Reaching for success in any endeavor requires energy. Failure often precedes success. One must often fail before he or she is to succeed. Without energy to climb out of the pitfalls success is seldom realized. Motivation is essential. In this world, while we travel alongside others, success is a personal journey and responsibility. It is beautiful to have people who will lift you, push you, permit you to stand on their shoulders; there is often a lack of such support. One must motivate self in order to elevate. Give yourself a reason everyday for moving one step further. Affirm your success daily. Surround yourself with inspiration and get rid of all those things which bring about degradation of the mind, spirit, and body.  This may mean isolating yourself from friends, family, media. Successfully being able to motivate yourself begins with a strong mind, clear of refuse; that which poisons one’s thinking.  Become an autodidact. Teach yourself to rise above. Educate yourself to propel beyond your current state of confinement. Success is the result of a commitment, a commitment one makes to self, that despite current constraints, situations, circumstances, and states of mind  he or she can rise above. Sometimes one needs an example, a model, proof that such is possible. Here is proof.

Autodidact scholar Catherine Elizabeth Hughes (1947-)
“A radio personality and executive, Hughes’ success in radio station management enabled her to become the first African-American woman to head a publicly traded stock on the stock exchange.”

If there are no real models of such motivation in your life or community build them. Immerse yourself in books and find five people who model your desired level of success. Learn their path’s and let them mentor you through their words. Build your success team. Construct a foundation for motivation.

” You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” –  Jim Rohn

http://www.africanamerica.org/topic/african-american-autodidactic-scholars