The Success Blueprint: How Millionaires Are Made

The Success Blueprint: How Millionaires Are Made

by | Everything, Goals

I’ve read every book I could find on how to be successful, binged countless episodes of How I Built This by Guy Raz, and spent hours watching YouTube videos dissecting the habits of high achievers.

After all that research (and some serious soul-searching), certain patterns started to emerge. These insights shaped what I now call The Success Blueprint – an approach I’m currently testing myself. While I can’t promise it’s a guaranteed formula, it’s based on what I’ve observed from countless success stories of those who’ve built extraordinary lives. Whether their claims are true or not, the principles remain compelling and worth exploring.

Before you roll your eyes and think, “Great, another ‘just manifest it and it will magically appear’ promise…” – don’t worry, this isn’t The Secret.

The Success Blueprint

Step 1: Define YOUR Success

Success is personal. It’s not about what society tells you to want. It’s about what you truly desire. Do you dream of a home with a large garden and white picket fence? A jet-setting lifestyle? A business empire to empower women? Dream big. (The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz is a great read on this.)

Get clear on what success means to you by considering:

  • Relationships: Who do you want in your life? How do you want to feel in those relationships?
  • Money: What’s your income goal? What kind of lifestyle do you want to afford?
  • Health & Looks: What does the best version of you look and feel like?
  • Giving Back: How do you want to contribute to the world?

Once you have a vision, ask yourself why you want it. Your why will keep you going when things get tough (Start with Why by Simon Sinek is a great read on this).

Step 2: Visualize the Future You

Visualization apparently isn’t just for meditation gurus. It’s a tool used by top athletes, CEOs, and high achievers… and it was mentioned too many times to be ignored – so I’ve added it to the Success Blueprint.

Every day, whether on your morning walk, in the shower, or before bed, take five minutes to see yourself living your dream life. Picture the details: where you are, what you’re wearing, who you’re with. Make it real in your mind, and it will guide your actions in reality.

Step 3: Get Real with Your Numbers

Dreaming is fun, but now it’s time for math. How much money do you need each month to fund your dream life? Break it down:

  • Mortgage/rent
  • Travel
  • Savings
  • Investments
  • Lifestyle expenses
  • Giving back

Write it down. Big visions require big numbers, and that’s okay! Knowing exactly what you’re working toward makes the journey clearer and more motivating.

Step 4: Add a LOT of Value

Money follows value. If you want to be wealthy, you need to solve problems.

How to Find a Million-Dollar Idea:

  1. Identify problems people complain about.
  2. Improve an existing solution.
  3. Start with what you know, what you can do, and who you know.
  4. Brainstorm at least 50 ideas—yes, 50! (Read The Millionaire Fastlane by MJ DeMarco before you start. Trust me on this one.)
  5. Don’t worry about how just yet.

Step 5: Validate Before You Jump

Before diving in, test your idea. The biggest mistake is building something no one wants.

  • Can you sell it before making it? (Pre-sell to determine if people are interested.)
  • Will people pay for it now? (Offer a beta version.)
  • Are others making money from something similar? (That might be a good sign.)

Read Million Dollar Weekend by Noah Kagan for a deep dive on validation strategies.

Step 6: Take Massive Action

Success doesn’t come from (only) thinking – it comes from doing.

The Success Playbook:

Step 7: Reflect, Adapt, and Keep Growing

The key to long-term success? Constant reflection and growth.

  • Are you making progress toward your goals?
  • What’s working? What’s not?
  • What do you need to change?

Read Who Moved My Cheese? to understand how to adapt to change without resistance.

The Success Blueprint in a Nutshell

  • Define your version of success.
  • Visualize it daily.
  • Know your numbers.
  • Find ways to add value.
  • Validate before you build.
  • Take massive action.
  • Reflect, learn, and adapt.

Oh, and be a good person. But that’s a story for another day…

The 7-Question Quiz to Figure Out Your Goals

The 7-Question Quiz to Figure Out Your Goals

by | Everything, Goals

I never really thought I’d be writing about goal setting. But the more I researched and wrote about time management and productivity, I kept coming back to one thing: Without knowing where you want to go, you won’t know what to prioritize. Without purpose and prioritization, no amount of speed is useful. You’ll be going nowhere, fast.

So here I am, writing about goals – something that has always been a part of my life in some way or another. Over the years, I’ve studied goal setting, read and listened to almost anything I could find on the topic, watched YouTube videos, and scanned Canva goal-setting and vision board templates. It just always piqued my interest, and I thought it was normal.

But what I know now is… it’s not that normal. (And that’s okay. People with unusual or odd obsessions are cool, so I’m fine being in that group.)

I always assumed that everyone has goals. I knew not everyone writes them down (because, let’s be honest, I’ve skipped that step too), but I figured at least everyone has them.

I was wrong.

Some people are just going wherever life takes them, usually nowhere. Without goals, there’s nothing pulling you forward. And without moving forward, you feel stuck. Only when you have a goal does that change.

If you’re at a point where you know there’s more to life than where you are now but you’re not sure where to go next, here are seven life-changing questions to ask yourself. Each one will help you uncover something that sparks your interest, fuels your passion, and makes you excited to work toward a goal.

Grab a pen and paper. Let’s go.

1. What’s in your YouTube history?

Is there a consistent topic that keeps popping up? This is a clue about what naturally draws your attention.
Example: You realize most of your videos are about traveling to Asian countries. That’s a clue.

2. Who do you (secretly) envy?

What does this person do, wear, or have that makes you a little (or a lot) jealous? Envy isn’t just about wanting what someone else has – it’s often a signal of what you truly desire.

Example: Your colleague went to Mauritius, and for a week after hearing about it, you couldn’t shake the thought of how good it must have been. That’s a clue.

3. If you got one wish right now, what would it be?

No overthinking, just your gut reaction.
Example: You’d wish for $42 million. That might be a sign that financial freedom is something you deeply desire.

4. What’s something that made you irrationally angry?

Sometimes, the things that make us furious highlight what we truly care about.
Example: You got so mad hearing about someone neglecting their child. That’s a clue – you deeply care about children’s well-being.

5. When was the last time you were genuinely happy?

Think about a moment when you felt pure joy. What were you doing? Who were you with?
Example: You were happiest spending a full day at the beach with your family. That’s a clue.

6. What’s something you wish you were good at?

We often admire skills we secretly want for ourselves.
Example: You’ve always wanted to read super-fast. That’s a clue.

7. What’s something people always ask you for help with?

If people consistently turn to you for advice on something, it’s often a sign of a natural talent or strength you may not even realize you have.
Example: Friends always ask you for career advice or how to stay organized. That’s a clue.

Connect the Dots.

Now, look at all the clues you’ve gathered. Do you see a pattern? Are there recurring themes that spark something inside you?

You don’t need to have it all figured out right now. Just choose one goal – something specific, measurable, and time-bound. Most importantly, pick something that excites you.

Set the goal. Take the first step. Then another.

It’s really that simple.

Should You Share Your Goals or Keep Them Secret? The Surprising Answer!

Should You Share Your Goals or Keep Them Secret? The Surprising Answer!

by | Everything, Goals

You’ve got big dreams and shiny goals – but here’s the question: should you share your goals with others or keep them locked up like a diary? The answer might just transform how you approach success.

The Great Goal Debate: Share or Don’t Share? If you’ve spent any time scrolling through self-help advice, you’ve likely encountered two opposing camps:

  1. The “Keep It to Yourself” Crew
    This crowd believes your goals are sacred. According to their school of thought, sharing your goals:
    • Opens the door to negativity (hello, bubble-bursters!).
    • Triggers a psychological effect called “goal substitution” – you feel a tiny hit of accomplishment just by talking about it, which can zap your motivation to actually do it.
  2. The “Share It with the World” Squad
    These folks argue that sharing your goals:
    • Builds accountability. When others know, you’re less likely to quit.
    • Creates opportunities for collaboration and growth. The more input you get, the better your ideas become.

Both Arguments Miss the Point. Here’s where things get interesting. Whether you share or don’t share, focusing too much on this decision is a distraction. The real problem? It pulls you away from what actually matters: doing the work.

My Take: Stop Overthinking, Start Doing. Forget about whether to announce your goals to the world or keep them private. Instead, adopt this mindset:

  • Do the work first. When you’re in action mode, the goal naturally takes shape. Whether you’ve shared it or not becomes irrelevant because progress speaks louder than words.
  • Let results do the talking. If sharing your wins feels right in the moment, do it. If not, keep building behind the scenes. The key is to stay focused on what moves the needle.

How to Focus on Action Over Decisions. Here are three steps to keep you on track:

  1. Set “Actionable” Goals
    Goals like “get healthy” or “build a business” are too vague. Instead, break them down into actionable steps. For example, “exercise 3 times a week” or “create a business plan by the end of the month.”
  2. Start Small, but Start Now
    Don’t let analysis paralysis stop you. Whether it’s a 10-minute brainstorming session or drafting a single email, progress compounds over time.
  3. Track Progress, Not Opinions
    Use a journal, app, or checklist to monitor what you’ve accomplished. It’s about measuring your growth, not gathering applause.

The Bottom Line

The next time you’re tempted to post your big dreams or keep them tightly guarded, ask yourself: Am I using this as an excuse to procrastinate? Remember, the secret to achieving your goals isn’t about who knows or doesn’t know. It’s about what you do, consistently.

So, don’t worry about whether to share. Lace up your sneakers, open your laptop, or grab that paintbrush. The world doesn’t need your announcement; it needs your action.

Stop Waiting, Just Start

Stop Waiting, Just Start

by | Everything, Goals

Does This Week Feel Like Last Week?

Here’s a tough question for you: Is this week shaping up to be a repeat of last week? Same routines, same habits, same results? And yet, are you expecting different outcomes? Let me tell you, that stuck, sinking feeling you’re experiencing is a call to action for change.

And that brings me to the first truth I wish every woman knew: you need goals. Without a goal, you’re a ship drifting in the ocean. No wind, no waves, just floating—getting nowhere fast. Worse still, it doesn’t matter how productive you are at doing no-purpose, no-goal tasks. Without a direction, all that effort is wasted energy.

What Goal? Just Pick One That Sparks You

Now, you might be thinking, What goal? Here’s the liberating part: it doesn’t need to be earth-shattering or perfect. If it excites you—if it lights a tiny fire inside and nudges you closer to the person you want to become—then it’s a great place to start. Want to feel healthier? Want a career change? Want to write a book, run a marathon, or finally get that promotion? All good goals. But without naming a goal, you’ll stay stuck on the hamster wheel, spinning and frustrated.

So, pause here. Name your goal. Write it down. Make it real.

The Mountain of Starting

Now for part two: the action. The idea of starting can feel like climbing Everest. You want to get fit, but where do you even begin? You hate your job, but updating your CV feels overwhelming. You dream of writing a book, but the thought of the blank page and finding time is enough to paralyze you.

Here’s the secret: don’t overcomplicate it. Just take the first step. Start small. It doesn’t need to be perfect or pretty; it just needs to happen. Let’s break it down:

  • Fitness Goal: Put on your shoes and go for a walk. Or sign up for a fitness class. Don’t think too hard about it.
  • Career Goal: Dust off that CV and email it to one company today. Just one.
  • Writing Goal: Open your laptop and write one sentence. Yes, just one. That’s the start.

Momentum begins when you move. Finetuning, strategizing, and perfecting—that comes later. But right now? Just start. Action is the magic.

Stop Waiting for the Lucky Break

The biggest mistake I see women make is waiting. Waiting for the perfect moment. Waiting for someone to swoop in and save them. Waiting for a “lucky break.” But here’s the truth: you already have what you need to take the next step. No knight in shining Lamborghini is coming. You are the hero of this story.

My Challenge to You

Ladies, I’m challenging you today. Be clear about your goal. Choose something that excites you and feels like progress. Then tackle that first, simple step—today. No excuses. No procrastination. Just one action. Because here’s the truth: success isn’t about massive leaps. It’s about consistent, small steps.

Your future self is waiting for you on the other side of that first move. Go meet her. She’s amazing.

My Challenge to You

Ladies, I’m challenging you today. Be clear about your goal. Choose something that excites you and feels like progress. Then tackle that first, simple step – today. No excuses. No procrastination. Just one action. Because here’s the truth: success isn’t about massive leaps. It’s about consistent, small steps.

There’s no magic here or anywhere – and that, in itself, is the magic.

Just start.