How to succeed in life

What remains of your goal when the applause stops?

At first, enthusiasm is high. Then comes a difficult spell. Others doubt you. Perhaps you doubt yourself too. What holds your path together now?

‘How to succeed in life’ considers courage, perseverance and self-belief, with Robert Lewandowski as a sporting example and Angela Duckworth’s GRIT as a point of reference.

The interesting moments lie along the way: dealing with criticism, continuing to learn and putting in work that has not yet produced a visible reward. This article is for anyone who takes their ambition seriously and wants to understand what persistence can mean in everyday life.

Have you ever wondered why some people succeed, fulfil their dreams and enjoy life to the full, while others do work they dislike, live in cramped conditions and spend their free time watching television?

What distinguishes successful people from those whose lives feel merely average or unsatisfying?

Perhaps you think adult life depends on childhood and how our parents raised us. Yet many billionaires and successful people came from modest backgrounds; their parents were not successful. They include Alibaba founder Jack Ma, rapper Jay-Z and even Cristiano Ronaldo. Starbucks founder Howard Schultz, who grew up in a very poor neighbourhood, also admitted that observing wealthy people motivated him to work on himself.

What drives some people to move forward, develop, overcome difficulties and achieve great success while others waste their lives on activities they dislike?

Courage and perseverance

Courage and perseverance are crucial qualities. When things become difficult, the work that takes you forward begins: keep going, use feedback and develop your path. Many entrepreneurs went bankrupt more than once, yet did not give up until they built a business that brought them recognition and financial security. Outstanding athletes have also lost countless times, but kept fighting until they won their trophy.

Handling criticism

Critical comments? We are not interested. Many people envy celebrities, yet what distinguishes them is the courage to be judged publicly. Everyone in the public eye hears unflattering things about themselves sometimes, but usually does not let it bother them. Successful people do their own thing and refuse to be stopped. Others will say things intended to discourage you, often fearing you might become more successful than they are. Never let anyone turn you away from your dreams.

Self-belief

Self-belief is key: it helps you persevere when things become difficult. If you believe in your goal, you will look for the next route after an obstacle. Be convinced that developing your potential and building a fulfilling life are worthwhile. Keep going, keep learning and give your possibilities a chance to become visible.

The example of Robert Lewandowski

Think of successful people you know. Look at famous footballers: do they not share precisely these qualities?

Take Robert Lewandowski. At Borussia Dortmund, his early performances were unconvincing; sometimes he even missed an empty goal. The media mocked him. What did he do?

He worked hard on himself, his fitness and his skills. After official training, he stayed on the pitch to practise more. The criticism from German media? He ignored it. While others laughed, he kept training and believing in himself.

RL9 believed that additional training, excellent nutrition and targeted recovery would pay off. It did not bother him that others no longer believed in him or that he was no longer the youngest. He believed he could become the best, and he did: in 2020 he was named the world’s best player and won every possible trophy with FC Bayern Munich. That same year he completed his master’s degree and became a father again.

It really was worth it, wasn’t it? 😉

The article is based on Angela Duckworth’s book “GRIT – Die neue Formel zum Erfolg: Mit Begeisterung und Ausdauer ans Ziel”.