One of the greatest actors of our time, Frances McDormand won the Oscar® for Best Actress in a leading Role in Nomadland, directed by Chloe’ Zhao, who also won the Oscar® for Best Director.  In Nomadland, Frances McDormand plays a widow, who after losing her job, departs on a journey across the American West, living as a modern-day nomad in her van.  The film also won the Oscar® for Best Picture.

How to Succeed

By Bruce Edwin

I recently read a quote from an unknown author that states, “Don’t go for what you know you can get. Go for what you really want.” I like this, but I would also add, make it so that what you really want, IS what you know you can get—and then get it.

I don’t believe in a plan B. I believe that if you have a plan B, you will usually settle for plan B. I never have a back up plan. This doesn’t mean not to be prepared. It also doesn’t mean not to plan for an emergency. I suggest you always plan for an emergency, set things in place for that preparation, such as emergency savings, an emergency backup of data, an emergency food supply, etc. So, prepare for the emergency, but then forget about it after you have the preparation done. Put it in a closet, bank, or safe or wherever applicable, and forget about the potential emergency, and then PLAN for the best, and make that happen.

Sure, you can run a scenario of IF there is an emergency, what will you do, how will you execute THAT plan, such as a natural disaster, etc. That’s a good idea. Maybe do that once or twice a year—but not every week. Not every day. Don’t obsess over potential disaster, and don’t obsess over failure or a second-best scenario. PLAN and GO FOR the BEST. Plan out the steps needed to get there so well, that you believe it is true because it CAN be true if you follow the plan. And then do it—follow your plan and make it happen.

When people settle for second best or settle for less than the best of what they want or dream of, then they get what they settle for. If you see a person working at a job they hate, you can know they basically settled for that job. They have not yet pushed themselves harder to get something better.

If you are not self-employed and you work for people, or ever have, have you ever been without a job, and could never find a job for the longest time? Then when you got a job, and were not really that serious about getting a job, all kinds of job offers came your way? This is not because the universe is cruel, and fate is playing a cruel trick on you. Rather, it is because when you have a job, you are not desperate for another. Desperation does not show in your face or energy vibe that you are desperate. You have more confidence. You are more self-assured. Yet when you don’t have a job, you may put off a desperate vibe. Your energy may be off. People see and read in your words, tone, or demeanor that you are a desperate man or woman. Employers are not charity case workers. Good, top employers typically do not want to hire weak, desperate people. They want to hire winners.

When you have what you need, then you can more easily get what you want. And beyond the basic things of food, water, clothing, and shelter; most of what you think you need is a matter of your personal opinion.

I may need a big house, a fast new car, a lot of money in the bank, and to live in one of the most expensive, famous cities in the world. You may need two houses, two cars, your own private jet airplane, and to live in two cities on both coasts. Or you may need far less. Our wants are determined by what we think we need, and what we think we need is based on what we will settle for.

A homeless person may not settle for “not” having a tent to sleep in, taking a shower every day, and hustling for money on the corner. He will always find a way to get a shower, have a tent, and be out on that corner every day with a legible sign he makes to ask people passing by for money.

Another man will always have a roof over his head, with a toilet and running water and power. He may struggle and have little else more, but he will never settle for less than that.

A woman may always have a new model Mercedes. She may struggle to get it some years, but every year, no matter what, she will find a way to get the latest model of that new car. She will settle for nothing less.

What we settle for is what we get. And what we settle for is what we BELIEVE we can get. And what we BELIEVE we can get is what we feel we DESERVE. To settle for something, you have to believe you deserve it. And if you don’t yet have what you want, then you don’t yet fully feel that you deserve it. If you did feel you deserved it, then you would logically do the steps necessary to get it and you would have it. If you don’t yet have a billion dollars, then you don’t yet believe you can, because you don’t feel you deserve it. And factually, if we don’t yet have what we want, then we don’t yet deserve it. For the marketplace is generally pretty fair, and only rewards us with what we deserve. If one produces enough goods or services to warrant netting a billion dollars, then one generally deserves it. And the billionaire believed they could do it because they did it.

So, you see, these two areas, of what we want and what we need are intricately connected. And they are also closely connected to what we FEEL. The part of your brain that causes you to feel emotions heavily controls what actions you will take or not take if you are one who is controlled by your emotions. And let’s face it–we all generally are—to a greater or lesser degree.

When you increase your positive belief in yourself; your self-esteem, then your expectations can increase. When your expectations increase, then your goals and targets to match reaching those expectations can be more easily reached. They are more realistic.

HOW TO SUCCEED?

Your job is to:

1, increase your self esteem

2, determine what your needs are

A, a part of this is determining what you do NOT need and getting rid of and avoiding that

3, determine what your wants are

A, a part of this is determining what you do NOT want and getting rid of and avoiding that

4, make a strategic plan to always have your needs met, no matter what

A, include an emergency plan you prepare for, go over once or twice a year, then forget about it

5, make a strategic plan to reach what you want

A, break the major goals into monthly, weekly, and daily targets and objectives and take steps on them DAILY

B, always be learning new skills that more quickly help you reach your goals

C, delegate when possible

D, track your progress with statistics and

E, write down and review your goals at least twice or more daily including when you wake up and before you go to sleep

F, never make excuses

1. put your attention ONLY on what you want—not on what you don’t want
2. Have positive expectations in all your thoughts, words, and actions; assume the best from yourself and from others

iii. if you are in a bad mood and have bad expectations, do NOTHING, and come back to work when you HAVE positive expectations. Sometimes, you can be your own worst enemy and when your mind and your mouth is your enemy, the best thing is to DO NOTHING and SAY NOTHING until you are back on track

iv: As Zig Zigler would say, don’t allow anyone with “stinkin’ thinkin” around you. Tend your mind as if it were a delicate garden that could be destroyed by weeds. In fact—it is like that, and the weeds are negative people and a negative mental attitude. Don’t let losers and pessimists pollute your mind, destroy your goals, and ruin your life.

G, never settle for second best.

G, Look around you and improve your conditions of the scene around you and improve yourself and your life every day. If you walk into a room, something should be better about it when you leave the room. If you walk down the street, it should be better for you having done so—whether you pick up a piece of trash or whatever. When you go to sleep, you should be some more steps closer to your top goal and dream every day.  You should also improve ALL areas of your life daily; spiritual, emotional, intellectual, financial, and physical.

6, When you reach your top goals, help others along the way—pay it forward

A, give thanks to those that helped you along the way including

1. the creator of the universe who made you—if you believe in that
2. help others less fortunate; charitable help

7, Increase your goals and start all over again with new dreams

About Bruce Edwin:

Bruce Edwin is publisher of Hollywood Sentinel, manager of Hollywood Sentinel Public Relations, and CEO of Starpower Management. A writer and producer, he also heads Bruce Edwin Productions, a production company for feature film and streaming television.

For questions or comments to the author, contact Bruce at StarpowerManagementLLC at gmail dot com or call 310-226-7176. Your questions or comments MIGHT be published for the world to see or hear.

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This textual content is © Bruce Edwin, Hollywood Sentinel, all world rights reserved. Image with kind courtesy of AMPAS, all rights reserved.