18 Success Principles – A Mini Book Review

I recently read (well, listened to) the book Homeless to Billionaire: The 18 Principles of Wealth Attraction and Creating Unlimited Opportunity by Andres Pira because it was recommended to me through Audible. Yes, it does have a clickbait title, but the author is a legit entrepreneur that has had a lot of success. 

Pira’s book is centered around 18 principles of success, and many are a great tie-in to personal development and mindset for entrepreneurs. I enjoyed the book so much that I wrote down the 18 principles, shared them with my Mastermind group, and decided to share them here!

Here’s the list of principles covered in the book:

1. Write Down Your Goals

Sure, I have heard that you should write down your goals…I think everyone has. But I didn’t do this until a few years ago. Before then, I just had in my mind what I wanted to accomplish. 

Now I write down these ideas on a goal sheet and keep it updated. Each morning I review my goal sheet as part of my morning routine. Over time, it started having a positive effect on me, giving me accurate thinking and guiding my daily decisions because I remind myself each day what I want to accomplish. 

2. Take Risks, Responsibility, And Action

What jumps out at me on these principles is that nothing happens without action. You can consume content all day, but action is necessary for results. Yes, I also get an endorphin rush from consuming new content…so it’s easy for me to stay stuck in learning mode. 

Another of the 18 success principles suggests that you must take action. It requires risk, it requires going the extra mile, so a lot of people don’t want to do it. Take responsibility for your life…if things work or don’t work, it is your fault. 

3. Remind Yourself Daily of These “I Am” Statements

He has a list of “I am” statements I really like in the book, so I added them to my goal sheet. I feel that if it is good enough for a successful man like Pira, then it is good enough for me. 

Here are the statements he lists in his book:

I am whole. 

I am healthy. 

I am happy. 

I am wealthy. 

I am helpful. 

4. Take Time Often To Be Alone And Think

Here’s a success principle that might be difficult if you have a family. Taking time alone is so underrated. You must spend time alone and in solitude to think and let your mind wander. Take a break from the distractions of your life and your phone so your mind has the space to be creative. 

Whether you sit in your backyard or take a walk, find ways to go off by yourself. Learn to be ok with being alone. You could also use this time to meditate and clear your mind completely.  

5. Celebrating Wins Creates An Addiction To Progress

Celebrating your wins is important because you get addicted to the feeling of winning and celebrating. When you get that feeling of personal achievement, you will want to experience it again. It further compounds trying to win more so you can celebrate. For this reason, celebrating can be a healthy habit to create.

However, I do want to mention that you can easily forget to be present. Don’t forget to acknowledge what you’ve already accomplished and what you’re grateful for, as opposed to just looking into the future for a new win. 

6. Give To Get Back And Focus On The Feeling Of Giving

Obviously, I believe that giving back is important, and this is evident in how much I invest in Morning Upgrade. It’s my way of trying to inspire people and invest in them. Also, I encourage others to inspire the people in their lives and find ways to give back. 

It’s important to give back as part of your personal development. For one thing, it just feels good, so you get a certain amount of motivation from helping others. And…more importantly, you are helping other people be happy and more fulfilled. Think of how it would feel to be on the other side. Being given something makes you feel special.

7. Practice Gratitude And Be Thankful

Practicing gratitude is a big part of my morning routine. If you’ve read my morning routine, then you will see that I write down three things each day for which I’m thankful. This practice rewires your brain to look for the good around you. This is a pretty obvious tip for me, but you have to be disciplined to do it. 

8. Have Huge Ideas And Goals

This principle reminds me of the 10x rule that Grant Cardone speaks about. He says you should set targets for yourself that are 10x greater than what you believe you can achieve. With that, you should take actions that are 10x greater than what you think is necessary to achieve those goals. A personal achievement that resulted from taking these actions is certainly a win you can celebrate.

Sometimes accomplishing a big idea takes the same amount of effort to accomplish as a small idea. So, let’s go big! If you’re really passionate about it, then it’s worth it. In my opinion, it’s not about making more money (though this is nice), but about the impact you will have on others. 

Take Grant Cardone, for example. He runs a massive company that employs a lot of people and has created many opportunities for others. 

9. Be Passionate About What You Do

A lot of people talk about the concept of following your passion and finding ways to make money from it. No matter your passion, you can usually find a way to make money with it. I understand this principle because running a business is hard, so you really need to be doing things that you enjoy. It makes it much easier to get through tough times. 

Remember that you may have a business that you aren’t really passionate about, but you are instead passionate about running a business and carving out your own path.

10. Master Your Emotions And Keep Your Cool

Here’s another success principle that you may not think about until now. This is advice that I’ve read a lot about, and I try to keep in mind. Don’t let yourself get too high with the highs and too low with the lows. Acknowledge the pain of your lows, but keep it in check. Recognize your wins, but don’t go overboard. Keep your focus on what’s important. Your emotions can make or break you. 

11. Wake Up Expecting Problems

Things will happen in your life and business. You just have to expect that there will be problems…this approach strengthens your mindset. When you wake up, just know that there are going to be issues you will have to deal with. Don’t whine about it and ask, “Why me?” Instead, expect that the problems are coming so you are ready…and then deal with them. Treat any loss you experience as a temporary defeat.  

12. Embrace Apologies

Being a good leader means owning up to your mistakes and taking responsibility. Apologize to your team and others around you when necessary. Also, treat them well and don’t place blame. 

13. A Fit Body Makes A Stronger Mind

This is another principle that ties to the morning routine. Not only do I spend 5 minutes moving during my morning routine each day, but I also work out daily outside of it. Good health is not just life-changing. It’s critical to creating and maintaining a successful business. 

Are you able to run a firm with success when you are out of shape and unhealthy? Maybe. But you’re going to be much happier if you’re physically fit. Sure, there are going to be times when this is harder to accomplish, and you will let your business take over your health. But I encourage you to do what you can to make time for exercise and good nutrition most of the time. 

14. Give More, Pay More, Keep More

Pira is trying to say that your ultimate goal should be to be the best version of yourself. Find ways to give more to other people. This could be investing in them emotionally, financially, or spiritually. Go the extra mile if you can. Live with a mindset of abundance and give out of that overflow. 

15. Mimic The Successful And Invest in Mentorship

In business and life, there’s no reason to reinvent the wheel. Read autobiographies of successful people and see how they did things.  They have a creative vision. They are budgeting their time. Join a Mastermind group and tap into the experience and knowledge of the people there. Read the information I write on the Morning Upgrade. There is so much available to you that you should be able to find someone you resonate with and mimic what they do. 

16. Invest In Your Employees

I’ve talked a lot here about investing in your employees. I believe it is your responsibility as the business owner to develop and invest in your team both personally and professionally. For one thing, it helps your company be stronger. More importantly, it helps your team members to be happier and more fulfilled. Ultimately, it’s the right thing to do. 

17. Value Positivity Over Results

This principle speaks directly to having a positive mindset. Don’t let yourself become a negative tyrant who grinds people to get what you want. Speak to people in a positive way and treat them with respect. 

18. Do, Be, Go, And Have

The general theme for your life should be to do, be, go, and have. Take action and make something of yourself. Be someone that you are proud of. Every day, find ways to take action…don’t wait. This is not just for the sake of making more money but also so that you can have a greater impact in this world and have a more fulfilling life. 

OK, that wraps up all 18 success principles! What did you think? Do any resonate with you more than others? I hope you enjoyed these principles as much as I have and find ways to apply them to your life. 

Key Takeaways

• Know what your goals are and write them down. 
• Take responsibility for yourself and take action every day. 
• Find ways to invest in other people. 
• Expect that there will be problems and be prepared for them. 
• Invest in your health.