I believe the first step towards achieving success is to define what it represents to you. A key factor understands yourself and what "makes you tick". What is your DEFINITE PURPOSE in life? If you know where you want to head, it'll be far easier to set in place a plan to get you there. What motivates you?. I think the most important step on the road to SUCCESS is first ACKNOWLEDGING yourself for what you are: your faults, strengths, "warts and all". Your HOPES and DREAMS for your life are vitally important.

The key ingredients in the formula to success, I believe, are as follows:

1. A PLAN

2. FOCUS

3. DETERMINATION and most importantly,

4. A POSITIVE ATTITUDE

Some others which you can throw into the recipe are:

• DRIVE

• ENERGY

• ENTHUSIASM

And a SINGLED-MINDED PURSUIT of your objective.

So what else helps?

A strong belief in yourself and what you are doing (or trying to achieve)

Your ultimate goals and dreams should conform to your values. So if you're an honest sort of person wants to make a lot of money, don't think of robbing a bank. The riches won't bring you happiness...and you're not likely to be too successful as a bank-robber if you are a regular temple-goers!

Whatever you are, I believe the key ingredient to achieving success is PERSISTENCE.

The following words mean a lot to me personally ...

Just because you failed don't mean you are a failure.

"I'm not a failure if I don't make it...I'm a success because I tried " - anon

All of the above character traits give us our strength in the face of adversity. EMPOWERMENT: this is the ability to take control over your life and learn from your experiences. We can all learn so much from the roller coaster that is life each and every day. Or is it swings and roundabouts?

What can you do about your life...other than breath and stay alive?

Don't just stand there - do something. "JUST HAVE A GO" at life.

- Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm is the all-essential jet propeller. Without it the highest heights are rarely reached. It is the driving force, which elevates men to become miracle workers. White heat enthusiasm can melt the hardest problems-- Percy Whiting --

Our enthusiasm and excitement, our intuition and insight, our creativity and imagination, and our motivation and inspiration originate in and are controlled by the super-conscious. This wealth of talent is at our fingertips and we have to find ways of drawing on it-- Colin Turner --

Set the germ of enthusiasm afloat in your being; carry it in your attitude and manner - before you realize it, it spreads like contagion and influences every fiber of your life; it means increase in joy, and pleasure, it means virile life; it means spontaneous bedrock results - the vital things that pay dividends-- Henry Chester --

When a person applies enthusiasm to his job, the job will itself become alive with exciting new possibilities-- Norman Vincent Peale --

Enthusiasm is the yeast that raises the dough - Paul J. Meyer

Enthusiasm glows radiates permeates and immediately captures everyone's interest - Paul J. Meyer

Enthusiasm is the way you trigger other people's emotions so they instinctively help and support you - Paul J. Meyer

Enthusiasm generates powers. It generates boldness, courage; kindles confidence, overcomes doubts. It creates endless energy, the source of all accomplishment -- Henry Ford --

Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul-- Samuel Ullman --

Enthusiasts are fighters. They have fortitude. They have staying abilities. Enthusiasm is at the bottom of all progress! With it there is accomplishment. Without it there are only alibis-- Henry Ford --

Enthusiasm, if fuelled by inspiration and perseverance, travels with passion and its destination is excellence-- Napoleon Hill --

Enthusiasm is the most convincing orator; it is like the infallible law of nature. The simplest man, fired with enthusiasm, is more persuasive than the most eloquent man without it-- Franklin Field --

In the end, the size of a person's accomplishment can best be measured by the size of their heart.