Habits Either Create Wealth or Poverty

Wealth Creation through integrity is the most honourable and acceptable solution for the situation that the Nagas are in today, next to the permanent political Solution which is earnestly desired by one and all. It would not be an overstatement I believe, to say so because then we will not just speak for our own belly being continual parasites to Delhi which has been the usual practice of the moment, but speak with courage and dignity from the core of our being which will heal our land from the many ills that afflicts our society as a consequence of the pursuit for easy money without labour, effort and sacrifices.

We shall then have a just and respectable Pan Naga Community and the land of the Naga people would be a utopia, if people live in dignity, honesty, purity, love and unselfishness without extortions, fratricides, kidnappings and corruptions.

It is not money and assets alone, but habits and character that either creates wealth or poverty in life. Your future is in your hands, in your successful behavioural traits, and no force or power can stop a promising future if you have the willpower and the determination to create it.

After meeting successful Naga athletes, Naga businessmen, etc, I have drawn some practical and positive qualities that make them highly successful. I have always been fascinated by the thought process of successful people in our midst in Nagaland – their strict and strong discipline, their focus and above all, their unshakeable determination in the face of difficulties and crisis and ability to use failures as a springboard to success.

There are seven traits that will determine whether you are going to be successful or a failure. It also goes on to show how capable you are, of making your dreams a reality.

1. Good Habits– Successful people channel their energy for self- development and develop great habits along the way while unsuccessful people have self- destructive habits such as smoking, drinking, prolonged and extended hours of viewing T.V and mobile smart phones. According to Dan Lok, a business magnate, author and global educator, “Habits determine 95 % of a person’s behaviour”.

Where you are today is because of your habits. Everything that you are today and everything that you will accomplish in the future is determined by the quality of the habits that you inculcate. Best people have the best habits. Successful people are those with successful habits. These habits can be getting up early in the morning to use time productively, reading regularly, meditating, exercising etc.

2. Purpose driven– Successful people are purpose driven and result oriented. Even in the face of disappointments, they do not give up but keep pushing themselves harder, till their dreams are realised. They do not laze away or procrastinate. Some people work for 16 to 18 hours, every single day. Elon Musk, one of the richest man of the world is reportedly known to work 22 hours a day, even at the age of 50 years.

Such successful people are driven to provide for their family basically then to the society, fuelled by their vision and driven by their respective missions.

3. Believe in self– Successful people believe in themselves and hone their abilities without being negative and pessimistic, which sometimes stem up from their own fears and self- doubt. Confidence is often lost when one listens to people, who put you down and magnifies the weaknesses more than the strengths. Developing self- confidence comes from sharpening one’s competence, through mind training and developing one’s faith. It demands going beyond the ordinary, believing in oneself when no one believes in you.

There is however a thin line between confidence and arrogance and one needs to be cautious. Being proud and boastful is not confidence but knowing that you can do it in the face of criticism and hardships is about being confident and believing in oneself. Positive self talk and actions make successful people.

4. Good orators– Successful people communicate effectively and they are able to articulate their ideas, in the best possible manner. Communication comes in many forms and can be of written, spoken, interpersonal skills etc,. The pursuit of success requires one to pay attention to this aspect and sharpen oratory skills and develop public speaking skills. Successful people have great communication skills so they are able to persuade, influence and inspire other people.

5. Growth mindset– Dan Lok also states that successful people have a ‘growth mindset’. He gives the example of Mark Cuban who reads three hours a day, and also Bill Gates who is said to read at least one hour per day. “It is not just reading a book, but listening to a podcast, talking to other successful people, getting coaching from your mentors is important,” he adds. Some people while taking meal would pull out journals and take notes for reference, which turns out into a learning session. So basically, it would be capitalizing on every moment, to turn it into a self- development and learning experience.

6. Embracing failures– Successful people do not allow failures to soak into them and sulk. They do not disregard failures but they take it in their stride and move on. They analyse, reflect and draw lessons from it, taking a path of self -correction or develop strategies to correct the mistakes that caused the failure. They have a strong positive mindset, envisioning a future full of positivity, and they work towards it by turning their ideas into actions.

Your positive expectations determine your great future, which is faith in God. Without faith, you cannot achieve anything great. The most successful people in any field have known failures and disappointments, and they have probably failed more than anybody else. The difference between a successful person and everyone else is neither a lack of strength, nor a lack of knowledge, but a lack of will power. Winston Churchill said it best, “success is going from failure to failure, without losing enthusiasm”.

7. High Emotional Quotient– Successful people normally have a high Emotional Quotient (EQ). Wikipedia describes emotional intelligence (also known as EQ) as the ability to perceive, use, understand, manage and handle emotions. How one handles one’s emotions or empathises with people around them determines their EQ. Studies show that people with high emotional intelligence know their limitations and capabilities, have greater mental health, job performance and leadership skills and they handle pressure well.

Successful people surround themselves with people smarter than them, who complement them, to propel them into success. Successful people stay calm, even when they are met with stress and failure, even when things don’t go their way. Successful people assess their strengths and weaknesses from a young age. They prove their mettle no matter what comes their way. They do not waste time doing something they are not good at but they work on their knowledge to build their skills.

Wealth can be created by turning one’s potentials into wealth, and to achieve that it is imperative to possess the right set of skills and attitude. While good habits alone do not guarantee success, acquisition of the right skills along with perseverance without being complacent, can go a long way as one climbs further up to the top.

Kuolachalie Seyie
Kuolachalie @ yahoo.com
Hidden Forests, Ruleizou, I G Stadium, Kohima