What Is The Key To Success?

What is the key to success? How can we tell if we have accomplished something worthwhile that holds a symbolic meaning to an individual and influences the actions of a society? We measure success through tailored goals culminated through years of rigorous development from both external and internal influences. These goals allow us to tap into the characters we envision ourselves as. When we set up goals to accomplish a specific task such as getting good grades, we work hard everyday to achieve that A + mindset in order to think of ourselves as that role model student. When the hard work pays off, we have successfully tapped into that dream persona, making us successful in our venture. Getting to this attained goal doesn’t simply start with a thought to be that person, but takes real hard work that is often easier said than done.

Around late last year I had a very busy schedule and was working towards the goal of building my resume and gaining experience in the legal field to strengthen my pursuits as a future lawyer. I worked at two internships and relished in the joy of getting my first paycheck as a legal intern at an esteemed law firm. I juggled writing this blog as well as tedious schoolwork, and never felt more accomplished by the rush of keeping myself busy; but then I fell off. Upon completing my internship, I felt lost and unguided with no workload to keep me busy after school. My motivation to work towards something was lost, and I found myself entering a stagnant period where I came home from school and spent long periods of time envisioning an ambitious future for myself but doing nothing to act upon it. I kept trying to give myself false motivation that I would one day start myself up again and return back to the earnest worker I was, but each day morphed into another and I continued to remain in the same state. I suffered from writer’s block and started to doubt myself, feeling distanced from the person I was just a couple of months ago.

In short words — I was unsuccessful. My mission of gaining experience and keeping myself busy had failed and I was at a loss with nothing to do even though I desperately wanted an anchor. I randomly one day decided to jump-start my quest of aspiration, immersing myself into different opportunities and slowly starting to feel successful again. The actions I was taking held a meaning not only to make me feel accomplished right now, but to also help me in the long-term. All it took was some motivation from myself that I could reach my goal, and although it was hard to adjust to my old schedule of working for long periods of time, I had never felt happier.

Although motivation was one factor for me to get back on my feet and return to the successful person I was, it was not the main reason. Confidence is the key to success. A single, one word answer holds all of the secrets to life. Confidence. Adults tell us all the time to “fake it till you make it”, and this generally is the best thing to do in order to be successful. I will never forget my first debate competition where I was going to go up against a competitor who was highly praised and was known for being one of the top competitors in the whole competition. She was a short, feisty middle schooler who attacked aggressively and pointed out flaws in people’s cases, and with me being a novice debater, I couldn’t have been more unprepared. I was vulnerable in my arguments, and was not well-informed enough to go against her and possibly win — but I did. I still remember being in the round and having my case picked apart through logic and reason as this girl found every possible fallacy in my messy case, and I couldn’t even pull one string apart in hers — and I still won. I stood there, getting absolutely demolished in the round, and acted as though nothing she said impacted my case. I stood tall, and showed no hint of panic, and in fact acted as though her case was in the wrong while spewing nonsensical sentences that sounded cunning to the judge in order to get them to vote for me. I observed the judge who was a confused parent, and spoke their language instead of the jargon that my opponent was using, and won them over by making them understand me. Putting on a good face and believing that one is fit enough to achieve something lets us move past our mental barriers and actually achieve it, and that’s what allows us to be successful.

When I felt dormant, and as if I had burnt out from being on top of my game, my mindset slipped down in the gutter. I began to lose faith in my abilities, and I doubted if I could ever come back to the peak I had achieved. After recognizing that the problem was in the way I perceived the situation, I changed my attitude, and began to uncover the self-doubt that was the hindrance in the way of reaching my peak again. My doubt had clouded me from thinking I could ever be the person I was once, and I couldn’t see the view from above. Once I willingly moved those clouds and believed that I could bounce back even though none of my actions warranted that response, those clouds began to move, and slowly, I started evolving back into the person I was. Even though I still face those long periods of work where it can get challenging, I am more than willing to face it head-on and welcome any barriers. I create a mental image of myself currently and in the future, and create goals that I work toward everyday. Even if these goals tend to be unrealistic, my unwavering motivation and confidence allow me to achieve them and encapsulate the best, most successful version of myself.