I think there’s no such thing as “instant success.”

Long-lasting and enduring success is always the result of conscious, consistent and persistent action and preparation.

Sure sometimes people may choose the right numbers and win the lottery jackpot. But studies show lottery winners often end up back in the same financial situation or even worse just a year or two later. Why? Because they haven’t prepare for and wired themselves for success.

There’s nothing like a New Year to trigger an intense cocktail of fresh optimism and hope, with a dash of overwhelm, fear of failure and confusion about how to make your roadmap to success this year. Having been in the midst of some home renovation work recently, I’ve been noticing some of the important, and sometimes invisible, steps that my contractor is taking to ensure my house ends up strong, beautiful and peaceful.

Whether you’re growing a business, strengthening a relationship, or starting a new project, it might be tempting to go for the quick-fix. But when you take short-cuts, you aren’t building the internal emotional and spiritual stamina to make powerful choices and take decisive action on an ongoing basis. But with these 3 steps to brilliant success, you’ll be assured that you’re setting yourself for success and impact.

Key #1 – Be Prepared

To get a job done right, you need to make sure you’re prepared and have the right tools. In doing my home repairs, I’ve been amazed at all the gizmos, gadgets and tools my contractor has on hand. He’s prepared for the usual repair job, and the quirky oddball attention an older home needs.

Sometimes people stall out because they don’t have the right tools or preparation done in advance. Being prepared for your success means knowing what tools you have at your disposal and knowing where you might have some gaps. It means assessing your situation to know what’s working, what’s not and what your priorities for change are.

Key #2 – Be Patient and Persistent

In fixing up a home that is almost 100 years old, it seems that there is no end to the cracks that need to be filled, caulked or sealed. Some of the walls in my home look like swiss cheese with all the plaster repairs right now. But to get my home back in sparkling condition, the job needs to be done thoroughly and correctly. To fill each crack requires a few coats of plaster, with drying time and sanding in between.  It takes persistence to find all the cracks. It takes patience to prepare the surface for the paint. If these steps are missed, the cracks can reappear or show through the paint job.

Taking your personal or professional life to a new level of success requires both patience and persistence as well. Staying steady in your vision and goals will help you stay on target so your ultimate success doesn’t fall short of the mark.

Key #3 – Be in Integrity

One of the reasons I ended up with my home repair project was because it turns out the roofers who did my house over 15 years ago had no integrity. I learned they did very shoddy work, putting shingling straight onto the bare wood and in some cases even over holes in the aging planks! As the homeowner, I had no idea until water damage started showing up in various rooms. I assumed that they delivered what I paid for.

Being in integrity is a powerful force for aligning your purpose, energy and action. It’s what attracts great people into your life and fills you with a strong internal sense of peace and confidence within yourself.

© 2012 Carolyn B. Ellis All Rights Reserved