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Elyssa Nalani

Elyssa Nalani

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5 Things That Successful People Do

April 6, 2015 · In: WORK

When you hear or see the word ‘success’, what comes to mind? Money? A thriving career? A happy family?  We all define success differently and there are all different kinds of ways to get to where you want to go. I believe when it comes to succeeding at the work we do in life (whether paid or not) there are 5 things that a can spell the difference between overall success and truly losing at adulting.

In this post, I’m going to frame these 5 things in terms of being a writer because that’s my work but these are principles that apply no matter what kind of work you do!

 1. In order to be a writer, you have to be a reader.

A writer who doesn’t read, is like a cook who doesn’t eat or a musician who doesn’t listen to music.  If you want to be a writer, you’ve got to read.  And not just read but read well.  Don’t just read one kind of book, read broadly and outside of your comfort zone.  Allow yourself to mature, learn and grow as a reader and that’s one of the ways you’ll mature, learn, and grow as a writer.  Get to know style, structure, and voice. Stretch your brain with subjects that you may not be naturally in to.  Challenge yourself with topics that you’ve always been interested in but didn’t think you were ‘smart’ enough to understand.  This takes some work but it’s worth it.

As a book nerd, I obviously think that reading is important not matter who you are. However, the principle of a writer needing to be a reader also holds true when it comes to any life work.  Submerge yourself in those things that will enhance your talents.  The more you engage in your talents and passions, the better you understand what it means to be whatever you want to be.  No matter what kind of work you do, don’t be satisfied to know just what your job requires.  Familiarize yourself with the context in which you work. Read books, watch videos, take a class, have conversations, ask questions of people who are further along than you are. It will help you do your job better, you’ll become a better conversationalist and you’ll set yourself up for upward mobility in your organization or industry.  Just remember: cooks eat, musicians listen to music, and writer’s read.  What do you do?

2. In order to be a writer, you have to write.

So, if you’re going to be a writer, you have to write.  Well, DUUUUHHH!

Lol.

Sometimes it’s not that simple.  Writing is hard and there are times when it’s more simple not to write. Writers write even when it’s hard and they don’t feel like it.  Just because you’ve got a passion for something, doesn’t mean it’s going to come easily.  Having a passion for something means that regardless of how you may feel at any given time, you keep doing it. Feelings are useful gauges but they’re fickle.

Same goes for anything else in life. Successful people do. They don’t wait around until they feel like it. If it’s important, if it’s a priority, if it will move the needle, they make a plan and do it. And when that plan doesn’t work, they go back to the drawing board, troubleshoot the issues, make a new plan and go back out there and do it again. They push through feelings, they face challenges head on and they make it happen.

If you want to succeed at something, you have to do it. You don’t wait around for ideal circumstances, you don’t wait until you know better, you just do it. And you do it when it’s hard and you don’t want to. My husband once told me that this is what separates the boys from the men – the ability to keep doing something when it’s hard or you feel like it’s not worth it anymore. The stuff of success is doing the hard things no matter what.

Note: I have to add a caveat – this doesn’t mean that you do things thoughtlessly or recklessly, without consideration. You do have to pray and plan and be careful. But sometimes, we sit around and daydream about what we could be doing, despairing that we’ll never get a chance to do this, or be good enough to do that. Sometimes opportunity doesn’t knock, you have to find it yourself. Sometimes, you have to set the table that no one is sitting at yet. Sometimes you have to start the conversation or offer a new solution to the problem. There’s a difference between waiting on God’s direction and sitting on something that He’s giving you the opportunity to pursue

3. In order to be a writer, you have to be vulnerable.

Writing is putting your heart on the page and hoping no one steps on it or rips it to shreds.  It takes a lot of nerve to be transparent with your thoughts and opinions. And it takes a lot of guts to be okay when someone doesn’t like what you have to say. A writer has to care more about writing and what she’s trying to communicate and less about what people might think about it.  The ability to be that vulnerable is tough but it’s necessary.

There are times in life when you just have to be vulnerable in order to get anywhere.  Asking someone out, going on a job interview, striking up a conversation with someone who probably wouldn’t normally talk to you, giving up something valuable for the sake of someone else, sticking by a friend even when it’s difficult because they matter to you. That first step, that next move – these are moments of vulnerability cause you don’t know what’s going to happen and your feelings may take a hit as a result of your actions. But risking your pride and your feelings is a part of maturing and growing as a human being. There’s no growth where there’s no risk and where there’s no risk, there’s no success. Care enough about your people and your goals to take chances and be vulnerable.

4. In order to be a writer, you have to be willing to listen.

I’m much better at opening my mouth than keeping it shut. As a word lover, I’m too quick to say words because I feel like my point of view is so valuable and I must share it. And while offering your two cents because you want to be helpful isn’t a bad thing, being slow to truly listen is a bad thing. Listening is an important quality in a writer.  And not just when it’s your turn to listen in a conversation, but just in general. Be aware of what’s going on around you. Don’t be so preoccupied with your life that you miss what’s going on in the lives of those you love or work or come in contact with. You never know, it could spark your next project or start an interesting conversation.

The same holds true in life. Sometimes you really just don’t have to talk. If you’re like me, you have multiple tabs open in your brain and comments on the ready. But just because you have something to say, doesn’t mean you have to say it. Practice listening. Wait for people to finish their sentence before you respond and think about what you’re going to say (my parents just heard the hallelujah chorus in their heads and have no idea why!). Maybe this isn’t an issue for you, but for all y’all fast talkers out there, be slow to speak and quick to listen. Believe me, people will appreciate it!

5. In order to be a writer, you have to love it.

A writer doesn’t write for the sake of being a writer, a writer writes because she can’t help but write.

In order to be a success in any area of your life, you have to want it enough.  If you you’re going to invest your time and effort doing something, make sure it truly means something to you.  This doesn’t mean quitting your day job, abandoning your responsibilities, or ditching your commitments simply because you don’t love them.  Life comes in seasons and everyone has to pay their dues or do things simply as the means to an end. Whatever you’re working towards, love it enough to use those things that you may not love, or even like, as learning opportunities and stepping stones along the way.


Success, like beauty, is in the eyes of the beholder.  One may look at the family who drives an old van and always seems to be struggling financially as not successful until they see the joy of the children, the contentment on the wife’s face and the spring in the husband’s step – that is priceless.  

You’re not here to please everybody, just One Person. When God looks at you, you want to be sure He likes what He sees you spending your life on. He created you with a specific purpose in mind. That purpose is often not something big and dramatic, it’s often the small, mundane, mediocre things that the world isn’t impressed with. Serving in your local church, raising children to love Jesus, spending quality time with family, doing another load of laundry, stewarding your resources well. Success is deciding to do whatever it is that God placed you on this earth to do no matter how hard it is or how much it costs you.


I don’t know what challenges you’re facing this week, but I do know one thing – God’s got your back.  He has a beautiful, unique purpose for your life, better than anything you could ever hope for or dream of.  Don’t chase the world’s standard of success.  Embrace God’s great plan for your life and work diligently to become all that He created you to be!

By: Elyssa · In: WORK · Tagged: success, work

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My name is Elyssa! I’m a Jesus-loving planner babe & book girl and I inspire and equip women of faith to live well and stay focused on what matters most.

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elyssanalani

Wife • Writer • Bible Nerd• Goals Coach
I inspire & equip women of faith to live well & stay focused on what matters most
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Elyssa Nalani Trujillo
February 2024 will come before you know it. What a February 2024 will come before you know it. What are you willing to try and possibly fail at in order to be in a different, might I say better, place that you are now? I don't know about you but I don't want to be the same person, doing the same things, and struggling with the same mess I am now. I want to have grown and matured. I want to have taken risks. I want to have learned a thing or two. But I can't do any of those things if I'm not willing to try. ⁠
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If you needed a reminder to step outside of your comfort zone or take a leap of faith, here it is. ⁠
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Good Monday Morning, friend 😊 ⁠
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#goodmondaymorning #mondaymorningreminder #mondaymorning #mondaymotivation #happymonday #livewellstayfocused #livewellenvironmentally #livewellvocationally #livewellphysically #livewellsocially #livewellfaithfully #livewellavocationally #thelivewellsix #justdoit #try #failure #comfortzones #success #ifatfirstyoudontsucceed #dontforget #timeflies #learning #growth #struggle
Happy Tending List Tuesday 🎉 This post is later Happy Tending List Tuesday 🎉 This post is later than I planned but better late than never! 

The best way I can describe January is cattywampus. I was equal parts catching my breath, checking items off my list, and trying to establish rhythm & balance that never quite happened. Even so, it was actually a good month and I’m satisfied with what I managed to accomplish. 

Now it’s time for a new Tending List. Even though February is a shorter month, I’m determined to get really focused and accomplish even more. 

How about you? How was your January? And what do you have on your February list? Let me know! And if you want to check out my full January Review and February Tending List post, you can find my blog post linked in my bio! 
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#tendinglisttuesday #powersheets #goals #goalsetting #goaldigger #makeithappen #cultivatewhatmatters #getitdone #buildabetteryear #focus #livewellstayfocused
When you haven’t posted anything on your feed al When you haven’t posted anything on your feed all week so now you have two charcuterie boards side by side 😆 Welp whatever - I’m documenting this beauty! 
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In case you need a reminder to slow down this weekend, here it is. And if you haven’t yet, take time to create rituals and family traditions that will help you refresh, gain perspective, and realign you with what’s most important in life. Be present, be thankful, be a blessing 💕
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#charcuterieboard #charcuterie #charcuterieboards #dinner #fridaynightcharcuterie #fridaynightritual #yummy #sabbath #livewellstayfocused #livewellphysically
Our 2nd Friday night charcuterie in the bag! I’m Our 2nd Friday night charcuterie in the bag! I’m loving the berries and pears on this one! It’s making me look forward to summer produce 😋 (and there isn’t a whole lot that makes me look forward to summer 🥵). Also, this time I included my husband’s charcuterie board without the food so you could see it ☺️ I want him to make us some more 😁
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#charcuterieboard #charcuterie #charcuterieboards #dinner #fridaynightcharcuterie #fridaynightritual #yummy #sabbath #livewellstayfocused #livewellphysically
My 2023 vision board. That’s all ☺️ . . . #v My 2023 vision board. That’s all ☺️
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#visionboard #goalsetting #powersheets #goalsetter #goals #resolutions #livewellstayfocused #thelivewell6 #progressnotperfection #littlebylittle #keeponkeepingon #makeithappen
I finally posted my 2023 Resolutions & Goals on th I finally posted my 2023 Resolutions & Goals on the blog today. It took me a lot longer to process my goal setting needs this year. Even though it was unexpected, it was good and I needed it! 
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If you’re still trying to wrap your mind around goal setting for 2023, it’s not too late to check out my goal setting course, Build a Better Year! Link in my bio 😎
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You can check out the full post on my website and see what I plan to work on in 2024. Link also in my bio ☺️
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#buildabetteryear #buildabetteryear2023 #goalsetting #newyearsresolutions #newyearsgoals #bettergoals #bettergoalsbetterglory #resolutions #goals #goalsetter #planner #plannercommunity #plannergirl #plannerbabe #livewell #livewellstayfocused
Happy Tending List Tuesday! This year, I want to Happy Tending List Tuesday! 

This year, I want to be more intentional about sharing what I’m working on, both personally & professionally so I’ll be posting my Tending Lists here and on the blog every month. I’m a bit tardy with January’s list but better late than never! 
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#tendinglist #tendinglisttuesday #powersheets #powersheetstendinglist #powersheets2023 #makeithappen #getitdone #livewellstayfocused #goals #goalsetting #goalsetter #cultivatewhatmatters
My husband made a gorgeous charcuterie board durin My husband made a gorgeous charcuterie board during his time off for the holidays and I’m so excited to serve dinner on it tonight 😋 

We’re going to be more intentional about rhythms and rituals in our home in 2023 and as part of our Friday night ritual, we’ve decided to make it charcuterie night! I’d say this first one is a huge success 🎉 

(Next time I’ll get a shot of the board without food 😆)
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#dinnertime #fridaynight #fridaynightcharcuterie #charcuterieboard #charcuterie #livewellstayfocused #sabbath #sabbathritual #fridaynightritual #livewellphysically #livewellsocially #yummy #livewellfaithfully
My resolutions for 2023. One for each of the Live My resolutions for 2023. One for each of the Live Well 6.⁠
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Some people write resolutions and others write goals - I write both. A resolution tells me WHAT I want to accomplish and WHY I want to accomplish it and a goal tells me HOW I'm going to get it done. Sometimes a goal needs to change because life changes. Not so much with resolutions because they are based on the kind of person I want to be regardless of what's happening around me and what I have or don't have control over. ⁠
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Do you write goals or resolutions? Do they tell you your what, why, and how? Let me know how you set intentions for the new year!⁠
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If you'd like to know my full process for writing resolutions and goals, you can check out my goal setting course BUILD A BETTER YEAR 2023! Link in bio 😊⁠
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#livewellstayfocused #buildabetteryear2023 #buildabetteryear #thelivewell6 #livewellfaithfully #livewellphysically #livewellsocially #livewellenvironmentally #livewellvocationally #livewellavocationally #resolutions #goals #goalsetting #goalgetter #goalsetter #newyearsresolutions #knowyourwhy #lifegoals #intentions #disciplines #spiritualdisciplines #lifestyle #healthylifestyle #healthandwellness #selfcare #balance
My word for 2023 is MAGNIFY. It was a no-brainer c My word for 2023 is MAGNIFY. It was a no-brainer choice after playing "Christ Be Magnified" about a million times on repeat over the past several months (I never get tired of it!). ⁠
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I don't know what this new year will bring. I'm anticipating some very specific changes to happen, I'll be working on a couple of new projects, and I have plans to meet some pretty cool (cool to me) personal goals. But when all is said & done, I want to intentionally keep my focus & attention on the One who deserves the spotlight & make Him look good to those who see me live my life. ⁠
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Do you have a word for 2023? I'd love to read all about it and why it matters to you!⁠
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Happy New Year!⁠
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#wordoftheyear #wordoftheyear2023 #magnify #christbemagnified #focus #livewellstayfocused #
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