I have talked before about how I enjoy listening to TED Talks. I was listening to some TED talks and stumbled across this one: How to Become a Millionaire in 3 Years by Daniel Ally. Pretty catchy title, right? More than talking about becoming monetarily wealthy, it focused on utilizing his tips for the Key to Success.
When we were first married, my husband and I decided that we would try to live in a way that would keep us as debt free as possible. Delayed gratification, budgeting, and frugal living have helped us along this path. I am on a continual journey trying to learn more about money and how to make it work for us, rather than us working for it.
With the title of this TED talk, I thought it would give me money answers. Instead, I found a real treat in listening to the poetic delivery of Daniel’s journey and how we can gain success. He starts out by telling his story of graduating the 2nd to last in his High School class (the last was in jail). He was on drugs, but knew he wanted to change. Change he did. By age 24, he became a self-made millionaire, has written three books, and has traveled to several different countries to reach out to others.
His Key to Success lies in these three steps:
“When you think big, you do big.” (B=Books; I=Individuals; G=Goals)
Read More Books
“Leaders are readers. If you want to succeed, you have to read.”
Read what you want to learn about. Make time to read something other than Facebook.
I have made a more concerted effort to read this year. So far this year I have read 6 books this year. Most of them are children’s books as I am compiling summer reading lists for my children, but I am reading! I love to read nonfiction books, and watch documentaries to continually learn about subjects I am currently interested in.
Get Around the Best Individuals You Can
“Who are my leaders, and where are they taking me?”
Look outside your comfort area. Don’t resort to your default friends, or those you naturally befriend because of your surroundings. Reach out to influential people through social media. Think outside of the box: authors of books, motivational speakers, etc.
When I think of who my leaders are, I think of my religion first. I have changed my scripture study habits and have found it to be highly beneficial. I also try to find out more about the people that have written the books or documentaries that I frequent. I have yet to reach out to any of these people, but am excited to think of the prospects of further learning.
One thing I have tried to do is meet with people who have been through some of the life experiences that I may be struggling with and interview them. I have met with many seasoned mothers over the years to seek their advice on things from teaching kids to work, to discipline, to making meals quickly. Because they are real people that I have a relationship with, I often feel that I get more out of those visits than I would if they had written a book or article that I studied.
In another talk I love about seeking mentors, it says: “Be careful about taking advice from your peers. If you want more than you now have, reach up, not across!”
Set Higher Goals
“We have everything we need in order to succeed, but we have to believe.”
Set a plan of action to help you achieve goals. Create urgency with deadlines. Write your goals down so you can hold yourself accountable. 20 Idea Method: Select one goal that you want to accomplish and choose 20 ideas to help you accomplish that goal. What if you did this in every idea of your life? Write your goals down every day.
I set some rather large goals for myself back in January. I want to be a happier mom and declutter my life. By writing these goals down and working on them every day, I don’t forget them like a cast-off New Year’s resolution. I have never tried the 20 Idea Method, but am excited to brainstorm 20 ways to accomplish my goals in the future.
Some of my favorite lines from this talk were:
“If you’re trying to be what other people want you to be, then who will be you?”
“If you believe in yourself, everyone else in the world will believe in you.”
Hopefully this talk inspired you to be more successful the way it did for me. I don’t foresee myself becoming a millionaire anytime in the near future, but I definitely feel like these tips will help me find greater success.
How do you define success? What are your favorite TED Talks?
What a great article! This is something I am really working on at the moment in my life, and I love getting input and advice from others.
Glad it could help you!