In my study of people who have a knack for success, who seem to make the accurate choice at the best time, and who appear to constantly be in the right place at the right time, I noticed some essential success principles that they all use.

Their use of these principles is almost automatic. In other words, it is hard-wired into their nervous system. It is reflexive. It is an aspect of their subconscious programming.

No doubt there are many other principles responsible for their success, but these few were always present.

Study and use them, and see what they do for you.

Since thinking is nothing more than the process of asking and answering questions in your own mind, the quality of your thinking has everything to do with the quality of your questions. If, for example, you wanted to be wealthy, you could either ask, why am I broke? or you can ask how can I be a millionaire?

In the first question, you asked why. And in the second question, you asked how. This automatically directed you to making the first question negative and the second question positive. When you ask why questions, you try to solve a problem. When you ask how questions, you look for a solution.

When you ask good questions, you create a vision. A vision is a leap of the imagination. Usually, you witness something that impresses you, and you ask if you can be that way, do that thing, and have what the other person has. This vision from now on will be what moves you. It will get you up earlier in the morning. It will keep you working at your project longer and harder. And it will be the force that nudges you when anyone else would have quit in the face of a seemingly insurmountable obstacle.

Once you have a vision, you have to act on it. This action, however, springs from belief. There are two parts to belief. Do you believe that your vision is possible? Do you believe that you can do it? Belief is an act of faith. It is choosing to do what has not been done, in particular, choosing to do what you have never done before. And while a vision is a leap of the imagination, belief is a stretch of emotion.

If you can see it, and if you can believe it, then you have set into motion a new possibility for yourself. However, despite the myth of the self-made man or woman, you need alliespeople who will share your vision with you. Human life is a cooperative effort. Success does not happen in isolation. True, you can create something all alone, but it really takes on meaning when it enriches the lives of others.

Since life is hard, most people are negative. They have been hurt or disappointed. Their point of view is oppositional. They seek control, approval, and comfort over risk, novelty, and possible discomfort. Thus, finding good allies is not an easy task. However, they do exist. There are people who have crossed the line between making a living and designing a life. Choose these people to be your allies.

Now that you have your vision, your belief that it is possible for you and a group of people who support you in your quest, the next and most obvious thing to do is to take action. This requires a commitment to action. A commitment means that you will do it regularly and not quit at the first sign of opposition. It is an act of deciding to persist before persistence becomes necessary. It also means that you will continually adapt your strategy until you overcome the limitations of knowledge and resources with which you will initially start out.

With all this in place, passion will come easily. You will actually start to have fun. Your life will become a big adventure. Your emotions will press you forward even when your mind and body have fatigued. Over time, you will do what today seems almost impossible. You will stun and amaze yourself and others. You will find yourself in a new and strange land, where you are the master craftsman and the creator of a beautiful reality.