Here’s the secret: there is no special formula, no magic wand to wave over ourselves that will transform us into rock stars, and no pill for it yet, either.

The secret is this: it takes good old-fashioned American work to succeed at anything!

If you want to develop some killer success strategies that will stick, you have to be willing to work hard and believe you can make it happen. Here are ten strategies that will help get and keep you on track:

Persevere

When most people decide to finally commit themselves to reaching a goal, they are gung ho at the beginning. Yipee. Go get em! Live the dream, set new goals, lose that flab, and get that makeover. But hype won’t get you anywhere. That’s why most of us fail to do much of anything. The only thing that will work for you, whether you’re trying to lose weight, start a new business, or set new goals, is to realize that anything of value, anything that’s worthwhile, takes time and perseverance to achieve. There are no shortcuts. No guts, no glory.

Dig Deep

Most of us fail at reaching our goals because we lack passion, we’re too general in defining our goals, and we’ve historically had way too many failures on the front end of things. In other words, we expect to fail. To succeed, you have to dig deep and find out what’s really important to you. People that are passionate about what they’re doing don’t burn out as easily. That doesn’t mean they don’t get tired; it means that something more powerful is driving them. It could be a cause, a belief, a need, or the love of something. Find it for yourself, and there will be no stopping you.

Give

Most people who are successful pour into the lives of others. They’re generous with their time and want to build value for others. If you want to succeed in anything, learn to be a giver. Don’t think about what’s in it for you — think about giving others what they need, and everything else will fall into place.

Build

Don’t overlook building relationships. Whether you’re working on a new business, trying to lose weight, or trying for that promotion, relationships can provide the client base or support you need.

Get counsel

Successful people are always learning. They look to other successful people to mentor them. They are teachable and don’t try to re-invent the wheel.

Invest

Whatever you want to do, you have to invest in it. That means time, money, and plenty of effort. Buy the right food if you’re trying to lose weight and make a lifestyle change. It may be more expensive to go organic, but you’re worth it. Spend the money on that great online course by a reputable teacher. You can’t make money if you won’t invest it your own business. You have to be willing to do things others won’t do.

Think positively

We’ve heard this one forever, but how many of us actually do it? Most people aren’t aware of how their negative internal monologues affect their abilities. Start noticing what you tell yourself on a daily basis. If you’re prone to negative self-talk, learn to replace it by building positive counter-statements. Consider this: nothing keeps you from reaching your goals like stinkin’ thinkin’.

Write it down

Don’t skip this exercise! Get a piece of paper and write down a list of what is motivating you to lose the weight, continue with your writing, start a blog, create a new business, or whatever else you may be wanting to do. You can do this on 3 x 5 cards. When your motivation waxes and wanes, pull them out and read them — slowly. If you want to lose weight and you’re tempted to overeat, remind yourself of why this is an important lifestyle change for you. Ask yourself the following:

How do you want to feel about yourself at the end of the day? Will this action help or hinder your ability to reach your goals? What do you need to do to re-focus on the bigger picture? What next steps might you need to take to do that? How will you plan for future obstacles?

Never give up

Winston Churchill said this years ago, but it still holds true: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Most successful people have seen the bottom drop out plenty of times, but they suck it up and keep going anyway. When you want to quit, just take a break, regroup, and come back into it when you feel ready.

Change perspective

When trouble or difficulty arises, it’s easy to get discouraged. That last ten pounds won’t come off, another article is rejected, or you’ve had a financial hit to the new business. Discouragement can lead to despair — no bueno! Try looking at the obstacles through the lens of possibility. See your challenges as opportunities for new growth or a change of direction. If you throw the towel in, you’re done. So now that you’re aware of some old tried-and-true ways to make your any-time-of-the-year resolutions stick, what the heck are you waiting for — go achieve your goals! Back at you: What have you tried that’s helped you to turn a resolution into a reality