The Thoughts of an Aspiring Teenager.
"The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will." Vincent T. Lombardi. Success is more than just a word; it is a goal, a feeling of security when it is achieved and it is also the single most frightening term for a young adult to hear. The basic idea I have taken from The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People by Stephen R. Covey is to be the best person one can be and take the best possible approach to reach one's goals.
So much pressure is put on the young adults of our great nation to succeed in life. But in order to be successful, one has to realize what success means to them. Is success becoming the C.E.O. of a major corporation? Or is it becoming the manager of McDonalds? The problem is there is no real answer to the proposed question; everyone aspires to become something different based on tastes and distastes. But regardless the goals an individual may set for themselves, there are certain steps that must be taken in order to achieve these goals.
I agree with Covey's Habit One, Be Proactive. I personally feel being a proactive person is the first step to overcoming problems and achieving one's goals, seek to understand then seek to be understood. "I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor." Henry David Thoreau. Thoreau is saying any individual can have dreams and set goals and achieve these desires. I feel the first step of individual success is having a good attitude and using positive reinforcement both personally and socially along with having a positive influence on surrounding individuals is vital to becoming successful.
Covey comments on Visualization and Affirmation saying, "Personal leadership is not a singular experience. It doesn't begin and end with the writing of a personal mission statement.