I have read thousands of books and articles on success. I’ve listened to thousands of audios, podcasts and even cassettes by successful people talking about the various principles of achievement. They talk about the seven traits of this and the ten things successful people do and so on.
But out of all of the successful people I’ve followed, only one person specifically mentions energy. The energy you need to make it to the top in any endeavour.
He is Lord Jeffrey Archer, the multi-million selling author, former MP and athlete.
In an interview, Lord Archer said that you need a lot of energy to be successful in any endeavour. He cited his own example of how he made it back after losing all his money on the stock market – due to poor advice. He recalled that he had to work during the day and write books during the evening until the early hours. That took a lot of energy and drive, he said.
If he came home from work exhausted and said, “I’m tired” and then just slumped down in front of the television with a beer he would never written his bestselling books which have made him millions of pounds.
I’ve met Jeffrey archer on a number of occasions. Despite his advancing years, he is someone who has tremendous energy and charisma. You can hear it in his voice and see that twinkle in his eye. You can literally feel his energy and vibrational force. He has what people used call a magnetic personality that seems to light up the room.
I met him not long after he had been released from prison after serving a sentence for perjury. He allegedly lied in court about a newspaper libel case against him involving a liaison with a lady of dubious character.
Most people would’ve crumbled and just hidden away from society, but not Jeffrey. He was full of life and promoting a new book he had just published - collection of stories he wrote in prison!
Jeffrey may have his flaws, but you cannot deny that he has achieved a great deal in his life.
When I think of the successful people I know personally, without exception, they all have one thing in common: energy!
They are invariably up in the morning going about their business and getting things done. Even at the weekend they don’t let the grass grow under their feet and you’re more likely to find them doing something active than sleeping on the couch. Many of them have said to me that they find it hard to sit down keep still!
It’s not just about physical energy. You also need mental energy to think through ideas or have the resolve to keep going when things don’t always go your way.
It takes energy to bounce back from a setback or disappointment, as Lord Archer has done many times in his life.
It takes energy to write a book, submit a good CV or read a contract thoroughly.
It takes energy to study for years to obtain a degree, masters or PhD. Doctors and lawyers didn’t get where they are working 9 to 5.
It takes energy to go to meetings in the evening when you’ve already done a hard day’s work or attend training events at the weekend to improve your knowledge and skills.
Where does this energy come from? Are we born with it? Is it God-given or can we create our own energy?
There is no doubt that some people are just born with an enormous amount of energy, talent and drive. That doesn’t guarantee success and many people waste their talent and energy, like the young men burning up their youthful energy and “sowing their wild oats” as the saying goes.
Billionaires like Richard Branson, Elon Musk and the later Steve Jobs and Sir James Goldsmith were all blessed with massive energy, appetite and drive. They seem to be able to burn the candle at both ends and put in long hours to get their business off the ground like boosters on a rocket.
In addition to building a huge fortune, Sir James Goldsmith famously had a wife in Richmond, Lady Annabel Goldsmith and mother of Zac Goldsmith MP and Jemima Goldsmith, while openly keeping a mistress in Paris. He once said that if you marry your mistress you create a vacancy.
Donald Trump’s ex-wife once said that his idea of downtime was reading the Wall Street Journal on a treadmill!
In his bestselling book, Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill went further and said that successful men had high sex drives! He added that they controlled their urges and “transmuted” their sexual energy into something productive.
Interestingly, billionaire Charlie Monger, the partner of Warren Buffett, attributes their success to the fact that they like reading company reports rather than chasing chorus girls.
In effect, he was agreeing with Napoleon Hill, but also confirming that you need something other than energy to be successful.
There is definitely an element of natural energy, just like an athlete born with natural speed or agility. Sometimes you can see it in children who are blessed with certain natural abilities.
Not everyone is born with unique talent like three-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt or swimming superstar Michael Phelps, but there are other qualities in people with high energy which we can tap into.
Passion
Successful people have passion and are extremely passionate about what they do. That in turn gives them more energy and more drive because they like what they’re doing. On the other hand, people who hate their job are not exactly going to work with a spring in their step, and when they arrive they need four cups of coffee to keep them awake!
Okay, so what if you’re not blessed with this super energy and drive? Well, it’s not all bad news.
You can be very successful without being a billionaire or star athlete. If you don’t have that super energy you can still do things to have more energy in your life.
For instance, you can look after yourself, get enough sleep, eat the right foods and take regular exercise. You can also feed your mind with the right food by reading something inspirational first thing in the morning.
Find something you are passionate about and follow your passion. I don’t mean give up your day job immediately, but do what Jeffrey Archer did and follow your passion in your spare time.
We can all find energy to do the things we love, like a hobby or going out with friends. The energy is there within you.
Have you ever noticed that when you’re sitting around all day on a Sunday you feel more tired than you do when you’re at work? This is because our bodies were designed for movement and the more you move, the more energy you seem to have.
People with high energy tend to have a positive attitude and a pleasing personality. They lift you up and can literally light up a room with a positive energy.
People with low, negative energy seem to sap and drain your energy. They exhaust you and bring you down – to their level. They complain about how bad things are and how they've got “no opportunity” in this country. I point out that penniless migrants come from all over the world to live in the UK because they know this is a land of opportunity, and they usually succeed. Low energy people just can't see it or want it handed to them on a plate. They are the people of the party that nobody wants to talk to!
Finally, stop pissing about wasting time. The founders of Microsoft and Facebook started their businesses while still at university. They could not have become successful if they spent their time partying and drinking. In fact, Mark Zuckerberg developed Facebook as a way of meeting girls on campus.
There’s an old saying, that if you want a job done give it to a busy - coping with a lot of work - person. On the face of it this doesn’t make sense since a busy man or woman already has a lot on their plate. The fact is, busy and successful people are usually organised, focused and driven.
Unsuccessful people are invariably disorganised, unfocused, lethargic and negative. If you ask them to do something, they will tell you that they don’t have time - even if they are unemployed.
A lot of physical energy is actually in the mind. When you have a passion for something, like your hobby for instance, you never seem to lack energy. You never have that “Monday morning” feeling.
I know a lot of people in their late 80s and 90s who do charity work for rotary and other charities. They have energy because they have a purpose in life. One of them plays golf at 95 and looks after his sick wife. Another is involved in several organisations and sings for a local operatic society.
They all know that if they had “retired” at 65 and sat in an armchair watching daytime television they would probably be dead by now.
Another friend of mine who is 81 has amazing positive energy. He still works part time doing in-store demonstrations and exhibitions. Recently he has found a new lease of life doing film extra work. He is now busier than ever doing film shoots all over the place and having a great time.
He recently said to me that when he sits around on a quiet day, he feels tired and lethargic, but when he is out and about filming at six in the morning, he is full of energy.
So, do you have the energy to succeed? Yes you do! It’s up to you to find it, harness it and use it to your advantage.
If you’d like more information on how to acquire wealth building assets using none of your money, email me at Charles@CharlesKelly.net or send me a message through Facebook or my Money Tips Daily community.
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