what can abraham lincoln teach us about career success?
The 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865.
1. develop a positive mindset “Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.” - Abraham Lincoln Most of the time, the problem itself is not the real problem. The way you perceive the problem is the real problem. As Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “No one can hurt you without your consent.” To put it simply, you are the one who decides how you respond to the circumstances you face. If you make up your mind to be positive, you will see positives in the negative events. You will be happy if you make up your mind to be happy.
2. prepare yourself “I will prepare and some day my chance will come.”
- Abraham Lincoln If you want to succeed one day, preparations are what you need to do right now. When an opportunity comes, it won’t last long. If you’re not fully prepared to grab it, you will miss the opportunity. But if you’ve done your part and are prepared, you can seize the opportunity and make a difference in your life. If you prepare, your chance will come eventually. Remember, chances come and go in life, the difference is whether one is ready to seize it.
3. it is okay to be slow, just keep moving forward “I’m a slow walker, but I never walk back.”
- Abraham Lincoln Being fast doesn’t mean anything. Was the Great Pyramid built in a short time? No! According to the ancient Greek historian, Herodotus, it took 20 years to build the pyramid. Success never happens overnight. When we are faced with hardship, we often choose the easiest way which is giving up. It is easy to quit. It’s probably the easiest thing to do, but it won’t get you elsewhere. Never do anything that will drag your progress backwards. It is okay to be slow in your progress as long as you don’t stop.
4. don’t wait for your dreams to happen, make them happen “The best way to predict your future is to create it.”
- Abraham Lincoln Your future is created by what you do today. Start doing what is necessary to achieve your dreams today. You want to be a healthy person in the future? Start exercising today and eat a healthy diet. It is just that simple. Create your future, don’t wait for it. You want to be successful in your acting career? Stop dreaming and start taking action. Success won’t just come and look for you. You have to go out there, work hard, and chase after it.
5. be a generous & kind person “Whatever you are, be a good one.”
- Abraham Lincoln No matter who you are, always strive to be a kind person. Be a giver, not a taker. Be generous. Helping others will lead you towards success. In the process of helping others, you will be learning yourself. You will become better in that field, and more importantly, you will build up positive relationships with others. “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” - Winston S. Churchill Also, have faith in karma!