Crystalize Your Thinking. Determine what specific goal you want to achieve. Then dedicate yourself to its attainment with unswerving singleness of purpose, the trenchant zeal of a crusader.

Develop a plan for achieving your goal, and a deadline for its attainment. Plan your progress carefully: hour by hour, day by day, month by month. Organized activity and enthusiasm are the wellsprings of your power.

Develop a sincere desire for the things you want in life. A burning desire is the greatest motivator of every human action. The desire for success implants "success consciousness," which in turn creates a vigorous and ever-increasing "habit of success."

Develop supreme confidence in yourself and your own abilities. Enter every activity without giving mental recognition to the possibility of defeat. Concentrate on your strengths, instead of your weaknesses. Focus on your powers, instead of your problems.

Develop a dogged determination to follow through on your plan, regardless of obstacles, criticism or circumstances or what other people say, think or do. Opportunities never come to those who wait; they are captured by those who dare to attack.

Get great articles like this planted in your inbox every week. Enter your email address below.