Every successful individual I’ve ever met has told me their path to success was filled with surprises and obstacles they never thought about before they started. Things happened they never anticipated. They experienced both positive surprises and disappointing setbacks. But the thing they all have in common is this: they never gave up!

While every story is different, and no two paths to success are the same, the following actions will accelerate your efforts:

1. Determine your path: It may sound too simple, but actually making the decision about how you invest your time and energy is the critical first step on your path to success. The desire to reach greater heights, pass tougher tests or acquire something more than you have now drives you to work and persist. It gets you up in the morning. You need to form the vision for something greater than you now have.
2. Collaborate with others: Everyone who achieves great things gets help along the way. Look for others who have done similar things you’re working on to ask for help. And just as important, look for ways you can help others. Regardless of whether you are helping or getting help, collaboration with others will further your cause. Help people get what they want and you’ll get what you want.
3. Make the sacrifice: To achieve anything truly amazing requires you to give up things along the way. What you need to give up will vary, but you will need to sacrifice to free up the time and space for your efforts to succeed. In his blog post The Desire to Lead Simon Sinek said: “. True leaders show up to give — and when circumstances require them to give more than they ever thought they would have to, they do so willingly.” Whether you’re giving more time and energy to others or foregoing your own desires, your success will require sacrifice.

As you focus your intent and actions persistently, you will start to recognize your path to success. How you focus your time, what you do and why you do it will become clear. You will have both the strength and wisdom to push through the obstacles that arise.

Questions: How deep is your desire to succeed? What drives you or keeps you going on the path to success? Please leave a comment in the space below.

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The Product Management Perspective: To keep your products moving in the right direction you must work hard and inspire others to do the same. Recognizing your path to success will act as the barometer that drives everything else you do.