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When it comes to success many adults act like children during a road trip. They continually ask, “Are we there yet?” Understand that part of the answer stems from impatience about success and the other part stems from not knowing the landmarks leading to success. This brings me to an old adage that a college professor hammered into us; “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there!”
The first question you need to answer is, “Am I headed there? Your goal is not a destination, rather it is a journey. If you find yourself somewhat unsure of your location, look for obvious markers that would indicate that you are heading the correct direction. PRINCIPLE: Success landmarks are internal not external.

It has been said that for everything you gain, you lose something. Or for everything you gain, you pay something. In order to reach your success landmarks will require commitment and persistence. You must give up something of value. Speaker Ed Cole stated, “All of life is lived on levels and arrived at in stages.”

Ultimately we must understand there are significant trade-offs that must be made in order to move in the direction of your dreams. Here are six trade-offs that must be made.

Achievement Vs. Affirmation

If you are seeking affirmation from your peers you must understand this is fickle and fleeting. Charles Lindbergh stated once that success is not measured by what a man accomplishes, rather by the opposition he has encountered and the courage to maintain his struggle against overwhelming odds. 

Excellence Vs. Acceptability

Competitive excellence requires 100% effort all of the time. If you are not careful you will become satisfied with 92% or 95%. A new standard of acceptability is set at that moment. Excellence is always a choice! Quality is never an accident, it is always the result of high intention and skilful execution. It represents the wise choices of many alternatives.

Personal Growth Vs. Immediate Pleasure

You cannot dedicate yourself to pursuing pleasure and make genuine progress in your personal growth at the same time. There are no shortcuts to anyplace worth going.

Future Potential Vs. Financial Gain

Many things in life have a far greater worth over money. Money gives you options in life but it does not necessarily add value to your life. Henry David Thoreau stated if you advance confidently in the direction of your dreams and endeavor to live your life that you have imagined, you will meet with success in unexpected common hours.

Narrow Focus Vs. Scattered Interests

Being able to focus your attention almost exclusively on what you do best is a privilege you earn, not a right. At some point you must narrow your focus from being a general practitioner to a specialist.

Significance Vs. Security

Security is what we all crave. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs reminds us of giving up in order to go up to the next level. Tom Brokaw stated that it is easy to make a buck – it is harder to make a difference. Bob Buford’s book Halftime suggests that life has two parts. In the first part we are getting, gaining, and acquiring. The second half is risky because it has to do with living beyond the immediate. It is about making a difference with people who are making a difference. This second half is about LEGACY – what will you leave behind!

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