Recreate the Wheel of Success: Building Your Path to Achievement

“Fall seven times, stand up eight.”— Japanese Proverb.

Success is often viewed as a distant destination, a pinnacle of achievement seen by others. But what if the journey was more like a wheel—constantly in motion, driven by persistence, growth, and focus? The visible aspects of success are just the tip of the iceberg, while the hidden mechanics of perseverance and discipline turn the wheel that propels you forward. Recreating your own “wheel of success” isn’t about reinventing the wheel but mastering the components that keep it turning.

Why It Matters:

Success is frequently misunderstood. People often see the accolades, rewards, and recognition, but what they don’t see are the sleepless nights, rejections, and grind beneath. The “wheel of success” represents these hidden factors, the core elements that propel individuals forward while others are stalled or fall behind.

Understanding and harnessing this wheel matters because it shifts the focus from the outcome (success) to the process. Instead of obsessing over the final prize, you focus on mastering the traits that keep the wheel turning—persistence, growth mindset, time management, focus, and determination. When you control these, you can create consistent momentum towards any goal you set your eyes on.

Actions to Take:

1. Foster Persistence

The path to success is rarely a straight line. There will be setbacks, failures, and moments when you want to quit. Persistence is the ability to push through these challenging times.

Example:

Thomas Edison famously failed 1,000 times before successfully inventing the lightbulb. Each “failure” taught him something valuable, pushing him closer to his goal.

Action Step:

When faced with failure, practice reframing it as feedback. Create a journal to document what each failure has taught you and how it can guide your next steps. Instead of focusing on how far you are from your goal, focus on the daily incremental improvements you can make.

2. Adopt a Growth Mindset

A fixed mindset will make you believe your talents and intelligence are static, while a growth mindset allows you to believe in your potential for growth and learning.

Example:

Take the case of Carol Dweck’s study on students. Those praised for effort (growth mindset) showed more improvement in academic performance than those praised for intelligence (fixed mindset).

Action Step:

The next time you hit a roadblock, tell yourself, “I can’t do this yet.” Start looking at challenges as opportunities to develop new skills. Read Mindset by Carol Dweck for deeper insights into how to cultivate this shift in thinking.

3. Master Time Management

Time is the ultimate limited resource. Successful people don’t have more time than others; they know how to use it better. Effective time management means aligning your daily activities with your long-term goals.

Example:

Entrepreneur Elon Musk is known for scheduling his day in 5-minute blocks, ensuring maximum efficiency and focus. This allows him to manage multiple businesses while maintaining his personal life.

Action Step:

Try using the Pomodoro Technique—work for 25-minute focused intervals followed by 5-minute breaks. This improves concentration and ensures that you spend time on tasks that move you closer to your goals.

4. Sharpen Your Focus

The ability to concentrate on one task without distraction is becoming increasingly rare in today’s world, but it is essential for high-level success.

Example:

Gary Keller’s book The One Thing argues that success comes from focusing on the most critical task that will make everything else easier or unnecessary.

Action Step:

Start each day by identifying the one task that would have the most significant impact on your goals. Set aside uninterrupted time to work on that task—turn off notifications, close unnecessary tabs, and focus intensely.

5. Build Determination

Determination fuels the journey when motivation fades. It’s about deciding to keep going, no matter how difficult the path becomes.

Example:

Kobe Bryant’s “Mamba Mentality” was rooted in determination. He famously arrived at practice hours before his teammates and was known for pushing his limits physically and mentally.

Action Step:

Clarify your “why”—the reason behind your goals. When determination wanes, revisit your purpose to remind yourself why the effort is worth it. Set small, achievable milestones along the way to keep your momentum going.

Bottom Line:

Success is not a mystery—it’s a wheel constantly turning, driven by hidden forces like persistence, growth mindset, time management, focus, and determination. To recreate your wheel of success, you need to embrace the process behind the visible results. By building these core skills, you’ll find yourself on a path of continuous improvement, with the momentum to overcome obstacles and achieve whatever you want.

Stay Motivated: 3-Minute Inspiration for Busy People.

Reach out if I can help: https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/bradwiens/

"Action is the foundational principle to all success" - Pablo Picasso