Success is not just an ordinary word, it is a powerful word that had awaken the intellectual sagacity of many people. Success had been what many people had been racing for, it is what many students are always aspiring to achieve at the end of every academic year, and it is what every business man always hope for, it is what many surgeons have in mind before going into the theatre to come out with a smile on their face after a successful surgery, it is what teachers awaits in their students, it is what parents expects in their children after many years of labor.
Nevertheless, with all these expectation and aspiration, success won’t be served to you on a golden plate you have to work for it. Money can be given to you, gifts can be given but you have to be hardworking before you could get hold of success. There is this common saying that “the journey to a thousand miles begin with a single step” so is success. Your journey to success began the time you never imagined, it began the time you were just a tiny cluster of cells to the time you developed to being a foetus to the time you were given birth to, to the time you started crawling to the time you stood up on your feet to the time you took your first step to the time you started running and falling but you keep on rising like a phoenix. Your journey to success started the day you got fertilized as an egg in your mother’s womb till where you are today. If you think you have not achieved anything so far then let me remind you that you have been fighting for your life right inside your mother’s womb because you could have died from the drugs she took, from the water she drank, from the food she ate but you fought for nine months as a mere foetus because your aim is to see a different world outside your mother’s womb. If you didn’t give up as a foetus why do you want to give up now?
“Don’t give up on your journey to success, your birth shows you are a step closer to achieving your goals if not you could have died right in the womb” – Ogunsola Ayobami Samuel.
Furthermore, let me ask you this, do you know what success is? Do you have what it takes to be successful? Do you know the pain of being called a failure? For you to achieve success you must stay FOCUS on your DREAM you must WORKHARD to make your dream come true you must be DETERMINED to your achieving your goals you must have the of not want to be called a FAILURE. I don’t know how you are going to go about it but you must WIN to become your own definition of success but remember, “There is no short cut to success” you have to take every single steps overcoming every obstacles, you have to fail and fail and keep on failing until you pass. For you to become successful you need the prominent keys to unlock closed doors as you set out on your journey to success. These keys will be discovered as you read further.

KEY #1 – DREAM
Many people believed that a dream is a succession of images, ideas, emotions and sensations that usually occur involuntarily in the mind during a certain stages of sleep. That’s not all about dream, dream is not something we just see in our dream when succeeding is attached to it.
“Dream is what stopped you from sleeping”
Your goal is something you dream of achieving and you won’t sleep until you reach your goal. So therefore, “dream is not what you see in sleep it is what stops you from sleeping.” To become successful in life you must set a goal and keep on dreaming until you achieved your goal.
“Never set limit to what you can achieve, you can achieve more than what you dreamt of, there shouldn’t be full stop on your journey to success just commas” – Ogunsola Ayobami Samuel.
And it is never too late to start dreaming. C.S Lewis said “you are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream”. And “you have to start dreaming today so you could wake up tomorrow realizing your dream had become a reality”- Ogunsola Ayobami Samuel. Because “There is nothing worth celebrating than a dream becoming a reality – Ogunsola Ayobami Samuel. If you really want to live a successful life you need to start dreaming today and you keep following your dream. “What is not started today is never finished tomorrow”—Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe. Like I said earlier, “success is not a destination it is a journey”. “Set out on your journey to success leaving your trail behind not following other people’s path”- Ogunsola Ayobami Samuel. Dream and follow your dream and live for your dream alone not other people’s. “Do not follow where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail- Ralph Waldo Emerson. Dream is very important on your way to success, you have to “Dream as if you will live forever, live as if you will die today- James Dean. “Don’t just live in a dream world but dream and turn your dream to reality”- Ogunsola Ayobami Samuel. Because “there are some people who live in a dream world and then there are some who face reality; and there are those who turn one into another”- Douglas H. Everett. Have this in mind, don’t just dream alone. There is a little distance between dream and reality and that is ACTION. Dreaming without acting on your dream is just a mere child sleep.

KEY # 2- FOCUS
Focus is another prominent key to success. Dreaming alone won’t be lead through your journey to success. For your to achieve your aim, you need to have a clear goal and objectives and your hard work should be dedicated towards making your dream into a reality.
Being focused will make you quicker if your focus is on a single dream, you will be able to avoid distractions, your brain becomes focused on making your dream become reality. This would give you the opportunity to achieve your goal much quickly rather than trying to make two dreams come true at a time.
Furthermore, to achieve your more difficult long term goals, you need to be disciplined to stay the course. When you set huge goals, it might appear difficult for you to achieve but all you need to do in such situation is to break big goals into smaller, more attainable goals so you could make more progress towards your dream.
“Stay focused, go after your dream and keep moving towards your goals”- LL Cool J.
If you were able to focus on a goal, this would increase your chances of achievement. When it comes to making achievement in your business or personal life, you must be persistent in making it become a reality.
“Our focus is our future and what we focus on will multiply in our life”- David DeNotaris.
Many people ended up in life as failure because they tend to focus on what could go wrong rather than what could go right. This is the reason many had not taken a single step towards success. Don’t waste all your energy on all the bad situations rather use 100% of your focus in creating a desirable outcome; your future depends on it.
“Focus on the possibilities for success not on the potential for failure” – Napoleon Hill.
Similarly to how your dream is important on your journey towards a successful life so is your focus. You need to start focusing on your strength not on your weakness, focus on your character not your reputation, and focus on your blessing not your misfortune. Focus on what could go right not what could go wrong, remember what you have done right not what you have done wrong. The road to success isn’t smooth, there are a lot of obstacles and challenges before you of which you might not overcome but don’t give up on winning all you need to do is take a deep breath and shift your focus to something positive. Your focus is what gives you positive energy on your journey to success. You have to avoid all distraction that comes your way to avoid derailment. To become successful is a herculean task, don’t start thinking about failing without trying that would only make you a loser. If at all you are going fail, fail after trying not failing before you try.
“Failing after trying and not giving up makes you a successful failure” – Ogunsola Ayobami Samuel.

KEY # 3 DERTERMINATION
Determination as a positive emotional feeling which involves your perseverance towards a difficult goal in spite of obstacles. Your determination serves as your behavioral motivator that will help you to achieve your goal.
You might have a great dream or a 100% focus avoiding not to be distracted towards achieving your goal but your strong determination and will power to succeed matters a lot. People might call your success story a luck, there is no problem about that but one thing for sure is that luck only works for those who have the will power to win. Psychologist states that “determination is a positive emotion that pushes an individual towards action and result in important outcomes such as perseverance and determination takes success”. Staying determined to achieve your dreams will stop you from giving up despite obstacles and challenges. Being determined means to have a focus with a strong desire and actions to bring your dream into reality.
“It is your will power to win that determines your success”- Ogunsola Ayobami Samuel.
Sometimes ago, I read a tweet that says “it is not about winning that matters at times it is being part of the race” I laughed when I read the tweet, such post can be good as a good morning messages on social media but not in reality.
Joel Osteen said, “It takes determination to see a dream come to pass, the question is not will you start but will you finish”.
Everything you do, every step you take is all about making your dreams come true. Like I once said, “you shouldn’t follow where there is path you should go instead where there is no path and leave a trail” and if you couldn’t find a way then you make a way.
“Desire is the key to motivation but it is determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal- a commitment to excellence that will enable you to attain the success you seek”- Mario Andretti.
Don’t forget I once said you shouldn’t limit yourself to what you can achieve, you can achieve more than what you could imagine if you have the determination of succeeding all you need to do is to take a step then you keep on going.
“A great man can be as great as he wants to be, if you believe in yourself and have the courage, the determination, the dedication, the competitive drive and if you are willing to sacrifice the little things in life and pay the price for the things that are worthwhile, it can be done”- Vince Lombardi.
If you are not determined you can’t be successful. The purpose of this life has always lies on determination, work and success. The reason many people fail is because they do not have the determination and perseverance, extra ordinary people are determined and that what makes them extra ordinary. Success cannot be served to you, it is you determination that will make you a successful person.
“You might fail and fail and keep on failing but you must be determined to succeed one day, don’t stop during your stormy days”- Ogunsola Ayobami Samuel.
Your determination will contribute greatly to your success journey. You won’t be able to overcome failure if you have zero determination to being successful. “Action and determination are two habits you must develop at the forefront of all success”- Machi Block.

KEY # 4- BELIEF
Believing in yourself is one of your greatest weapon to overcome any obstacles that might come your way on your journey to success even when all odds are against you or when your chances of winning are low, you have to learn how to believe in yourself because that’s what you need to achieve your goal.
“Believe in yourself even when nobody believes you, it is the belief you have in yourself that will make you succeed in life not the believe people have in you.”- Ogunsola Ayobami Samuel.
It is possible for you to succeed if no one believes you but you may not succeed if you do not believe in yourself. And if they believes you, that means they placed a great responsibility which is more like a challenge you must overcome by your own belief in wining. People believing you means they have the faith in you even though they know you are weak.
“When faith is entrusted in a weak man he derives strength in it”- Ogunsola Ayobami Samuel.
Dreaming is one that, believing your dreams can become a reality is another. Someone once said “dreams come true for those who believe in it” meaning if you believe in dreams coming true then your dream will definitely come to pass.
If you have a dream just believe in achieving it even when you can’t feel it deep in your heart any words of encouragement, just believe in your dream and your heart will finally show you the way. There is nothing you can achieve without you believing you can, Henry Marsh said “Our success is measured by personal belief not by anybody else’s standard or belief” and if you are the type that look down on yourself then Anita Folly was right when she said “Belief is the first step in the transformation process that will really make a difference in your life”. It is what you belief about yourself that other people will belief about you too. People will only see what you want them to see just like the gene magic in Aladdin’s movie. If you could believe in the myths and legendary story then why can’t you believe in your dreams?
“It is the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief and once that belief becomes a deep conviction, thins begin to happen”- Mohammed Ali.
The journey to a thousand mile begin with a single step. Your journey to successful life has many steps for you to climb and one of those steps is you believing you can succeed in spite of all obstacles and challenges that comes your way.

KEY #5 -COURAGE
The road to success is not a smooth one, there are obstacles and challenges. For you to overcome all this, your courage which is your choice and willingness to confront agony, pain, danger, uncertainty or intimidation etc. is needed. To overcome the battle before you, you must process the physical and moral courage. Your physical courage will make you brave in the face of physical pain, hardship, death or death threat while your moral courage will give you the ability to act rightly in the face of popular opposition, shame, scandal, discouragement or personal loss. These are the things you will face as your journey to success keeps going farther, it is the price you must be ready to pay and the only currency to pay for it is your courage. People want to see you succeed in life but not as better than them and they will always discourage you if you have a better plan than what they have. Your past will be brought up to torment you but you need to be courageous in times like this, you shouldn’t give up.
“Courage isn’t the strength to go on, it is going on when you don’t have the strength”- Napoleon Bonaparte.
During your journey to success, you shouldn’t waste your time living someone else’s life, don’t be trapped by dogma- which is living with the result of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinion drown out your own inner voice. And most importantly, have the courage to follow your hear and intuition.
Courage is the most important of all virtues, because without your courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently. When you feel like there is no other way for you to go, your courage is what makes you push harder, it tells you never to give up on your journey. Your courage is resistance to fear, if you have the courage it requires then you will keep matching forward toward achieving your goals. Many challenges will come your way but you shouldn’t run away from it, you have to face it and triumph over it.
“You shouldn’t be afraid of losing but you should be able to muster the courage to win”- Ogunsola Ayobami Samuel.

KEY #6- MOTIVATION
Motivation will play also play a key role in achieving your goals. Whether you become successful in life or not, whether you reach your goal or not, whether your dreams turns to reality or remain just a dream. This is applicable to all regardless of status, profession or age.
“There is nothing you can achieve without the zeal to reach your goal”- Ogunsola Ayobami Samuel.
In every step you take, you must be motivated to go over to the next step. To be successful, you have to use each day as an opportunity to improve, to be better, and to get a little bit closer to your goals. If you really wish to be successful in life then you should know that success won’t come looking for you, you have to go out and get it. If you want success, you should be able to work harder because the harder you work the greater you feel when you achieve it.
If you are not motivated enough you will end up giving up on achieving your goal.
“Don’t wait for anyone or thing to motivate you, be your own motivation”- Ogunsola Ayobami Samuel.

KEY #7- FEAR
Are you thinking if your fear make you become successful? Well I’m proud to inform you that your fear is going to play a key role on your journey to success if you can figure what your fear is and use it to your advantage.
The word FEAR actually has two meaning, the first one is Forget Everything And Run while the latter is Face Everything And Rise, and it’s now your call to define your fear. Many people sees their fear and run away from it and that is why they are unsuccessful today. Your fear shouldn’t be your weakness it should be your strength. There is no crime in having fear the crime is not overcoming the fear while you allow it to pin you down.
Many couldn’t take risk because they are scared of what will happen if everything goes wrong instead of thinking about what could go right. One of the 48 laws of power is knowing who your enemy is and knowing how to use them, same thing with identifying what your fear is and using it to your advantage. If you are scared of failing then you will end up as a failure. Do you know why? It is because you didn’t give it a try, you allowed your fear to hold you back, you failed before trying. You forgot that your success story is incomplete if you didn’t talk about your failure”- Ogunsola Ayobami Samuel.
The very first step to success is failure, if you succeed without failing or facing challenges that means you took the short cut to the top. The mistakes you make resulted to your failure and mistakes are very important to man because without mistakes there won’t be correction and without correction learning won’t take place. Instead of letting your fear hold you back, why not let it push you forward. If your fear is falling why not give it a try and see if you fall or stand firmly. If Bill Gate let his fear held him back his name wouldn’t have been in the world record today. If you keep allowing your fear to hold you back then you won’t be able to take a step making your dream a reality.
Furthermore, underneath your fear lies a great opportunities. Because when you start doing things that scares you the most, tearing down invisible barriers that separate you from the good life, you become the person you have always dreamt about in your mind. Overcoming your fear is a life changing decision. Fear will always be around you to tell you what you can’t do- it’s up to you to face your fears and tell yourself that you can.
“A man who wishes to be successful must find out what he can do not what he is scared he couldn’t do” – Ogunsola Ayobami Samuel.
Learning how to handle fear and overcoming it will help you have the life you dream of.

CONCLUSION
Becoming successful in life is not a matter of background, intelligence or native ability, it is not family and friends that made us do extraordinary things. Instead, the ability to bring out the best in ourselves under all circumstances. It is the ability to accept that life won’t be fair to us always and we will always see the other side of life.
Within you is the potential and ability that if properly put into good use, you will be able to accomplish extraordinary things with your life.
The prominent keys will enable you to;
Decide exactly what you want and where you want to go.
Set a deadline and make a plan to get there.
Take actions on your plan, take a step everyday towards achieving your goal.
Be persistence until you succeed that you will never ever give up.
These will help you in developing yourself and you will evolve and grow to become an extraordinary person.
And don’t forget success is not a destination, success is a journey and there is no full stops in success just commas.