The Success Principles: 8 key ideas
The core ideas of The Success Principles, each in under a minute, written in our own words. Want the full depth? Get the book.
- IDEA 1 OF 8
Take full responsibility
Canfield's first principle is to take complete responsibility for your life.
Blaming others or circumstances gives away power to change outcomes. He calls this the foundation of every other principle in the book.
- IDEA 2 OF 8
Responses shape outcomes
Canfield describes a simple formula: an event plus your response produces the outcome.
Since you cannot always control events, focusing on responses gives you control. Changing your response changes what happens next.
- IDEA 3 OF 8
Know your purpose
Canfield encourages readers to discover their life purpose.
Knowing why you do something provides direction and motivation. Purpose makes hard work feel worthwhile and keeps people going when things get difficult.
- IDEA 4 OF 8
Decide exactly what you want
Canfield argues that clear goals help people focus their energy.
Vague wishes rarely lead to results. Canfield suggests writing goals down in specific, measurable terms with clear deadlines. Clarity guides action.
- IDEA 5 OF 8
Belief makes success possible
Canfield emphasises believing that goals are achievable.
Self-belief, he argues, influences effort and persistence. Doubts, he says, often stop people before they even begin, so beliefs must be examined. Belief fuels persistence.
- IDEA 6 OF 8
Do five things each day
Canfield's rule of five suggests doing five actions every day toward a major goal.
Small steps add up over time. A tree cut with five strokes a day eventually falls, he says.
- IDEA 7 OF 8
Ask for what you need
Canfield encourages people to ask for help, information and opportunities.
Many people fail simply because they never ask. Asking clearly and confidently, he argues, often brings surprising help from others.
- IDEA 8 OF 8
Rejection is not final
Canfield argues that rejection should be seen as a normal part of pursuing goals.
Persistence after rejection often leads to success. Each no brings you closer to a yes, in his view.
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