1. Work On Yourself, Not On Your Job "Work hard at your job and you can make a living. Work hard on yourself and you can make a fortune."  -- Jim Rohn Your work is a reflection of you. If you're not getting the results you're looking for, stop looking for better strategies. Are you currently the person who would attract the level of success you seek? Your outer conditions are a reflection of your inner reality. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/As-Man-Thinketh-Original-First/dp/1627550593">As James Allen has said </a>, Your circumstances reveal you to yourself. Where you are right now: that's you.

Work On Yourself, Not On Your Job

If you want something different: improve you. Most people focus on their craft or their "job." That's all well and good. However, you'll get far more bang-for-your-buck by focusing on yourself. 20% of your energy should be devoted to your work. 80% of your energy should be devoted to rest and self-improvement. This is what fuels your work and makes it better than anyone else's. Self-improvement is more than books and true rest is renewal. While others are trying to improve their job, you're continuously improving yourself, expanding your vision, skills, and abilities. This is akin to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Habits-Highly-Effective-People-Powerful/dp/0743269519">Stephen R. Covey's 7th principle </a>: Sharpen your saw. Most people are trying to chop down their tree -- their "job" -- with a dull saw.

20-80

"Necessity is the mother of invention."  -- English Proverb Your results aren't a reflection of your talent. Lots of people have talent. Few people, however, are required to rise to a difficult challenge. Most people never put themselves in demanding situations -- situations that humble and scare you. You need to put yourself into positions that create immense pressure. The kind of pressure that will either make or break you. This is how you purge out your weakness and small-mindedness. It won't be pretty. But it will change you. And eventually, you'll rise up. New. Changed. Better.

Make or break

You need to be taking on challenges that require you to become so much more than you currently are. You need to put your back against the wall so you have no other choice but to produce. This is how you evolve. How do you put yourself into these situations? <a href="https://journal.thriveglobal.com/one-behavior-separates-the-successful-from-the-average-17a1ae7fc5d3">You initiate </a>. You don't wait for life to come to you. You don't wait for the "next" opportunity. You improve your current situation or "job" by providing actual value. You pitch ideas. You ask questions. You try and fail. You take on roles that require greater responsibility.

Initiate

4. Stay In Love With The Process "The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war."  -- Norman Schwarzkopf The process -- or the work itself -- is all there is. Results come and go. And it's never been about the results. Success is inevitable. Success comes easy because it's the last thing on your mind. You already know it's going to happen. The work itself -- and becoming better and better at it -- is what drives you. It almost doesn't matter what you're doing. It's why you're doing it that matters.

Process 

It doesn't matter how good your strategy is, if you're not skilled at what you do, that strategy won't take you very far. As Jason Fried and DHH have said: "Many amateur golfers think they need expensive clubs. But it's the swing that matters, not the club.

Want to Become the Best at What You Do? Read This

Paras Nagpal