Success is one of those words that gets thrown around a lot. It seems that everyone is interested in achieving success (to some degree at least). It also seems that there are hundreds of speakers, seminars, workshops, books, recordings and websites that those wanting success can utilise. The problem – as I see it – is that very few people actually use any of these resources. The question therefore arises: how can you expect to be successful if you don’t study success?

Success is not something that just happens. Anyone that you can think of that is a success didn’t just wake up one day that way. There’s a lot of work involved in becoming successful in any endeavour. An overnight success is often 10 years (or more) in the making.

If you’re sitting there reading this wondering what it takes to be a success, here are two answers:

1. Study success and successful people
2. Never stop learning

The common complaint these days is “I don’t have enough time.” What a load of bollocks. You have the same amount of time as everyone else. Think of it this way, you have two ways you can use your time, you can:

1. Waste it, or
2. Invest it

What are you doing with your time? Either way you’re spending it and you can’t get it back. Are you wasting it watching the TV, or investing it in yourself (and your family)? Want to be a success? Spend your time wisely.

Not enough time to read? Can you find 15 minutes? Just 15 minutes every day? Sure you can. In one year that would mean you’ve read for over 90 hours! That’s more than 10 whole work days of learning. How many books could you read in that time?

Not enough time to do more than that? C’mon, yes you have. Do you drive or catch a train? Do you have an iPod (or similar)? I bet you do and you already use it on the train (or listen to the radio or CDs in the car). Here’s a thought: how about listening to business, motivation and self-help recordings when you’re on the go? Most people will travel an hour or more each day. Think about it! How much could you learn in an hour a day?

So, no more excuses! You’ve got the time. You just have to choose to allocate it smartly. This reminds me of something I once heard from Brad Sugars: “Rich people spend money to save time, poor people spend time to save money. What has that got to do with this topic? It’s another way to find more time. Do you mow your lawn, clean your house, wash your car, do you own bookkeeping? If so, you’re choosing to spend your time doing something that you could spend money on to regain some time. Imagine how much time you could re-allocate if you didn’t have to do these things. Once you choose to spend some money to gain some time you’ll have more time to use to learn or spend with your family or to relax (yes, you have to relax too).

I’ve spent the last 4-5 years living like a sponge. Every day, I read, listen and absorb more information about success. I know without any doubt that this will be the root of my long-term success. Another thing I heard from Brad Sugars: “The more you learn, the more you earn. When you learn more than me, you’ll earn more than me.” (FYI – Brad is a multi-millionaire from Brisbane now living in Las Vegas. He owns his own jet, Rolls Royce, Lamborghini and the world’s most successful business coaching business. Earning more the Brad wouldn’t be too bad, would it?)

Anyway, here are a few great titles that I’ve learned from:

• Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends & Influence People
• Dale Carnegie, How to Stop Worrying and Start Living
• James Dale, The Obvious: All you need to know in business, Period.
• Timothy Ferriss, The 4-Hour work Week: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich
• Mark Victor Hansen, The One Minute Millionaire: The Enlightened Way to Wealth
• Napoleon Hill, Think and Grow Rich
• Brian Sher, What Rich People Know & Desperately Want to Keep Secret
• Bradley J. Sugars, Billionaire In Training
• Brain Tracy, Eat That Frog

Please add any titles that you recommend as a comment. And tell me what you’re doing to succeed.

And remember: Success is a journey, not a destination!