10 Cliché But True Advice for Every Ambitious Person

“I have a dream.”

Those words echo from every human soul.  Big or small, our dreams are launched with a swell of excitement, but it doesn’t take long to realize it’s not smooth sailing.  And when your GPS fails, you’ll regret not checking Google Maps before leaving.

It helps to have a sense of direction.  Yet often, we overlook the obvious; we steer away from clichés because, well, they’re so cliché.  But, just because something seems trite, it doesn’t mean it’s not true.

Whatever your dream is, here are 10 clichés that are worth remembering:

1.  It’s not what you get, but who you become

In our hyper-materialistic world, success is gauged by hot-wheels and white-picket fences.  But the Mercedes will rust, and the house will need renovation.  However, the habits and characteristics you’ve cultivated on the way to earning those possessions — they will last a lifetime.

Rather than see personal development as a byproduct of success, see success as a byproduct of personal development. Einstein said, “Try not to become a person of success, but rather a person of value.” The latter will bring the former.

2.  Quality will beat qualifications. Every time

Inevitably, you’ll run into someone with more degrees, more initials after their name, and you’ll put your tail between your legs.  You’ll question whether you’re qualified to do the work.

But history is full of successful dropouts: Anne Beiler of Auntie Anne’s Pretzels dropped out of high school; Richard Branson, who left school at 16.  That being said, it’s not that they decided to cease education altogether—they just found other ways to educate themselves, and succeed.

At the end of the day, if your work absolutely rocks, nobody will care what piece of paper hangs on your wall.  Do as Steve Martin said, “Be so good they can’t ignore you.”

 3.  If you want success, start failing

Failure has  the unique ability to uncover your blind spots.  Significant improvements come not from studying your strengths, but also your weaknesses.

Thomas Edison said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

It’s called iteration—refined progress toward a goal.  It’s not just about moving forward in life, but doing so with improvement.  Failure is the drawing board for iteration.

4.  You can’t please everyone

Even close friends and family won’t all be supportive of your dream.  While it’s in our nature to love and be loved; to make friends and not enemies; striving to live up to someone else’s blueprint only creates bitterness.

Before David fought Goliath, he was told to put on King Saul’s armor.  It was so uncomfortable he could barely walk.  Only when he stripped the armor and picked up his own sling was he able to defeat Goliath. It’d be a different David & Goliath story had he taken King Saul’s advice.

There’s nothing wrong with seeking counsel and taking advice, but you have to filter the advice that propels you, from that which derails you.  It’s wise to have an inner-circle of people you respect to speak into your life and act as a second filter, but ultimately, only you know deep-down what makes you happy.  The sooner you realize you can’t please everyone, the better.

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

5.  Talent = 10,000 hours

The best athletes train even when they don’t feel like training.  The best musicians play even when they don’t feel like playing.  The best writers…you get the idea.  While there’s some debate over Gladwell’s 10,000 hour theory, there’s convincing studies showing talent and success are cultivated rather than inherited.

Mastery and success isn’t developed on days you fell good, but pushing through the days you feel awful.  Showing up and doing the work. Seth Godin says it best:

“The notion that I do my work here, now, like this, even when I do not feel like it, and especially when I do not feel like it, is very important. Because lots and lots of people are creative when they feel like it, but you are only going to become a professional if you do it when you don’t feel like it. And that emotional waiver is why this is your work and not your hobby.”

6.  Just go with your gut

Or follow your heart.  Fairytail-ish for sure, but solid advice nonetheless.  We’ve all had “trusting your gut” experiences—when something is not quite right, and you sensed the right decision unexplainably clear as day.

Daniel Kahnerman sheds light on our intuitive thought in his book Thinking, Fast and Slow; the effortless and automatic ‘knowing’ comes from our unconscious ability to process vast amounts of information.  Because it happens beyond the scope of your conscious minds, we’re completely unaware of it.  So, we label it a mysterious gut feeling.

There’s a lot that happens behind the scenes of our decisions. But, there’s a method behind the madness; which makes it less mad, and quite trustworthy.

7.  It’s not what you know, it’s who you know

Nobody leaves a campfire without smelling like smoke.  Subconsciously, we can’t help but take in information from our environment.  And, after much exposure, it manifests in our behavior.

Jim Rohn said, “You’re the average of the five people you spend most time with.”

We’re deeply impacted by the people we allow into our lives.  That’s why “Mastermind” groups are so popular and effective among entrepreneurs.

It’s a good time to take inventory of the people closest to you.  Are they lifting you up or bringing you down?

8.  You gotta have a faith  

Human imagination continues to baffle scientists.  In a study comparing pianists, those who imagined playing a melody performed almost identically to those who physically practiced.  Elite athletes visualize a completed action before attempting it physically.  Your imagination—creating a vision, blurs the lines of reality.

Writing down goals and dreams involves the imagination, and comes with profound effects. Dr. Gail Matthews’ took 267 participants and found that those who wrote down their goals with weekly check-points had a 76% success rate compared with 43% who only talked about their goals.

Practically living out your dreams is fueled through “impractically” dreaming out your dream. Write down and visualize goals often.  Clear, and detailed—seeing yourself celebrating at the finish line.

9.  The darkest point of night is just before the sun rises

Your dream won’t be presented on a silver platter.  Every successful person bears scars.

J.K. Rowling, chased her dream from the age of 5.  But before Harry Potter took over the world, Rowling spent years deep in the valley.  She lost her mother; went through divorce; and was almost broke while raising a daughter.  Rowling reflects, “I was as poor as you can get without being homeless.”

Of course, depression and turmoil aren’t prerequisites for success—but, sacrificing your comfort zone is. And by definition, that’s not a pleasurable experience.  Think of Rowling’s words when you feel down and out:  “Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.”

10.  Don’t just make a dollar, make a difference

Inspirational men and women have a vision deeper than their pockets.

Let’s be real—money is important.  It’s a powerful resource that can bring great change.  And, with success, wealth often follows.  But money can make or break you.  Much like the ring Frodo carries, money has an all-consuming power.  And, if the scope of your dreams cannot see beyond dollar signs, your fulfillment will be as short-sighted.

Just take a look at the tragic ending for most lottery winners.  Money without meaning is worthless.  Create a grand vision for your success that extends beyond your own pockets, and your own life.