For everyone the New Year is now in full swing. There is also a percentage of us that are wondering where the last few months went. This is why we all need to start focusing on what we all want to achieve this year and more importantly make sure we actually try to achieve it.

I was asked a while ago my secret to success. It was simple: "HAVE A CRACK!"

Whilst it may sound very simplistic, you would be amazed at the amount of people that have never reached a level of success purely because they have never tried. They think that there is a right and wrong time for reaching success.

Reaching your own levels of success is not that difficult. But first you really need to set your sights on the direction you wish to travel. Sitting on your backsides complaining that "everyone else is just lucky" is not the answer.

Whilst we all read about successful people every day, the facts are that they didn't wake up one day surrounded by success. They had to work long and hard at it regardless of the immediate outcomes.

The problem today with the media highlighting success all the time is that a lot of people think that it is going to be easy. Not once do they think that maybe, just maybe there needs to be a bit of effort and planning involved. So what are you going to do about your own journey towards success?

Let's have a look at a few tips that will assist you along your way.

1. Don't stop to think.

Yes I know what you are already thinking. "You have to think; otherwise you may make a mistake". I agree with you but where I am coming from is from a totally different direction. I have met a lot of people over the years that have been planning to do something but never have. In the end they have planned themselves into failure. They are too scared to get up and have a go, to have a crack.

You can look and look at an opportunity for days months and years, but until you act upon it, you will never turn that opportunity into a reality. There are a lot of people out there (and you may be one of them) that take way too much time in looking for all of the things that "may" go wrong. The problem with that is that I will guarantee you that you will eventually find something.

So stop thinking and start acting.

2. Confidence equals competence.

There are a lot of people who aren't confident in what they are doing or what they want to achieve. This will reflect on their competence in their journey. Just because you are outgoing in personality does not necessarily mean that you are confident in what you are doing.

Confidence is easily achieved when your decisions are final. That is why when people constantly change their minds or direction all the time, their results are less than satisfactory. They just aren't sure as to what they are doing.

There is nothing more successful than a competent person, someone who is confident in where they are going and someone who has a true understanding of what they want out of life.

3. Cherish the hard times.

Always remember what it was like before you reached a level of success. Never forget those hard and rough times, because the minute that you do, you may end up back there. My wife and I were holidaying up at the Gold Coast over the Christmas break at a particular resort. I was so over it after about 1 day as I was surrounded by people who thought and acted that they had "made it". What a sad way to live your life. Just because I have had some success in my life, DOES NOT mean that I am better than everyone else. All it means is that I am a bit further along in my personal journey than I was 9 years ago. I never forget what it was like only having $1.25 in the bank.

My success is not calculated by the amount of money that is in the bank: It is calculated by the journey that I have made and the lessons I have learnt about myself.

So if you are wondering where you should start, what you should do and how you should do it, then my advice would be to HAVE A CRACK! What is the worst thing that could happen? You might not reach where you aimed. But I guarantee you that you will be further along than if you hadn't done anything at all.

Justin Herald started a company in 1995 with only $50 in his pocket. 6 years later the company was turning over $25 million. Having no experience in business, Justin realised that it was up to himself to make his success stick. Successfully retired at 31, Justin is now one of Australia's most sought after motivational and business speakers and the Author of 3 international best selling books with his fourth due out in August 2005. In 2005, Justin was awarded the "international Entrepreneur of the Year" award. http://www.justinherald.com