How you can be Sir Alan Sugar in eight easy steps

By Manjit Ubhi on Jul 31, 08 05:00 PM

If I were a rich man, da ba da ba da ba do.....

Ever wondered what the super-duper rich do in order to get so rich?

Do the Sunday Times Rich List and Sir Alan Sugar's gazillionaire empire leave you feeling envious and slightly deflated?

Fear not.

Based on recent research on the psychology of success, there are simple ways you can assure success for yourself!

Read on to discover the eight steps to success.

Born or Bred?

Great successes are not born but bred. Researchers found that self-made millionaires appeared to have particular habits that set them apart from others.

Believe in yourself!

Success begins from the inside - it's a mental, emotional and spiritual attitude. The more you like yourself, the better you will do everything. Believe yourself to be capable, confident, optimistic and positive.

As you accomplish small things feel your confidence rise within you. Have unwavering faith in your dreams and your abilities. Affirmations can be powerful, so look in the mirror every morning and say to yourself:

"I am a wonderful person, I love myself and I am an amazing success!"

At first it may feel odd to do this - stiff upper lip and all that. Often we are quick to shower praise on others but neglect ourselves.

Plan and Set goals

Make a decision to be successful. Today.

A person without a goal is like a car without a steering wheel. Set five-year goals then put in realistic, workable strategies to get there.

Always write your goals in the present tense (eg 'I am a successful chef working at a top restaurant and I earn £50,000 a year')

Become an expert

Be the expert in your field. If you want to become that chef, choose great chef role models and learn all there is to know about the subject.

Feed your mind, go on courses, read, watch programmes and most of all - practice, practice, practice.

Deferred Gratification

Successful people wait, sometimes for years, for the results whilst others give up. Many will work in menial jobs whilst always having an eye on the bigger goal

The friends you keep...

If you want to know if you are a success or not, look at the company you keep! Researchers have found that most of us hang around with people who earn more or less the same as us.

It is important to be around people who are ambitious and confident rather than those who discourage, criticise or hinder you.

Bounce back from adversity

Many of the world's most powerful earners have experienced adversity and hardship in their early life, such as the loss of a parent, extreme poverty or abuse and neglect.

But rather than feeling bitter and defeated, it appears that some survival instinct kicked in and they used it to propel them to greater achievement.

Principles and integrity

Most high achievers seemed to understand the concept of 'you reap what you sow' and had values, integrity and ethics when dealing with their customers and even their rivals. Most understand that they need, depend and had to cooperate with others in order to succeed.

Copy these habits and feel full of passion for your talent.

I'll see you on the Rich List.