you will have time for the desired and needed fun and fellowship with family and friends as well.
Learn SELF-DISCIPLINE
There comes a time when — to use the vernacular — you must "put up or shut up." If you really want success, you must be willing to pay the PRICE.
If you would succeed, you must learn to say "NO" to yourself.
You must learn to turn down invitations, social visits, TV, cards, movies, golf, and other interruptions when these would interfere with accomplishment.
A balanced life with enough sleep, exercise and recreation is absolutely prerequisite to ultimate success. But while you are "on the way up," you must beware of distractions.
As each idea of diversion presents itself, you should ask: "Will this use of time and energy help me accomplish my GOAL in life?"
You must discipline yourself to do the hard jobs first! The unpleasant job that is put off is likely never to get done. So roll up your sleeves and do it FIRST.
People who procrastinate and "putter" are usually putting off something unpleasant or difficult. They putter over little, inconsequential, easy things so they will not have to face what they subconsciously regard as the "big obstacle" — the real job that NEEDS to get done!
The best way to master this problem is to put the jobs you dislike at the top of each day's schedule. Then, if you roll up your sleeves and wade into it, you will soon be too busy to worry about the difficulty.
Make Yourself Produce
Keep DRIVING yourself until work has become a habit that is stronger than your human inclination to loaf.
Solomon was inspired to write: "He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls" (Prov. 25:28).
Self-control — self-DISCIPLINE — are vital "keys" to real success in any area of life.
You must discipline yourself to get started in the morning. You must discipline yourself to get at your work and really PRODUCE instead of puttering with trivia’s. You must discipline yourself to avoid distractions and to use your time and energy where it will COUNT.
In addition, we should state here that one of the most searching areas of self-discipline is in regard to your own physical health.
If you are "run-down" or sick, you simply CANNOT produce and achieve the success you wish. Therefore, you must discipline yourself to get enough sleep, enough vigorous exercise suited to your age and condition, eat a balanced diet of basically lean meats, fish, fresh fruits and vegetables with very limited amounts of bread, sugars, and desserts. You are invited to write for our valuable free article, "The Seven Laws of Radiant Health," in order to get more complete information on this subject.
But building and constantly increasing your health and energies is a vital "key to success." This will enable you to put renewed zest and DRIVE into your accomplishments and may well make the difference in many critical situations.
Another vital area in the field of self-discipline is learning to FINISH a job properly. Again, this means avoiding distractions and concentrating completely on the job at hand. It means mentally and spiritually helping to create a "second wind" for yourself so that you complete a task with a final spurt of energy and zest.
As you learn to discipline yourself you will find yourself getting many more things done. You will also find your ability to motivate and inspire others who assist you greatly enhanced.
Learn to Employ Spiritual POWER
God says: "A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children" (Prov. 13:22).
A successful man is a "good" man — a man who has learned his purpose in life and seeks to obey His Maker. He will have strong family ties and — through hours of fun and fellowship with his children and grandchildren — he will want to help and assist even his grandchildren in getting a start in life. Then, as the above proverb clearly indicates, he will have God's BLESSING to be able to help even his grandchildren!
But Jesus showed that we must not set our heart on the physical things, but rather on God's Kingdom and righteousness (Mat. 6:33). Then, He said, all the material blessings WILL be added unto us.
To be truly successful, you need to establish direct contact with the true GOD. You need to learn His way — and the real purpose for your very existence and the breath of life you breathe.
Jesus said: "Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46) Many professing Christians today do just that. They talk about Christ and religion — at least on rare occasions — but they seldom trouble themselves to OBEY what Christ taught in the Bible and to live as He lived.
You need to build and cultivate personal contact with God through PRAYER. In this way, you will come to have the inspiration, strength and divine HELP which goes far above and beyond anything you could "work up" on your own strength.
Then, you should try, test or "prove" these principles in your life by actually LIVING THEM and seeing the BLESSINGS they produce through contact with the true God and His Spirit!
As you surrender to and obey God you are promised the gift of His Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).
Notice the qualities for success God's Spirit imparts: "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of POWER, and of LOVE, and of a SOUND MIND" (II Tim. 1:7).
As you yield to God and exercise His Spirit, you will have direct, spiritual POWER to overcome your own weaknesses and shortcomings — to discipline yourself — and to become a real success.
You will have the outgoing concern and LOVE so that your success will not be a selfish thing — but motivated deeply by your concern toward God and fellowman. And you will be given the soundness of mind and WISDOM you need to keep from becoming unbalanced, making wrong decisions or stumbling through life down blind alleys.
The very help and POWER of God can be yours if you are willing to seek Him and obey Him!
Take ACTION — and Get Results
Every one of you who wants success should also write immediately for Mr. Armstrong's free booklet, The Seven Laws of Success. This attractive free booklet contains even more extensive information than space allows in this article, and outlines seven definite laws for successful living.
These principles really WORK — so start using them immediately! You were created in the image of God (Gen. 1:27). You were created to be a success!