0:00:05.167,0:00:07.292 Today I want to talk with you[br]about a subject 0:00:07.293,0:00:10.621 that many people have been talking[br]about for a very long time. 0:00:10.622,0:00:14.299 And that subject is called "success." 0:00:14.300,0:00:17.547 Success means different things[br]to different people, 0:00:17.548,0:00:22.734 but what is success might mean to me[br]is different than what it may mean to you. 0:00:22.735,0:00:24.510 And what it may mean to you, 0:00:24.511,0:00:27.325 is different than what it means[br]to a kindergartner 0:00:27.326,0:00:31.012 who is just trying to get a star[br]on his homework assignment. 0:00:31.013,0:00:33.206 Or perhaps to a housewife, 0:00:33.207,0:00:37.980 who has been trying[br]to get her five kids in bed be 9pm. 0:00:37.981,0:00:40.159 Or maybe even a corporate executive 0:00:40.160,0:00:44.849 who's been working for his[br]or her corporation for 20-plus years, 0:00:44.850,0:00:50.061 and only wants to become[br]the CEO of their organization. 0:00:50.581,0:00:51.848 As you could tell, 0:00:51.849,0:00:55.935 we have so many different definitions[br]of this word success, 0:00:55.936,0:01:00.852 but the greatest definition[br]I can give you today is this, 0:01:00.853,0:01:04.941 "Success is all about self-expression." 0:01:04.943,0:01:07.728 It's about being who you want to be, 0:01:07.729,0:01:09.297 doing what you want to do, 0:01:09.298,0:01:11.710 going where you want to go. 0:01:11.711,0:01:14.078 Because when it comes to your life, 0:01:14.079,0:01:17.959 you are the boss, and you have a choice. 0:01:18.709,0:01:21.397 In fact, you are who you are today 0:01:21.398,0:01:26.483 because of all the choices[br]that you've made in your entire life. 0:01:27.373,0:01:30.171 But as we are growing up[br]we have a lot of people 0:01:30.172,0:01:32.913 who try to tell us[br]how to make these choices; 0:01:32.914,0:01:38.028 our parents, our teachers, our bosses,[br]our friends, even our neighbors. 0:01:38.029,0:01:40.449 They try to tell us how to live our lives, 0:01:40.450,0:01:42.434 what we should do, where we should go, 0:01:42.435,0:01:45.834 how we should walk, how we should talk. 0:01:45.835,0:01:48.542 But my question for you is this, 0:01:48.543,0:01:52.251 "If you're trying to be[br]what other people want you to be, 0:01:52.252,0:01:54.759 then who will be you?" 0:01:56.159,0:02:01.034 So the key to success is to stop[br]conforming to other people expectations, 0:02:01.035,0:02:05.096 and start performing[br]to your own level of expectations. 0:02:05.097,0:02:06.851 Is to believe in yourself. 0:02:06.852,0:02:10.470 Is to know that what you want[br]will eventually come to fruition, 0:02:10.471,0:02:12.520 as long as you believe it. 0:02:12.521,0:02:14.427 You see, you have to have faith, 0:02:14.428,0:02:19.552 and faith is knowing that what you want[br]will eventually come to fruition 0:02:19.553,0:02:21.271 as long as you believe it. 0:02:21.272,0:02:22.659 And if you feed your faith, 0:02:22.660,0:02:26.829 you will find often times[br]that your fears will starve to death, 0:02:26.830,0:02:29.519 because if you believe in yourself, 0:02:29.520,0:02:33.026 everyone else in the world[br]will believe in you. 0:02:34.975,0:02:38.904 Fortunately, for a long time,[br]I didn't quite believe in myself. 0:02:38.905,0:02:41.501 Actually, I used to be the kind of person 0:02:41.502,0:02:44.307 that mothers would often[br]warn their daughters about, 0:02:44.308,0:02:46.292 and fathers would tell their sons, 0:02:46.293,0:02:48.495 "If you keep doing[br]what Daniel Ally is doing, 0:02:48.496,0:02:51.476 you are going to end up[br]where Daniel Ally is going." 0:02:51.477,0:02:54.041 They had some credence[br]to what they were saying, 0:02:54.042,0:02:55.431 because as you can imagine, 0:02:55.432,0:02:58.941 your reputation really is[br]your best advertisement. 0:02:58.942,0:03:01.470 I really didn't have a good reputation, 0:03:01.471,0:03:04.315 because I was living[br]so far below my potential, 0:03:04.316,0:03:07.093 I was actually living[br]in my mother's basement. 0:03:08.613,0:03:12.751 By the age of 21,[br]I'd worked over 40 different jobs. 0:03:12.752,0:03:16.124 I got fired from more jobs[br]than more people had. 0:03:16.125,0:03:19.956 In high school,[br]I graduated second to last, 0:03:19.957,0:03:23.216 the last guy; well, he was in jail. 0:03:23.217,0:03:26.839 I was on drugs for eight years,[br]and I was confused. 0:03:26.840,0:03:29.434 I was broke, busted, and disgusted, 0:03:29.435,0:03:31.714 and I knew that I wanted to change; 0:03:32.041,0:03:36.760 the only problem was I didn't know how. 0:03:36.761,0:03:39.747 Can I see a show of hands[br]if you've ever been in a situation 0:03:39.748,0:03:44.175 where you wanted to change,[br]but you just didn't know what to do? 0:03:44.865,0:03:47.109 Well, we all have been there, 0:03:47.110,0:03:49.118 maybe we are there right now. 0:03:49.119,0:03:53.131 I discovered there are only three ways[br]that I can make a change in my life. 0:03:53.132,0:03:55.432 Three ideas I wanted[br]to share with you today 0:03:55.433,0:03:59.089 that can absolutely revolutionize[br]your life from today. 0:03:59.839,0:04:03.418 I know these steps work[br]because I've been able to do them myself. 0:04:03.419,0:04:06.726 By the age of 24,[br]I became a self-made millionaire. 0:04:06.727,0:04:11.133 I have been able to write three books[br]and travel to dozens of countries. 0:04:11.134,0:04:14.120 I now reach millions[br]of people with my work. 0:04:14.121,0:04:17.789 I believe that these three key principles[br]can change your life, 0:04:17.790,0:04:19.784 no matter how do you define success 0:04:19.785,0:04:23.188 whether you want to live to age 100[br]or even have a dozen kids, 0:04:23.189,0:04:28.178 or just have a house on the mountaintop[br]somewhere no one knows about. 0:04:28.179,0:04:32.996 These three key principles will help you[br]to realize the success in your life. 0:04:33.546,0:04:37.104 The first one is to read more books. 0:04:37.105,0:04:42.474 All the books in the world can help us[br]to solve all the problems in the world. 0:04:42.475,0:04:46.313 But the truth is that we don't have[br]to read all the books in the world, 0:04:46.314,0:04:49.218 because we don't have[br]all the problems in the world, 0:04:49.219,0:04:53.585 but we do have to read the books[br]that help us to solve our problems. 0:04:53.586,0:04:56.431 So, for instance, if you wanted[br]to learn about money, 0:04:56.432,0:05:00.413 you better be reading books[br]that talk about money. 0:05:00.414,0:05:03.554 Or if you wanted to learn[br]how to manage your relationships, 0:05:03.555,0:05:07.018 or to become a better communicator,[br]there are a lot of books on that. 0:05:07.019,0:05:08.761 What I am saying basically, 0:05:08.762,0:05:13.998 is there are libraries that are paved[br]with gold, and library cards are free. 0:05:13.999,0:05:19.340 Books are the tools[br]that release the heavens of your mind. 0:05:19.341,0:05:21.478 And leaders are readers. 0:05:21.479,0:05:24.704 If you want to succeed,[br]you have to read. 0:05:24.705,0:05:28.794 Most people in the world[br]read about one book every single year, 0:05:28.795,0:05:31.865 that book, I would suppose,[br]would be Facebook. 0:05:33.175,0:05:36.185 And before people even get up[br]and do their things, 0:05:36.186,0:05:40.329 before they drink their coffee[br]or read their paper, they read Facebook. 0:05:40.330,0:05:43.978 But the truth is that if you study[br]miscellaneous things, 0:05:43.979,0:05:46.156 you get miscellaneous results; 0:05:46.157,0:05:47.968 you become what you study. 0:05:47.969,0:05:51.214 What do you study,[br]and where is it taking you? 0:05:51.215,0:05:53.278 A lot of people come up to me,[br]and they say, 0:05:53.279,0:05:58.003 "Daniel, I don't really have time to read.[br]I have kids, I have work, I am student. 0:05:58.004,0:06:02.739 I already have so many textbooks,[br]I am doing so many things, I am too busy." 0:06:03.179,0:06:05.302 But if you don't have 10 minutes a day, 0:06:05.303,0:06:07.905 you're basically saying[br]you don't have a life. 0:06:07.906,0:06:09.621 We all have time to read, 0:06:09.622,0:06:11.844 we all have time to pick up a good book 0:06:11.845,0:06:13.955 and read for ourselves[br]so that we can learn. 0:06:13.956,0:06:18.129 Look! If you read 10 minutes a day,[br]for 30 straight days, 0:06:18.130,0:06:19.950 that is one book a month. 0:06:19.951,0:06:23.100 One book a month, in 12 months,[br]is 12 books a year. 0:06:23.101,0:06:27.088 You can do in one year[br]what most people do in five years. 0:06:27.089,0:06:29.441 Talk about not having time. 0:06:29.442,0:06:31.197 We all have time to read. 0:06:31.198,0:06:33.254 Remember, readers are leaders, 0:06:33.255,0:06:37.257 and the only way[br]you can succeed is if you read. 0:06:37.258,0:06:38.968 My second suggestion 0:06:38.969,0:06:42.180 is about getting around[br]the best individuals you can. 0:06:42.181,0:06:45.249 We're the sum total of five people 0:06:45.250,0:06:47.569 in which we surround ourselves[br]with the most. 0:06:47.570,0:06:50.352 We earn the same income,[br]we go to the same places, 0:06:50.353,0:06:52.779 we do the same things,[br]we think the same thoughts. 0:06:52.780,0:06:55.442 And if you were to look[br]at your five closest friends, 0:06:55.443,0:06:58.442 you've got to ask yourself[br]this one question, 0:06:58.443,0:07:02.650 "Who are my leaders,[br]and where are they taking me?" 0:07:03.290,0:07:04.567 In other words, 0:07:04.568,0:07:09.198 "Are my leaders taking me[br]to the place I'd most likely want to be?" 0:07:10.018,0:07:13.634 If the answer is no,[br]then you need new leaders. 0:07:13.635,0:07:16.583 You need people who are inspiring,[br]people that can help you, 0:07:16.584,0:07:22.496 lift you up to the goals that transcend[br]your own possibility and your thinking. 0:07:22.497,0:07:24.347 You have to realize your goals, 0:07:24.348,0:07:27.382 and you can only do that[br]by getting around the right people. 0:07:27.383,0:07:30.667 Many of us have what I like[br]to call "defult friends". 0:07:30.709,0:07:35.927 Default friends are basically people[br]that we see around the neighborhood, 0:07:35.928,0:07:40.255 people at the grocery store, the gym,[br]the mall, at church, at work, 0:07:40.256,0:07:41.831 everywhere we go. 0:07:41.832,0:07:43.963 These are people[br]that we naturally befriend 0:07:43.964,0:07:46.940 as we start to gain[br]their trust and acceptance. 0:07:46.941,0:07:51.047 And what tends to happen is,[br]if you are a highly ambitious person, 0:07:51.048,0:07:53.308 and you have really high goals, 0:07:53.309,0:07:57.416 a lot of these people[br]can help you reach your goals. 0:07:57.417,0:08:00.439 So you have to look outside,[br]you have to search for people. 0:08:00.440,0:08:02.000 I'll give you an example, 0:08:02.001,0:08:05.093 I had a friend, his name was John,[br]and he was actually a plumber, 0:08:05.094,0:08:08.105 and his father and him[br]had a pretty successful business, 0:08:08.106,0:08:09.659 at least it seemed like it. 0:08:09.660,0:08:10.931 So I asked John, 0:08:10.932,0:08:14.560 "I want to start a business,[br]what exactly do you think I should do?" 0:08:14.561,0:08:16.700 John pulled me to the corner and said, 0:08:16.701,0:08:19.371 "Daniel, I don't think[br]you want to start a business, 0:08:19.372,0:08:24.357 98% of businesses fail[br]within the first three years." 0:08:24.358,0:08:28.135 Then he proceeded to tell me about[br]all the reasons why I couldn't do it, 0:08:28.136,0:08:29.917 and why it won't work. 0:08:29.918,0:08:33.739 He told me how was so hard[br]working over 100 hours a week, 0:08:33.740,0:08:35.804 how hard it was to manage payroll, 0:08:35.806,0:08:40.820 and why the recession was holding him back[br]from getting more clients. 0:08:40.821,0:08:44.148 As he told me this, I became[br]a little discouraged, a little dejected, 0:08:44.149,0:08:46.779 and I went home, and I thought about it. 0:08:46.780,0:08:49.795 When I get to my journal,[br]I usually reflect, 0:08:49.796,0:08:54.743 and I wrote down in my journal,[br]"The 98% of statistics are made up." 0:08:54.744,0:08:56.326 Including that one. 0:08:58.176,0:09:04.345 You have to realize that no one's opinion[br]of you can become your reality. 0:09:05.425,0:09:09.317 And in order to change your reality,[br]you've to change your mentality 0:09:09.318,0:09:11.890 and the people you surround yourself with. 0:09:11.891,0:09:14.577 You have to get yourself[br]around people who can help you, 0:09:14.578,0:09:17.997 people that are smarter than you,[br]people who have gone further than you; 0:09:17.998,0:09:21.712 people who know what you need to do[br]to get to that next level. 0:09:21.713,0:09:24.964 The truth is that the people[br]that you are looking for 0:09:24.965,0:09:28.982 are also looking for you,[br]but you have to find them. 0:09:28.983,0:09:33.030 Sometimes, we surround ourselves[br]with strangers and family members 0:09:33.031,0:09:35.954 who tell us what we can't do,[br]they limit us. 0:09:35.955,0:09:38.026 A lot of people have the right intentions, 0:09:38.027,0:09:42.047 but often times,[br]they provide the wrong directions. 0:09:42.048,0:09:46.055 In other words, they want to help us,[br]but they just don't know how. 0:09:46.056,0:09:48.300 So get around people who can. 0:09:48.301,0:09:51.294 A lot of people ask me,[br]"Daniel, how do you find these people?" 0:09:51.295,0:09:52.233 It is easy. 0:09:52.234,0:09:55.237 If you flow step one,[br]which is to read more books, 0:09:55.238,0:09:59.130 you'll find that in the back of the book[br]there is the "About the Author" section. 0:09:59.131,0:10:02.299 What I used to do[br]is I used to reach out to the authors. 0:10:02.300,0:10:04.395 Thankfully, we live in a new millennium 0:10:04.396,0:10:07.795 which allows us to get on[br]their social media, their websites, 0:10:07.796,0:10:09.989 and so we can have[br]a conversation with them. 0:10:09.990,0:10:14.323 We can change by actually understanding[br]what it is that they teach. 0:10:14.324,0:10:18.920 And if we ask enough questions,[br]we can make great progress in our life. 0:10:18.921,0:10:22.125 Remember that people you're looking for[br]are also looking for you, 0:10:22.126,0:10:24.314 so get yourself around those people. 0:10:24.315,0:10:28.024 My last and final suggestion[br]is to set higher goals, 0:10:28.025,0:10:29.990 because goals make you stretch, 0:10:29.991,0:10:32.990 they help you to become[br]more of who you are. 0:10:32.991,0:10:34.866 And in this enormity of conformity, 0:10:34.867,0:10:37.796 so many people don't know[br]how to set goals, 0:10:37.797,0:10:40.428 they get confused about the process. 0:10:40.429,0:10:44.313 A lot of people use[br]New Year's resolutions, 0:10:44.314,0:10:46.550 but the problem[br]with New Year's resolutions 0:10:46.551,0:10:50.335 is that the person often[br]tries to do too much, too fast. 0:10:50.336,0:10:52.470 Let's say Doug wants to stop smoking. 0:10:52.471,0:10:55.073 On December 31st, he says, "I'm done." 0:10:55.074,0:10:58.964 January 1st, "I'm clean, never again." 0:10:58.965,0:11:03.225 He hasn't created a plan of action[br]to achieve his goals, 0:11:03.226,0:11:05.516 and therefore, it isn't reasonable. 0:11:05.517,0:11:08.073 Bucket list is something else[br]that people do, 0:11:08.074,0:11:10.353 and usually, when someone[br]creates a bucket list, 0:11:10.354,0:11:12.872 they're giving themselves too much time. 0:11:12.873,0:11:17.215 There is no urgency, and most of the time,[br]they don't write their goals down. 0:11:17.216,0:11:19.061 So, "What do you suggest?" 0:11:19.062,0:11:20.480 Well, I am glad you asked. 0:11:20.481,0:11:23.982 What I do suggest for you[br]is to write your goals down. 0:11:23.983,0:11:27.181 I believe that a dull pencil[br]is better than a sharp mind, 0:11:27.182,0:11:31.318 and to impress your subconscious mind,[br]you have to write your goals down, 0:11:31.319,0:11:34.623 so that you can hold this steadfastly[br]to who you are. 0:11:34.624,0:11:37.143 I have this method[br]I teach all around the world, 0:11:37.144,0:11:39.044 that's called, "The 20 Idea Method". 0:11:39.045,0:11:40.784 Basically, what you do, 0:11:40.785,0:11:44.539 is you select one overarching goal[br]that you would like to accomplish, 0:11:44.540,0:11:48.995 analyze 20 ideas[br]correspond with that particular goal. 0:11:48.996,0:11:53.216 Let's say, for instance,[br]you wanted to be a better public speaker. 0:11:53.217,0:11:55.065 What are some things you can do? 0:11:55.066,0:11:57.600 Well, you could watch TED talks,[br]like you are now, 0:11:57.601,0:12:02.117 you could practice your speech,[br]look in the mirror to challenge yourself, 0:12:02.118,0:12:04.300 you could read the dictionary every day. 0:12:04.301,0:12:08.795 There are so many things you can do,[br]but could I come up with 20 ideas? 0:12:08.796,0:12:12.657 The answer is, "Yes,[br]I can come up with a 100 if wanted to." 0:12:12.658,0:12:15.873 Imagine if you did this[br]in every area in your life: 0:12:15.874,0:12:19.221 financially, for promotions,[br]for your family, 0:12:19.222,0:12:22.023 and you wrote your goals on every day. 0:12:22.024,0:12:25.274 You would be able to accomplish[br]so many things in your life. 0:12:25.275,0:12:28.579 We have everything we need[br]in order to succeed, 0:12:28.580,0:12:32.557 but we have to take the things we have[br]to get more of the things that we want; 0:12:32.558,0:12:35.803 from the cars that we drive,[br]to the clothes that we wear, 0:12:35.804,0:12:38.768 to the food that we eat,[br]and the people that we meet. 0:12:38.769,0:12:45.368 In this depository of diversity, we have[br]everything we need in order to succeed, 0:12:45.369,0:12:47.188 But we have to believe. 0:12:47.189,0:12:49.039 When you believe in yourself, 0:12:49.040,0:12:52.256 you will find that everyone in the world[br]will believe in you. 0:12:52.257,0:12:54.340 And you also have to think big. 0:12:54.341,0:12:57.132 When you think big,[br]you will do big, and you will win big. 0:12:57.133,0:13:00.783 Well, B-I-G is actually is the 3 ideas[br]that I want to share with you today: 0:13:00.792,0:13:02.459 B -- the books that you read, 0:13:02.460,0:13:04.958 I -- the individuals that you meet, 0:13:04.959,0:13:07.828 and G -- the goals[br]that you set for yourself. 0:13:07.829,0:13:12.080 Books, individuals, and goals:[br]that's all you need to accomplish success, 0:13:12.081,0:13:14.351 because when you think big,[br]you will do big, 0:13:14.352,0:13:17.203 and you will win big, my friends. 0:13:17.204,0:13:18.068 Thank you. 0:13:18.069,0:13:19.001 (Applause).