What To Do To Be Successful
The 70% rule that changes everything
Why do some people climb mountains while others can't get off the couch?
The secret isn't what we think.
Most engineers believe success comes from being super smart.
But here's the truth:
You can't do much to change how smart you are.
Scientists have tried for years to find ways to make people smarter. Brain games? Fancy puzzles? Special training?
None of it works.
You get better at the games, sure. But your actual intelligence?
Stays exactly the same.
So if being smart isn't the answer, what is?
The second biggest predictor of success isn't intelligence at all.
It's showing up.
That's right. The simple act of being reliable, organized, and hardworking beats being a genius almost every time.
Scientists call this "conscientiousness." I call it the success superpower that nobody talks about.
But here's where things get interesting.
You might think some people are just born hardworking, while others are naturally lazy.
And you'd be partly right.
But what if I told you there's a trick to becoming more hardworking, even if it doesn't come naturally?
The secret is hiding in plain sight. And it all starts with one question:
What do you actually want?
Not what your parents want. Not what Instagram says you should want. What YOU want.
Most people never ask themselves this question. They float through life taking orders from others or just reacting to whatever happens.
No wonder they feel stuck!
So here's what successful people do differently:
They create a picture of their perfect future. A future so exciting that just thinking about it gives them energy.
But there's a twist:
Most engineers won't set goals because they're afraid of failing.
Think about it. If you never say what you want, you never have to admit when you don't get it.
Clever, right?
Except for one problem: you end up failing anyway – you just don't realize it until it's too late.
By age 40, you might wake up and realize you've been heading in the wrong direction for decades.
Ouch.
So how do you actually make yourself more hardworking?
Step 1: Figure out what your perfect life would look like in 3-5 years.
What kind of friends would you have?
Who would you love?
What work would make you excited to get out of bed?
How would you spend your free time?
How would you stay healthy?
When you find goals that make you say, "THAT would be worth working for!" – you've struck gold.
Step 2: Break those big dreams into tiny daily steps.
This is where most people get it all wrong. They make schedules that feel like prison sentences.
"I have to do this, then I have to do this, then I have to do this..."
No wonder they rebel and end up playing video games instead!
Here's the million-dollar trick:
Don't create a schedule of things you HAVE to do.
Create a schedule of the day you WANT to have.
Ask yourself: "If tomorrow could be awesome while still moving me toward my goals, what would that day look like?"
Then schedule THAT.
Of course, not everything can be fun. About 20% of your day might still need to be pure responsibility. But even there, you can negotiate with yourself.
Work hard for an hour, play a game for 15 minutes.
Finish that report, then take a walk.
Treat yourself like someone you're responsible for helping.
You're not a machine. You're not your own slave. You're more like a friend who needs some guidance and encouragement.
The final twist? You'll probably only stick to your plan about 70% of the time.
And that's perfectly fine.
Because 70% is infinitely better than 0%.
The secret to success isn't being perfect. It's being slightly better this week than you were last week.
Do that enough times, and something magical happens. The tiny improvements start to compound. Success begins to feed on itself.
Suddenly, you're not pushing the boulder uphill anymore.
The boulder is rolling, and you're just steering.
That's when you realize the biggest secret of all:
Success was never about being the smartest person in the room.
It was about being smart enough to show up, day after day, for the things that truly matter to you.
And anyone can do that.
Especially you.
Loved this one!