One of the great benefits of my role as publisher and editorial director of SUCCESS magazine is that it gives me almost unfettered access to the most successful achievers in the world. I get to meet and spend time with most anybody you can imagine.

When I get knee to knee with many of these extraordinary people, my job is to try and decode the DNA of their mindset, philosophies, best practices and success strategies. Most of these unique individuals are the best in the world at what they do. I am there to find out about what they do and what has elevated them above everyone else in their competitive profession.

They could be leading CEOs, revolutionary entrepreneurs, superstar athletes, musicians or entertainers, Olympic champions or people who have overcome terrific challenges to go on and make a big impact on the world.

Over the next couple of posts I will reveal the five traits responsible for the personal mastery of many of the most revered leaders in our society. I will also suggest how you too could master the qualities that can make you the best in the world in your marketplace and in your area of expertise.

ONE
Since you are reading this blog there is a great chance you already possess this most critical attribute for personal mastery and that is being a consummate learner.

Those who actually achieve a level of mastery are obsessed with learning, growing and improving.

You probably read the book Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell (you have, haven’t you?). This is where he repeatedly refers to the 10,000-hour rule as what separates those who end up with great “talent” from everyone else—essentially they just out-practice everyone else.

My favorite model, because I relate, of someone who is OCD about constant improvement is the late Steve Jobs. One of my favorite quotes from Jobs is, read more »

I love year-end Top 10 lists.

They are almost like cheat sheets! I feel I can get a good review of year bygone and check-in to see if I happen to miss anything important.

In that spirit I had the top 10 blog posts (based on comment and shares) pulled for you:

Be a ROCK STAR Presenter (Pt 2 of 3)
Based on important advice I gave to an executive team of a mid-size company to improve their ‘State of the Union’ address. Can help you improve any presentation you give.

THANKS-Giving Challenge
Of all the awe-inspiring stories I get about how The Compound Effect made a difference in someone’s life, this is the concept that has had the most impact. This is something you can do ANY time of the year with equally life-altering results.

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY (1 of 3)
The cause and fix to all your money problems. Be sure to see post #3 too.

Why the Rich Get Richer
One of the most important distinctions I made all year.

Knocked on Your Tush (Part 1 of 4)
When you get knocked on your tush in life, how do you get back up so you are not knocked OUT.

How to Be a Loser
It’s best to learn what losers do so you don’t accidentally end up one!

You Can Be Right or Happy…
I paid dearly to gain this insight. Let me save you the pain, read this one!

Get IN the Game
Oh, it’s definitely a good time to review this post!

Now Explode Off the Starting Line
If you have any goals you want to achieve in 2012, this post will be very valuable to you.

The Overachiever vs. The Superachiever (1 of 4)
The difference between Richard Branson, Tony Hawk, Donald Trump and me (and probably you).

8 Shocking (and Hilarious) Social Media Gaffes
More people need to read this. Send this one to all your friends – before they hurt themselves, permanently.

By the way, the link in the email update was incorrect on Tuesday. If you missed:
Goal: See More Sunsets <-there is the correct link.

Happy New Year everyone!
Wishing everyone lots of love and prosperity in 2012.

For those of you who keep in touch with me on facebook, over this past year you have witnessed me logging sunsets I have captured from many corners of the globe. Many have wondered why. It’s actually a very powerful goal achieving tactic. I’ll let you in on it now and report the results.

The goal wasn’t about sunsets at all. It was actually a tactic for me to gain leverage over me and my weaker tendencies.

I am a self-afflicted workaholic. I’d rather be working than doing most anything else. I don’t consider this a bad thing (good for you too since I’m usually working on something you’ll benefit from!). However gaining some separation, getting away from the constant busyness, calming the frenetic energy and quieting the mind is an important productivity component. But I am an addict.

So the real goal was to spend 30minutes a few times a week just quiet and still. Well that lasted about 8minutes once.

That’s when I brought in the first goal achieving strategy…

ANCHOR: I needed a goal that wasn’t the goal, but would be something tied to the goal that would force me to do the goal. Documenting sunsets was the anchor. A sunset happens at a particular time each day. To actually catch it at the right time you will usually spend 30 minutes or more watching it. THAT is when I spent my 30minutes of calm, uninterrupted, quiet time.

Then I brought in THE most powerful tactic to all goal achieving…
read more »

If I could reach out of this blog and hug you I would.
Consider this my virtual hug.

Let me attempt to explain why I am so grateful to you…
I have learned my highest values in life are significance and achievement.
Without you I could not express and realize those values each day.

I come by these values by nurture (or lack there of). Many of you might not know my early childhood story as I have only recently started to talk about it publically.

My parents divorced when I was only 18 months old. My mother didn’t want me so she gave me up to my father. In fact, I was told that when she first found out she was pregnant with me she got angry. After I was born she was generally disinterested and thankfully just handed me over to my dad.

My dad was only 24 years old at the time and a university football coach. He only knew how to parent like he coached—no whining, crying or excuses; lots of yelling, screaming and cursing. The best analogy is the experience was like being raised by Sergeant Gunnery of Full Metal Jacket. The way you got love and attention from my father was to do good, be good and achieve.

I am eternally grateful for this childhood as it instilled in me the desire to experience and express these two values:
Significance—wanting to feel significant by doing something important, meaningful, positive and contributing in the world that helps others feel empowered, important, capable and significant.
Achievement—my constant and never-ending drive for measurable improvement and achievement—for me and for those I serve: my readers, audience members, mentees and my virtually connected community.

Notice how YOU are in each of those two driving values. Without you, life, my purpose and the realization of my deep-seated passion is not possible.

So on this occasion of Thanks Giving and everyday I get out of bed to search the world over to find the best ideas, insights and achievement strategies that will help you become more successful, happy and healthy—I thank you for that opportunity. And the best reward I get from you is to hear how your life has been improved because of it. You help me feel significant. THANK YOU.

Here are some other great Thanks Giving articles you might enjoy: read more »

Today marks the mid-point of year.

So… how you doing?

Are you glad it’s half over? Or are you anxious because it’s already half over?

Are you on track?

Are you where you planned to be halfway through? Did you make a plan?

Will you accomplish your BHAGs (Big Hairy Audacious Goals) for the year?

Do you remember what your BHAGs are? Do you have BHAGs?

I just got an email from a blog subscriber who said they have been using the Living Your Best Year Ever program and they have already surpassed the income and business growth goal they had for the entire year, before this mid-way point. Congrats Susan G.!

This encouraged me to go back and read one of the blogs I posted at the beginning of this year. It even re-fired me up!

2011: How to Live Your Best Year Ever

Are you feeling a little bummed or even disappointed in where you are in life right now?

Did you think you would be doing a little bit better and be a little further along in life by now?

Are you a little down on yourself about how you have let your body go… or your relationships wane a bit… or maybe you’re frustrated about the fact you aren’t doing better in your job or business… or you haven’t been the parent you wanted to be?

If so, it’s time for a turning point… CLICK HERE TO READ POST (there is a great video there too!)

If you aren’t satisfied with where you are, having finished the first half of this year… Or if you don’t want to lose the momentum you have knowing you are only halfway, I strongly recommend you utilize the Achievement Management System™ inside Living Your Best Year Ever (If you already own it, pull it back out!).

This is the system I use EVERY day to accomplish what others would call seemingly impossible goals. It will work for you too (if you work it!).

Happy Halfway to New Year everyone! ~Darren Hardy

Share your mid-year status update in the comments below. Are you over or under on your goals to date?