There are hundreds of books available which claim to be able to teach the secrets of success. And each has at least a snippet of truth, making it a valuable read. But I think too many people get bogged down in the process of "becoming successful" rather than just getting on with what it is they want to achieve.
Everyone's own recipe for success is personal and cannot be simply copied from other's experiences. Reading biographies may inspire us and other people's "can-do" attitudes will rub off on us if we open our minds to new possibilities. But the whole process of becoming successful has become a sort of career in itself for some people - and the sense of fun is then lost.
I think its possible simply to enjoy the small daily achievements - the good day at the office, the small incremental weight loss, a solid hour of piano practice, the extra chin-up achieved or a small increase in one's savings ... any and all of the little steps along the way that are worth taking a moment to pause and smile about, to make a mental note of.
The simple matter of setting a goal can be so daunting that many people never get around to it. Should it be worded in the present tense, as if already achieved, or should it be in the terms or a promise, with a specific date for its accomplishment? How many goals should you set and how often should you pause to visualise the intended outcome? Should you plan individual small steps along the way, with intermediate goals and timelines? Perhaps it's possible to get too wrapped up in analysing the method to either enjoy what you're doing, or progress far along the intended route.
I see goal setting as the writing a of movie script. Its important, but only one part of the movie-making process.
Of course, you must be the script writer in your own life's movie, not just the principal actor. You should also appoint yourself as the director and control as much as is possible of the production - but don't forget there also has to be room to ad-lib, to smile and to enjoy your star billing. No-one knows the running time of their life's movie, just that there will eventually be a "The End" caption. Just a final thought - the cameras are already rolling!
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Brendan McKeogh believes that success is different for everyone, but involves enjoying the best of the situation we find ourselves in today, while striving for better tomorrow. He offers free success resources (including two free classic texts) on
http://www.freedomfactor.co.uk 
