11 wise lessons from wise people that will make you successful
In times when our lives are turned upside down, we often think differently than on the normal ‘autopilot’. Do you need a good dose of food for thought? Maybe you can do something with these lessons that will make you successful, collected from Bill Gates to Anna Wintour and Einstein to Linda de Mol. Yes, a nice diverse list.
1. In 2013, Bill Gates shared his golden formula for saving more
“Last year, I was repeatedly amazed at how important it is to measure how far you are in the process. You can make much more progress if you work towards a goal and keep track of how that goes.”
If we trace this wise statement back to your finances, Mr. Gates means that having a savings goal gives direction and support. This way, you become just a little extra motivated to actually save your money instead of spending it on yet another new item for your wardrobe. You can easily keep track of your savings nowadays in an app or a savings challenge. Do you prefer the old-fashioned way? Then keep track of your savings in a nice notebook.
2. Dutch wisdom from grandma
“For every dime you give away, you get a quarter back”
Dutch wisdom, but oh so true. Be selfless and think of someone who has a harder time than you. When you give away some of your wealth, you receive something in a spiritual sense in return. And if you give away some of your savings now, write it down, just like Uncle Bill likes to see it.
3. Anna Wintour
“In today’s world, you have to interact”
According to fashion queen Anna Wintour, being successful has everything to do with how you present yourself in the world. You must be able to look yourself and others in the eye and present yourself to the world. Do you want to be successful? Then it’s important that you know how to convey your vision to others and can explain where your focus lies and of course what you believe in. You cannot sit in a corner, act difficult, and wait for people to come to you. In this society, the ball is in your court.
4. Michelle Obama
“Don’t be afraid of the swerve. It’s not a straight line to being a human being.”
The former first lady is a huge proponent of the swerve: sometimes you can become so fixated on your goals that you lose sight of a bit of reflection. Why am I doing this again? Or: does this goal still fit me? Michelle tries to show with this statement that it’s important to remain open to other goals, paths, and dreams. Your whole life is not mapped out and can only be planned to a certain extent.
5. If Oprah says it
“Gossiping means we are not brave enough to talk personally with the people we disagree with”
Bam, that hits home. How often does it happen to you that you get annoyed with a colleague or friend, but instead of saying it to the person in question, you share your irritations with a third person. Because we disagree with someone, we belittle them to others. Extremely mature. Make problems discussable with the person you have a problem with. It gives much more satisfaction and makes you a person who solves her issues as an adult.
6. Mizuta Masahide
“The barn has burned down, now I can see the moon”
This wise statement comes from the seventeenth-century Japanese poet Mizuta Masahide and is revived by Oprah. It means that you can discover opportunities in things that go wrong. You learn from mistakes. Draw strength from mistakes, damage, and disgrace.
7. Mahatma Gandhi
“Be the change you wish to see in the world”
This wise statement from Gandhi refers to trust (in yourself). When you believe and have confidence in yourself and do things based on your own moral values, people will see that and gain trust in you. This way, you can collectively improve the world. The future depends on what you do now. So if you want change in your life and want to make a difference, you will have to take action now. Be aware of your values and deep convictions and keep yourself sharp about what you believe in. It’s important to ask yourself the right questions and the right people around you.
8. Einstein
“If you do what you always did, you’ll get what you always got”
If I keep looking the way I always looked,
I will keep thinking the way I always thought.
If I keep thinking the way I always thought,
I will keep believing what I always believed.
If I keep believing what I always believed,
I will keep doing what I always did.
If I keep doing what I always did,
I will keep experiencing what I always experienced.
But if I close my eyes and look inside,
I can break out of this circle and start anew every time.
If you do what you always did, you’ll get what you always got.
9. The philosophy of Linda de Mol
“Follow your intuition, and speak your goals and wishes out loud”
With this life motto, Linda has achieved incredible success in life. Do you want to be successful in life? Then it’s high time to follow your intuition and speak your goals and wishes out loud.
10. Diane von Furstenberg on friendship
“When a woman becomes her own best friend, life is easier”
The foundation of a good friendship? Laughing together, sharing misery, accepting each other as we are, occasionally giving each other a lesson, but above all having trust in each other. When you become best friends with yourself, life becomes a lot easier. We completely agree with Diane von Furstenberg.
11. And finally, what our May learned from her father
May once shared the six life lessons she learned from her father. According to May, this is his wisest advice:
“Don’t ask what people say, but why they say something”
Often you only understand someone when something is put into perspective. Words are just words and depend on the person who says them. Try to step into the other person's shoes. How does that person feel and how do they see you? When you go through these questions, you will see that a statement that may have sounded very unkind might actually be meant kindly.
Text: Women's matters
