It’s no longer news that everyone desires success, both in life and at work. To achieve personal success, most people become their boss (self-employed). Nevertheless, sometimes we tend to be obstacles to our success. This may happen because we lack focus, belief, or motivation; thus, we end up being our enemy of progress.

But if you should observe the situation, being successful is only some steps away. It’s not that difficult, but to achieve personal success, you have to be dedicated, determined, and focused. However, the problem most people have is the fear of failing; for others, it may be from anxiety when they visualize success.

You can overcome this fear when you focus on the simple steps to take to get you to where you desire to be. Although the big picture is fascinating, it is possible to lose motivation when you consider the task at hand.

To help you achieve personal success, I have written three simple steps to take, as well as some of my favorite quotes I believe will inspire you to be successful. So, if you are ready to be successful, continue reading this article.

1. Develop a Plan

You can create a plan that will direct your path to success once you have taken your first steps. Taking your first steps will give you insights or ideas of possible obstacles you may experience on your journey to success as well as alternative paths you may have to follow.

You will have to commit to creating an overall plan. Ether you require to earn a six-figure income blogging, or you want to run your restaurant, you need a solid plan before you get started.

If you want to start a blog, you have to know what blogging platform you will use, what type of content you will create, and how you will monetize your website – before ever getting started.

Sometimes, you may find yourself deviating from your plan, and that’s okay. The idea of creating a system is to have a general roadmap; this will help you make effective decisions as well as maximize your efforts and time.

a) Motivational quotes

“There is no waste in the world that equals the waste from needless, ill-directed, and ineffective motions.” — Frank Bunker Gilbreth, Sr.

“Think ahead. Don’t let day-to-day operations drive out planning.” –Donald Rumsfeld

“Plans are nothing; planning is everything.” –Dwight D. Eisenhower

“Never mistake motion for action.” –Ernest Hemingway

“Efficiency is doing things right; effectiveness is doing the right things.” –Peter Drucker

2. Plan to be Successful

Care to know why most small businesses do not succeed? The reason is that many small businesses had no plan for success. As they say, “he who fails to plan, plans to fail”; thus, you must plan to succeed.

Ensure you avoid the mistake of underestimating what needs to be done or overestimating your success. Doing this means you are setting yourself up for failure. Learning from people’s experiences or from people who have been there can help you succeed.

You must create time and meet with people who have been there; doing this will prevent you from making costly decisions and avoid mistakes that will ruin your business.

Also, you must recognize the fact that your plan may not always go as expected; thus, having a backup plan is a good thing to do. Instead of having all your eggs in a basket, you should have other alternatives (a plan B and a Plan C).

a) Quotes to inspire you

“The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” – Robert Burns

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” – Benjamin Franklin

“Beware the barrenness of a busy life. “– Socrates

“Once you have mastered time, you will understand how true it is that most people overestimate what they can accomplish in a year – and underestimate what they can achieve in a decade!” –Tony Robbins

“Nothing just happens. First, you plan. Then you do. Then you analyze the results and make changes. Then repeat.” – Edwin Contreras, Do Six Figures

“Hofstadter’s Law: It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter’s Law.” – Douglas R. Hofstadter

5. Get Going

As they say, “a range of a thousand miles begins with a step.” When heading in a new direction, taking those first steps is the first thing you need to do. The reason many people fail to take any action is that they are waiting for the right moment or perfect opportunity before they act.

But the fact is that such a moment does not exist. Taking that first step and walking in the direction you want to go creates the window of opportunity you seek. There are no shortcuts or secrets to be successful; just get moving until you reach your destination.

a) Inspirational quotes

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” – Lao Tzu

“There is no substitute for hard work.” –Thomas Edison

“Action is the foundational key to all success.” –Pablo Picasso

“You see, in life, lots of people know what to do, but few people do what they know. Knowing is not enough! You must take action.” –Tony Robbins

“If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you’ll never get it done.” –Bruce Lee

Finally, you must have fun. The whole idea of becoming self-employed is for you to do what you love and have more freedom. There is no difference between someone on a regular job and you if you are not doing what you love.

Your case might be worse since you are burdened with administrative taxes. According to Tony Robbins, “it is not what we get, but who we become, what we contribute…that gives meaning to our lives.”