How To Be Successful Without Having To Compete With Your Friends

22nd OF June 2011

By Anthony Bell, Finance Expert
www.bellpartners.com

A lot of people who have been successful will mention a concept that has changed their ability to focus, and not worry about everything else around them. In its simplest form, the concept is to focus on what you can control, and not worry about what you can’t. Start by listing areas that are within your influence and control such as your diet, your spending and your thoughts. Then list areas of your life that are outside your influence, including things like the economy, thoughts and actions of others and the nightly news!

Applying this concept- you can’t control what cars your friends drive, what houses they live in, or how expensive their clothing is. You can however control how you spend your own money, and the goals that you put them towards. This assumes of course that you have set yourself goals that you focus on. If not, don’t wait until New Year’s Eve to set them, set them now and work towards them. There’s some great literature around on how to set goals, so I’d recommend you make that a starting point.

Expanding on this, why compete with your friends on things like cars and houses? Without being too philosophical, shouldn’t your friendships be about more than material possessions? There is also little to be gained from constantly comparing yourself to others, most of whom will have very different circumstances or situations to you.

Once you have set yourself some long and short term goals that excite and motivate you, you will find yourself worrying less about what others do with their money. Keeping up with others is an expensive game that no-one can ever really win. Giving yourself a sound financial footing however can you give you a strong personal satisfaction and sense of self-worth that the latest new gadget will fall short on.