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These two principles are not original.  They came from my readings recently.  The first from Ken Inamuori, one of the leading Japanese businessmen and international investor.  The second is American grown. These two principles struck a chord with me, because they are so true and so real.  They both speak to having an identity, and following through on your true callings without fear or timidity.

The first speaks to having a plan, having confidence in yourself, in your ability, in effect becoming the master of your own destiny.  If you do not believe in yourself, nobody else will. Many people around you will underestimate your potential.  Well meaning people might have doubts in your plans, most of the time because they also doubt themselves.  Some will outright knock your ideas down, but in the end each life is personal and individual - you are going to have to decide for yourself what you can do, what you can achieve.

The second principle - Don’t let others rent space in your head is necessary in order to accomplish the first.  The modern society is suffering from an information overload, as never seen before, from TV, internet, radio, political and industry leaders.  Fashion, fad, and tradition lead to brain colonization.  They rent space in your head.  Your parents might also be renting space in your head, wanting to live their lives through you. If you want to succeed, you must find your way through the maze - carve yourself your own territory, write yourself your own game plan with you as the leading star.

Examples of people who have applied these two principle include Oprah Winfrey.  Bill O’Reilly of Fox News is another.  You might not agree with him but he is doing what he is good at and doing really well.  Others include the two young men who created Youtube, which Time magazine has dubbed The Invention of the Year.

CONCLUSION:  To succeed you must define yourself and act accordingly.  That much I learned.