In order to achieve any amount of success in your life, it is important that you understand four basic characteristics. Let's call these four attributes the four D's of success, and they are vital no matter what level of success you want.

Desire - Decision - Determination - Discipline

Desire is the most essential of the D's. Without desire, the other fundamental things just don't matter. There are many things we might like to have, and perhaps, we envy someone who already has something we like. However, we are not very likely to have these things for ourselves without desire. Not just a feeling of wanting something or thinking it would be nice, but a deep-down burning desire, a do-it-or-else attitude and a willingness to make sacrifices to reach that goal. By sacrifices, I mean things like giving up the extra servings to lose weight, watching less TV to have more time available for a special project, doing without a few things to be able to save money for a down payment on a new house. Without a strong desire, the sacrifices may become more of a dreaded chore than a means to an end, in which case we are more likely to just give up and abandon the goal.

Decisions need to be made once you have a clear-cut desire. You want to accomplish a specific goal and now you need to decide how to do it. Decide on a method to reach your goal and how long it might take to get there. You can usually find valuable information that is related to your goal in a bookstore, the library, or on the Internet. Other times, you might need to talk to someone who has accomplished a similar goal. Also, decide what sacrifices, if any, may be necessary for you to make in order to reach your goal. Reaching a goal is often easier by breaking a major goal into mini-goals, each one being a milestone in itself.

Determination and willpower are the traits you need to reach your goal when you have a burning desire and you've made the decision to take action and make something happen. There may be obstacles on the way to your goal, but strength of mind and fortitude can help keep you on track. It doesn't matter how fast you are moving toward your goal as long as you keep moving in a positive direction. You should be resolved to turn your desire into a reality no matter what it takes.

Discipline can sometimes be the hardest D to handle. We may have the best of intentions, but a moment of weakness can throw us off track. It takes self-control and restraint to make sacrifices and stick to the plan we decided upon. Every so often, we have to be strict with ourselves and remember that the goal we seek is worth the effort. If it becomes too hard to follow the plan, we might need to revise the plan or the time it takes to get there.

Usually, what we desire most, is not the goal itself, but the benefits that we experience when the goal is reached. The following is a list of some goals and possible benefits:

Goal: lose weight Benefit: look/feel better, more energy Goal: plant a garden Benefit: fresh food, exercise, nature Goal: learn to play golf Benefit: exercise, recreation Goal: buy a motorhome Benefit: travel, family outings Goal: work at home Benefit: freedom, more time with family Goal: make more money Benefit: better lifestyle, prestige

Take a moment to think about your desires. Chances are good that you have desires that are strong enough for you to make the decision to take action and make things happen!