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How to Be Successful in Life: Introducing Vision GPS

Simple Guide on How to Be Successful

We all want to be successful in life. And we all want to know the secret to being successful, which means different things to everyone. For some, a successful life means a clear career path and enough money to be comfortable.

For others, it's all about meeting that one person who makes life worthwhile. We all have our own picture of what a perfect life means.

We are all on our own journey. This means the key to having a successful life is hard to define. It's cheesy, but we are all on our own journey.

However, having helped many people transform their lives and become successful and happy in their own way, I've noticed some things which are the same in everyone's journey. I've noticed that there are four key elements or principles that bring success.

It's not exactly a formula for success, but it's very close!

These four elements combine to help you reach your own success, no matter what that looks like. Having observed these four things time and time again, I've created Vision GPS—your roadmap to success.

There are many routes you could take; some will get you halfway there and some are detours. To get the life you want, all you need is my Vision GPS.

  • V— Vision
  • G— Goals
  • P— Planning
  • S— Systems
Jake Smolarek sitting at the desk - How to be successful in Life - Vision GPS

I'm a life and career coach who has been achieving success for nearly two decades. And during that time, I developed the Vision GPS system to ensure it can be adapted for just about anyone who is willing to put in the hard work.

Achieve Success with Vision GPS

As a grounded life and time management coach, I don't claim to have all the answers if you need to know how to be successful in life. In many ways, you'll be on your own during your journey to financial success and personal development. But during our regular sessions together, I'll help you define success—and what it looks like to you. That's the first stage of my Vision GPS system for personal and professional growth.

Vision

This is the big one—the most important piece of the puzzle.

Think of this as the Pinterest board for your daydreams. It's what your life looks like when you close your eyes and dream.

Your vision is what you imagine a successful life to be. Of course, it will be different for every person, but this is the part of the process where you can dream big. Want a six-figure income? It's possible. Want to overhaul your love life? Yes, you can. Maybe you want to start a successful side hustle that will replace your full-time job one day. Let's do it!

Your vision should be your driving force. With a clear vision and a growth mindset, it becomes easier to follow up on the rest of the GPS. As well as being what you are aiming for, it should also be your motivation, the reason you keep going.

Your vision is your “why”. It gives you the mental strength to push when things get tough during the bad days. You need a vision of a successful life in order to succeed.

Vision can be a scary word. From a very young age, we are taught to be realistic. We used to have dreams of being a superhero, a fireman, or a ballerina. Eventually, however, we give up on those dreams. We stop dreaming big, and we grow up.

We hear the word NO so many times, and we no longer bother trying and dreaming. Achieving success in life is about railing against this frame of mind—which is often passed down by family members.

This is your permission to dream big again.

Goals

As I said, having a vision or a dream can be scary and overwhelming. Many people don't know where to start or are too afraid to begin. Breaking down your dreams into actionable goals is the first practical step to success.

Goals can be a mixture of long-term and short-term aims that will take you close to your dream life. Having clear goals to achieve is motivational, inspiring, and crucial to helping you stay focused.

Suppose your vision is to change career paths. In this case, your goals could include enrolling in a course to gain new skills, giving your CV an overhaul, attending an event in your new sector, and eventually, applying for jobs or internships.

Your personal goals should be measurable, practical, and, importantly, achievable.

Planning

I also refer to this as the planning process. If you've got a vision and you've got goals, you still need to plan the practicalities of each day. Making changes is overwhelming, and you need to take it day by day while still making sure that you are on track for true success.

This process is more than just coming up with a plan. It's about being flexible, learning new skills that will enable you to achieve your goals, and having a Plan B—and even a Plan C. Like the GPS in your car, when one route is blocked, your GPS suggests a new route...and then another.

The key to a successful life is the ability to adapt to new situations and react as things change. I've never met any successful person who didn't plan and strategise their actions. You need to think about more than just what your dreams and goals are. Think about how to achieve your goals and dreams—whether they involve financial success or personal growth. This means being flexible and having more than one path in front of you.

Things don't always go to plan. However, successful people know that being open to change and adapting to changing circumstances is important.

If you want to succeed in life, you need to take the planning process seriously. Like a long road trip, you need to plan fuel stops, traffic detours, and food breaks. In addition, you've probably got breakdown insurance. So, plan your life like a road trip.

Make plans, change plans, and be open to new plans and emotional support from those around you. You'll never reach your goals if you haven't made plans.

Systems

Think of systems as your daily routine and habits. It's all very well having a goal and knowing what you need to do to reach it, but if you don't create systems that allow you to do these things, you won't get any nearer your goal. These systems can vary depending on what your goals and plans are.

Think about it. If your vision is to have a successful side hustle that makes money every month, you will need some short-term goals and a plan. But what if your time management skills are poor? What if you don't set time aside to work on your plans? Put simply, your plans will only ever be plans, not actions.

The systems you create to facilitate your actions aren't always easy to define to create. Devote time in your day to work rather than watch Netflix. Create a system of accountability with yourself and a friend who supports you. These are the procedures that you can go through every day until they become habits.

It takes at least 21 days to form a new habit. For some people, it might take 6 months. You need to actively choose to implement your plans, create space and time for them, and repeat them every day until they become natural. Make no mistake; this takes self-discipline and a positive mindset.

After this point, you need to stay committed to these systems. Spending time perfecting your systems can help you turn your visions, goals and plans into your new reality.

Let's build your own Vision GPS

Reach out and let me help you define your successful life.

Why the Vision GPS Delivers Personal and Professional Growth

Car navigation displaying a route. Jake Smolarek - How to be successful in Life - Vision GPS

The concept of Vision GPS is as straightforward as the GPS in your car. Sometimes, you take a wrong turn, or there's a traffic jam, and you need to take a detour. However, before you can react, your GPS recalculates your route. It is open to change. It never deviates from the final destination, but it can change the route.

Furthermore, your GPS gets into the details. It doesn't just tell you to come off at junction 2. It tells you to use the right-hand lane to come off at junction 2, so you can turn right at the roundabout. It's always one step ahead, but it doesn't skip a step, and it doesn't rush. It can even take into account things like fuel stops. It will adjust your arrival time based on your driving and can suggest faster or shorter routes. Some GPS can even tell you to slow down near speed cameras.

To reach your final vision of a successful life, you need your own life GPS. My Vision GPS is the guide that you need to overcome obstacles and be successful. These aren't steps. This isn't a formula. Each of the elements of the Vision GPS is important.

If you have visions and goals but no plans and systems, your dream will only ever be a dream. If you have goals and plans but no vision, one day, you'll wake up and wonder what it was all for. Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to one of life's biggest questions: How can I achieve a successful and comfortable life?

There are many routes to take you from point A to point B. You might run into a few speed bumps and take a few detours, but with a GPS to guide you, you will get there, and you will achieve success. If you want to know how to be a successful person, you need your own Vision GPS.

What is the Definition of Success in Life?

Defining success is problematic because it looks different for everyone. For some, success equals happiness in whatever form that comes. For others, success is financial security or a healthy mind.

Becoming successful in life is as much about the journey as the destination. You might have a final vision of what a successful life looks like for you. However, if it's going to take five years to get there—and those five years are miserable—you have to ask yourself if it is worth it. Perhaps it is, perhaps it isn't.

You also need to consider that a successful life means learning how to set life goals. Once a goal is achieved, you'll need a new goal. The process is never-ending. That's why I like to think of my GPS as a system instead of a formula. A formula implies you will reach an end and then stop. With a GPS, you can change the destination as many times as you like, but the GPS will still work.

As a life coach, I can help you set up your own Vision GPS. We will work out what success means to you, set your vision, and plan a route to your own success and happiness.

Jake Smolarek looking at the camera - What is the Definition of Success in Life? - How to be successful in Life - Vision GPS

Reach out and let me help you define what success in your life means to you.

Using the GPS in Your Own Life

I'm trying to move you away from a fixed mindset and towards a more flexible approach to life. Think about the beginning of a car trip. We need to tell the GPS where we're going, but it's the one that gives us the potential routes. My Vision GPS works in a similar way: Talk to me about where you want to go in life, and my GPS will give you potential pathways to your ultimate destination.

Vision vs Goals

Many people make the mistake of thinking a vision and a goal are the same. They aren't. And truly successful people know this. It's why the Vision GPS has room for both.

Your vision is your overall aim. It's what you picture your life to be when you think about success. To achieve this, you need to have goals—lots of them. Breaking down your vision into practical, actionable, and achievable goals, each of which brings you closer to your dream life, is the only way to ensure you are working towards making your life better.

Change your mindset. Set long-term and short-term goals. And remember: You don't jump to the top of a staircase; you take each step at a time.

Plans vs Planning

I've met so many people who started out with a plan and tried to stick to it, no matter what. They start with such good intentions, develop a plan, and use it as a rule book. Do this, then that, and then that.

Unfortunately, as many of us know, life rarely goes to plan. This means people who focus too much on their plan rarely succeed. Planning should be a process. You will need to adapt and change, and you need to factor that into your plans. Planning is a process. It is ongoing and needs to be flexible.

Planning regularly allows you to adjust and stay on track.

As President Eisenhower once said;

In preparing for battle, I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.

Positioning for success means being flexible in your approach. Successful people are those who can adapt to new situations, change plans to reflect new realities, and do whatever it takes to succeed—even if that means deviating from the original plan.

Routine vs Systems

People talk a lot about developing a good routine. Don't get me wrong; making sure your daily habits and activities are positive is important. But even the most successful and positive people can slip into bad habits and let their routines become stale.

This is why you need to flip the script and focus on developing systems that allow you to move forward. As you reach new goals, old routines will no longer be effective. It's easy to slip into a routine that will end up holding you back.

Successful people focus on systems that allow them to adapt and change their daily habits as needed. Routines can become distractions when you do the same things over and over again and expect different results. Instead, focus on creating systems to improve your life continually.

Half-Assed commitment

Part of the reason I use the GPS analogy is that these aren't steps you can take to reach success. You don't do one thing, then the next, and eventually reach an end goal.

V-GPS is a guidance system. You need to effectively combine all four elements of the Vision GPS to succeed. It also shows you that you won't succeed if you aren't dedicated, patient, and willing to work hard.

This isn't a formula you can half-follow and get the same results. One of the main reasons people fail to reach their goals is that they assume that if they follow along, they'll get there. They don't try. You have to try.

My Vision GPS only works if you put in the effort. It's a guidance system to support you, keep you on track, and make sure you're doing the right things. But you have to put in the work and effort. If you do that—and let the Vision GPS guide you—I promise your self-confidence and self-awareness will explode. And I promise your life will massively improve as a result.

Let's get to know each other

Book your free initial consultation session!

Getting started

Taking the first step to change your life can be scary. Just thinking about a career change or hiring a business coach to start your own side hustle can be hair-raising. What if you fail? What if it goes wrong? That's what the vision GPS is there for. Everyone needs guidance, and everyone needs support, particularly when you are just getting started.

If you need a push, don't know where to start, or want to discuss Vision GPS in more detail, get in touch, and I'll help you get started. How to be successful in life isn't hard.

As a life coach, I can help you refine your vision and set life goals, and I'll hold you accountable every step of the way.

With me helping you, your dreams can become your reality. I can give you top tips for success and show you how to get anything you want in life. Changing your life and being successful is hard work. It takes time and dedication, but you can succeed with the right support and guidance.

Book your free, no-obligation discovery meeting today by simply filling out the contact form below, and let's make Vision GPS work for YOU as well!

Jake sits on a chair

MY CLIENTS SAY

Vision GPS FAQs

1. Can I develop a growth mindset with Vision GPS?

 

Absolutely. My Vision GPS isn't a formula—it's a process. When you achieve a goal or realise your vision, your GPS simply sets the course for your next destination. You never stand still; growth is built in, which means you're always on your way to your next stage in life.

That's the great thing about Vision GPS—the whole process is predicated on defining the vision that will keep you moving forward. When you're struggling to keep going, I'll be there to help you stay positive. I'll be there to remind you of the reason we're taking this journey together. And when you feel disconnected from your vision, we'll sit down and talk through your feelings.

You might hear me talk about SMART goals from time to time—particularly when we're covering the Goals phase of my Vision GPS program. SMART is an acronym that defines what the perfect goal should look like:

  • Specific
  • Measurable
  • Achievable
  • Realistic
  • Time-bound

To succeed, Vision GPS requires clarity and certainty from the outset. The setting of smart goals will help us set the right tone for your personal journey.

You ARE going to face challenges and setbacks along the way. And quite honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way. That's just life. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. But what's important is that you use failures as stepping stones on the path to success. When things aren't going your way—and that's bound to happen—I'll be there to help you think about things differently.

Yes, because I'm the kind of life and confidence coach who is always available—even if it's via a quick telephone call. When you embrace Vision GPS, you get my unconditional support. Change is part of life, so you have to learn how to develop coping and adaptation mechanisms.

But that's what's why Vision GPS is so effective. Just like the GPS system in your car, when there's a roadblock in your way, the system automatically calculates a new route to take. Yes, we'll set clear goals, but we have to be prepared for challenges along the way!

Yes, Vision GPS isn't just about making more money or getting that elusive promotion—it's about creating a pathway to your version of success. If your priority is to live a happy, content life that prioritises time with friends and family, that's great! The system adapts to your destination, which is why it's called Vision GPS. Together, we'll define what your personal utopia looks like, and we'll then use the GPS to shape your future accordingly.

I am based in the Angel/Islington area of London. While I do my best work in the confines of my office, I also host one-on-one sessions over Zoom calls. In addition, I can offer advice and guidance along the way via telephone calls and email messages. During an initial, completely free discovery meeting, we can devise a hybrid method that fits in with your schedule.

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