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One of the cool thing about success quotes to me is that people from all walks of life are represented.

I’ve shared quotes from professional athletes, philosophers, Billionaires, Millionaires, Moms, Dads and anyone who doesn’t fit into that category. Here’s another wonderful quote about success from a legendary comedian.

I don’t know the key to success is, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.”  ~ Bill Cosby

How many times have been made worrying about how others would respond?

How many ideas never saw the light of day because you were worried how others might react?

I know my list was long and a source of pain. I can still remember key points in my life, crossroads, where I let the influence of others turn me away from my preference.

I can still feel the pain associated with making those decisions.

What I like about Bill’s Cosby’s word about success is the independence implied. You may understand that some of your best decisions were also some of the hardest to make because of the resistance you heard from well-intentioned family and friends.

For me, it got to the point that I created the “Dad-O-Meter.” Simply put, the more my Dad objected to one of my decisions, the better I knew the decision was for me.

Earlier in my life, I found being true to myself to be one of the more challenging things to do. I recognized identifying what I wanted to do… and doing it were two of the hardest activities for anyone.

It’s why I created the Passion Module. It’s my attempt to help you get really clear as to what success means to you.

What does this quote mean to you? What experience in your life relates to it?

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David Koons | Let Your Millionaire Out - Success Secrets of High Achievers

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This success quote by Goethe gets a lot of attention. You may have seen it in one of many incantations.

Below is one such incantation that relates to the process of decision making. How many of us have actually struggled with decisions?

There are few worst feelings than doubt and indecision. The crippling effects of which can impact us for years, even a life time.

You may notice that I share success quotes often in these posts. You may be wondering why.

I find most success quotes have stood the test of time. That means, except on rare occasions, the quotes we come to love, identify with or even grudgingly respect, were stated or written more than a year and as old as thousands of years ago.

“Each indecision brings its own delays and days are lost lamenting over lost days… What you can do or think you can do, begin it. For boldness has magic, power, and genius in it.” ~ Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

This quote, in its entirety is listed in “Rock-Solid Commitment” building section of The Power Module.

I can related to Goethe’s “delays and days are lost” comment. I used to have a lot of ideas and intentions floating around in my head. But, I also suffered from poor follow through. You may have experience this feeling of disappointment.

You may have even seen one of your ideas being successfully sold in stores. Meanwhile, you’re stuck in “what-could-have-been” thinking. But, what do you do about it?

For me, it was about reaching that point of being ‘sick and tired of being sick and tired’ that prompted me to take action. It was about committing to claiming my power and achieving different results.

And since that day, I’ve enjoyed much greater levels of success.

What does this success quote mean to you? What similar experience have you had?

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David Koons | Let Your Millionaire Out - Success Secrets of High Achievers

Cover of Mark Twain

Success quotes are a great way to set you up for success. Just reading one each day can have a profound impact on your attitude. Like this one from Mark Twain.

While most people will turn on the news first thing in the morning, I read empowering or educational materials. My mind is filled with inspiration.

I find success quotes give me a little ‘boost’ in the morning too. Especially when reading such fun and insightful quotes from Mark Twain.

“Keep away from small people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.” - Mark Twain

I have many favorite quotes from from Mr. Twain.

Though I’ve never finished an entire book he’s written, I find his quotes concise, profound and filled with insight.

I remember when my first business was growing beyond $1 million dollars per year in sales. It seemed like certain friends (who felt uncomfortable by it) had a hard time supporting me.

They complained about my hours (If I was awake, I was at the office) or my business (unsexy warehousing & distribution).

I can even recall the “small people” in the Marines. When the Special Forces people came by to solicit volunteers, these were the people saying; “you don’t want to do that…” and “that’s not worth it…” and similar non-supportive thoughts.

However, whether in the Marines, building my first or second businesses or numerous other accomplishments in my life, there’s always been another group of people.

The Really Great

These were my friends who were very supportive of my actions and offered their support every step of the way. These are my true friends. You can never have too many of them and they certainly make attaining success a little easier.

It’s one of the reasons I recommend you create your own Success Network to surround yourself with people committed to helping you grow.

I recommend having peers you can work with and support. Mentors who can guide you. Coaches who can keep you on track and a supportive network of family and friends to love you every step of the way.

Isn’t it amazing how much can be derived from a simple success quote.

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David Koons | Let Your Millionaire Out - Success Secrets of High Achievers

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Success quotes are timeless because they capture the essence of a thought, feeling or action in just a few brief, but powerful words. Take this quote by Muriel Rukeyser, for example:

The world is made of stories, not of atoms.” ~ Muriel Rukeyser

I look at this quote in different ways.

Life is not just about science, specifics and facts. It includes the whole retinue of human senses and abilities. Sure, we can peer down an electron microscope, or up into the heavens and try to explain, scientifically, what we see.

But, we can also gaze at our child, feel the abundant, irrational love for him or her, and realize we’re speechless to describe it.

Not everything breaks down into a neat formula, explanation or law. Somethings defy that.

Also, this quote can be about FUN.

To me, life is about the story. It’s all about the level of enjoyment, fun, adventure or risks involved in whatever your endeavor. When I’m 80, I don’t think I’ll share with my children all the times I was responsible and took the beaten path. It would bore them, and me, to tears.

No!

I’ll share with them when I went skydiving (HALO) at three o’clock in the morning, over the desert. I’ll share when I climbed a glacier in New Zealand, ran the Ironman triathlon in Hawaii. Or when I met their mother and the irrationality of love.

To me, life is about creating excitement, adventure, it’s about living with Passion.

It’s about living like you won’t get a second chance. Because, as far as we know, you won’t. What does this quote mean to you?

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David Koons | Let Your Millionaire Out - Success Secrets of High Achievers

Great success quotes become that way by their longevity and the instant “A-ha” the reader experiences when coming across it. Take this example from Mark Twain.

It’s a quote of elegant directness that captures the essence of thousands of books on time management and boils it down into a succinct quotation:

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.” ~ Mark Twain

This quote reminds me of the riddle; “How do you eat an elephant?”

Answer: “One bite at a time.”

While many people know the quote, how many times have you actually sat down, written a clearly defined and specific outcome? And then, with that outcome in mind, written out the smaller sub-actions to achieving it?

It’s the difference between dreaming and doing.

Success is not a secret, success is the accomplishment of something attained.

If you want something, write it down clearly.

You may be familiar with this acronym S.M.A.R.T.

• Be Specific about what you want.
• Make it Measurable, so you know when you achieved it.
• Make it Achievable, so you set yourself up for success.
• Ensure it’s Results-based and not “more of this” or “better at that”
• And be sure to make it Time-bound, so you apply a little pressure to get it done.

It’s about getting clear about what you want and taking the necessary steps to get there.

It’s not rocket science, but the formula is like that on a shampoo bottle; “Lather, rinse, repeat.”

Look at this success quote again, then pick a desired outcome that inspires you. Then, create all the steps that must be accomplished for you to achieve it.

This is how you achieve success. This is how you get what you want.

So, go ahead and get started.

David Koons | Let Your Millionaire Out - Success Secrets of High Achievers

Quotes about success inspire on many levels. They may address the hope you feel at your potential. Perhaps they summarize, in a very concise way, how you feel about a given topic.

Take, for example, this great quote by Thomas Watson:

“Many of Life’s failures are people who did not realize how close to success they were before they gave up” ~ Thomas Watson

I’ve run marathons, triathlons and Ironman® triathlons. I’ve built multi-million dollar businesses and served 8 years in Special Forces.

I can tell you, without a doubt, that every major success I experienced was only after I had the fortitude to “stick it out” when things looked really bleak. And it almost always happens about 3/4 of the way to before I broke though and achieved my desired outcome.

For instance, with numerous Ironman Triathlons (swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, run 26.2 miles) there’s a success quote; “the race doesn’t start until mile 80 on the bike!”

The explanation is at mile 80 is when it really starts to hurt. Your body is tired and your mind starts thinking about a warm bath, hot meal and warm bed. Or, you push through it and keep moving forward. The key is really wanting the desired outcome.

In business, I had a similar experience.

The first business I built reached $101,000 on its 12th month in business. That was a great milestone worth celebrating. It was an outcome that excited me and that I really wanted to achieve. But, I experienced tremendous frustration those first 6 months and questioned whether it was worth it.

It might surprise you to learn I considered giving up. But, it’s true. Like many successful people I know, we have our crazy, irrational or just downright scary thoughts. That’s not a problem. It’s only a problem if we do something about it.

It starts with knowing what you want and then taking consistent action to achieve it. Persistence in the face of adversity equals success and this quote by Thomas Watson sums it up perfectly.

David Koons | Let Your Millionaire Out - Success Secrets of High Achievers

Success quotes are timeless due to the power of their message. A good quote could inspire a book from the message contained in it. For example, read this quote from Aristotle:

“You are what you repeatedly do. Excellence is not an event – it is a habit.” ~ Aristotle

In previous articles, I’ve shared a quote from one of my favorite books “The Greatest Salesman in the World” by Og Mandino.

That quote, “If I’m going to be a slave to habits, I might as well be a slave to good habits” seems like it derived from this quote. Aristotle was a little before Og Mandino (about 2,000 years) so I thought I’d give him the credit.And since we’re talking about habits…

It begins with how you start your day.

In reviewing the success quote, consider your habits. Are you the type who sluggishly gets out of bed and suffers through the first 30 minutes or so? Or are you more of the speed demon who pops out of bed ready to go?

Do you have a daily routine? Or is your daily routine ‘not having a routine at all?’

I’ve studied thousands of people and have over 20 years experience of my own to consider. Each success I study seems to identify recurring success habits.

Whether it’s morning routine, planning their day, reviewing marketing campaigns or exercising. Every successful person I’ve studied has a routine and set of habits that they consistently follow. And favorite success quotes, too!

You may know that I’ve completed four Ironman® Triathlons (from an attempted four). I followed 9 month training plans to complete these grueling events.

What I ‘repeatedly did’ to complete these events was swim, bike, run, lift weights, eat well and get plenty of rest. I didn’t run once and was ready? I repeatedly ran every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. I repeatedly biked every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. And I repeatedly swam every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

In business, I built my first multi-million dollar business by repeatedly doing certain activities that I deemed to be my Highest-Income-Producing-Activities. I didn’t let myself get bogged down by distraction, I kept repeatedly doing what served.

How about you?

What are you ‘repeatedly doing?’

If you’re not sure, look at your results. Do you have what you want? If yes, congratulations. If not, change what you’re repeatedly doing.

I’ve been asked often what I do (and don’t do) to create ongoing success. I developed the Profit Module as my response to that question.

David Koons | Let Your Millionaire Out - Success Secrets of High Achievers

This Success quote by W. Somerset Maugham is timeless because of its powerful message about quality.

“It is a very funny thing about life – if you refuse to accept anything but the best you very often get it.” ~ W. Somerset Maugham

Discussion:

The quote mentions life, but it really could be about anything. Substitute “business” in place of life. Or perhaps “relationships” or “fitness,” “health” or any other noun, and you receive the same message.

How does this quote relate to success in business, career or making more money?

If you’re going through the paces without focusing on quality. If you’re getting through the day or just ‘checking the box’ on a task or activity.

Chances are you’re not getting the desired results, but a representative output to your input.

In other words, you’re getting back, what you’re giving.

To Let Your Millionaire Out…

To Let Your Millionaire Out is about giving your best. It’s about finding that desire burning inside you and sharing it with others for a profit.

To Let Your Millionaire Out is about excellence, not mediocrity. You don’t strive for mediocrity, you settle for it. You don’t move mountains and overcome challenging obstacles from mediocrity, you give up.

To Let Your Millionaire Out means accepting only the best from yourself.

What I learn from this…

I learned not to give or accept anything but the best. Whether clothing, accommodations, products or services, I give my best effort.

When buying or receiving a product or service, I expect to get quality. If not, I return, send back or otherwise get rid of the unacceptable item.

Spring Cleaning for Success

A couple times per year, my wife and I go through our ‘things’ and throw out, donate or otherwise get rid of anything that is not a “10″ on a scale of 1 to 10 where 10 is the best.

If clothing is ripped, torn or faded to a point that it degrades the quality, it’s gone. If we have a piece of cookware that has degraded beyond a certain level, it’s gone.

When we started following the practice of only accepting the best, we attracted more people, places and things that meet this criteria. Far from losing out of sacrificing, we’ve experienced even greater abundance as a result.

Quotes about success continue to inspire me with their timeless messages. This quote by W. Somerset Maugham reminds me not to settle. Not to give or accept anything but the best.

David Koons | Let Your Millionaire Out - Success Secrets of High Achievers

Quotes about success are timeless. I share some of my favorites from time-to-time on this blog. I’ve checked out other sites and here are some other favorites. Here are a few, and be sure to leave one of your favorites in the comments section below:

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Whit Hobbs – Career Success Quotes

Success is waking up in the morning, whoever you are, wherever you are, however old or young, and bounding out of bed because there’s something out there that you love to do, that you believe in, that you’re good at – something that’s …

Publish Date: 07/05/2010 5:55

http://careersuccessquotes.posterous.com/whit-hobbs

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Zig Ziglar – Career Success Quotes

Career Success Quotes · « Back to blog. Viewed 37 times; Favorited 0 times. July 3, 2010 · Zig Ziglar. “If you can dream it, then you can achieve it. You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want.” …

Publish Date: 07/03/2010 6:21

http://careersuccessquotes.posterous.com/zig-ziglar-40

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Mother Teresa – Career Success Quotes

Career Success Quotes · « Back to blog. Viewed 25 times; Favorited 0 times. July 5, 2010 · Mother Teresa. “It is not the magnitude of our actions but the amount of love that is put into them that matters.” …

Publish Date: 07/05/2010 5:57

http://careersuccessquotes.posterous.com/mother-teresa-55

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Walt Disney – Career Success Quotes

Career Success Quotes · « Back to blog. Viewed 51 times; Favorited 0 times. July 3, 2010 · Walt Disney. “All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.” Posted by Carrie Robinson Carrie Robinson. Comments (0) …

Publish Date: 07/03/2010 6:20

http://careersuccessquotes.posterous.com/walt-disney-126

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Be sure to share one of your favorites below…

David Koons | Let Your Millionaire Out - Success Secrets of High Achievers

Good success quotes are timeless. They teach lessons about success that could apply today or two hundred years ago. Part of my weekly success ritual is to review one or two success quotes and contemplate them for the week.

This quote by George Bernard Shaw is in a class all by itsef.

“The rational man adapts himself to the world. The irrational man tries to adapt the world to suit himself.  Therefore, all progress depends on the irrational man.”
~ George Bernard Shaw

It’s one of my all-time favorites. It resonates so much with me. I find my greatest success not by doing what “they say” or what they think I “should” do, but when I do what inspires me.

Throughout my life, my greatest joy and sense of satisfaction came when I bucked ‘conventional wisdom’ and followed my heart. Many times, my heart seemed irrational or unorthodox.

When I listened to that inner guidance, I experienced tremendous joy. When I ignored it, I suffered for months or even years.

Coming out of high school, I felt compelled to join the Marines. It felt right, it’s what I wanted.

But, I heard the voices. From my two biggest influences, Mom and Dad. They said; “go to college, get a good education and then a good job.”

Have you heard that before?

Well, I tried college and wasted a few years there with little heart or soul. And I achieved the type of results that kind of effort deserves. The dean’s list – just not the good list.

After I felt so bad about not doing what I wanted, I joined the Marines. This was after my third year of college. And I enlisted without telling anyone (i.e. Mom and Dad) for several weeks.

I had a tremendous eight years in special forces, rising from the rank of private to captain. I earned many awards and distinguished honors. The biggest honor was that I followed my heart and did the ‘irrational thing’ to me.

And that’s the point of this quote about success to me. It’s about context. It’s what’s irrational to you. Not in comparison to others, it’s your version of rational and irrational.

What about you?

Are you a rational or irrational person? Are you driven by Passion? Or are you doing what you think you ‘should’ be doing?

What are you dreaming about that may seem irrational to others, but inspires you like a bolt of energy?

How you answered the above questions will tell a lot about the amount of success in your life.

David Koons | Let Your Millionaire Out - Success Secrets of High Achievers