The Most Important Rule of Success

"If you want to be successful, you must obey one rule - never lie to yourself." - Paulo Coelho

For me, success in any endeavour is paradoxical.

First, you must have intense, enduring faith in your own ability to achieve your goals. On the other hand though, you need to both acknowledge and confront the harshest facts of your reality.

Too many people either don't think big enough (because they don't believe in themselves), or they don't honestly evaluate the problems facing them - because let's face it, it can be terrifying.

You must have unwavering faith that you will prevail in the end while also possessing the discipline necessary to constantly confront the most brutal facts of your reality, no matter how uncomfortable they may be.

I really like this quote from Nike founder Phil Knight on faith:

"Have faith in yourself, but also faith in faith. Not faith as others define it. Faith as you define it. Faith as faith defines itself in your heart."

Happy Sunday!