Have you ever wondered why some people seem to succeed at everything they touch, while others struggle to get anywhere?

Some people build successful businesses from the ground up, while others never get started. Some achieve financial freedom, while others always feel trapped in the rat race. And some seem to have endless energy and determination, while others constantly wrestle with doubt and insecurity.

Is it intelligence, talent, or perhaps luck that makes the difference?

The answer is much simpler – and far more powerful. Success isn’t about luck or inherent ability. It’s about principles. Fundamental life rules that the most successful people understand and apply every single day.

The best part is that these principles aren’t a secret. They’ve been known for centuries and continue to live on in the old sayings we’ve all heard before. The difference is that those who create success actually live by them.

Here are the 10 sayings that can change your life – if you use them correctly.

 

1. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

It all starts with a decision. Successful people don’t look for excuses – they find solutions.

Many dream of starting their own business, changing careers, or achieving financial freedom, but stop themselves with thoughts like, “It’s too hard,” or “I don’t have time.” The difference between those who succeed and those who don’t is that the former find a way, while the latter find an excuse.

How to use it:

Don’t ask yourself if something can be done – ask how it can be done.

 

2. “Rome wasn’t built in a day.”

We live in a world where everything is expected to happen now. But the truth is that all big results take time. The most successful people understand that small, daily actions create big results over time.

Think of building a house. You don’t start with the roof – you start with the foundation. Success works the same way.

How to use it:

Set realistic goals and focus on progress, not perfection.

 

3. “Practice makes perfect.”

No one starts as an expert. Even the best in their field were once beginners.

Writers write thousands of bad words before they write a bestseller. Musicians play countless off-key notes before mastering their instrument. Entrepreneurs fail multiple times before they find the right business model.

How to use it:

Allow yourself to be bad at first. The only thing that matters is that you keep going.

 

4. “Don’t cross a river to catch fish.”

Many believe that success requires a revolutionary idea or a complex strategy. The truth is, the best solutions are often the simplest.

Amazon didn’t start by selling everything – they started with books. Apple didn’t begin with computers, phones, and watches – they made a simple computer in a garage.

How to use it:

Find the most direct route to your goal. Overcomplicating things kills action.

 

5. “You reap what you sow.”

Your actions today shape your future tomorrow.

Want more success? Start planting the seeds that create it: read books that develop you. Network with people who inspire you. Invest in your health and energy.

How to use it:

Every day counts. Plant the right seeds – and be patient enough to watch them grow.

 

6. “Speech is silver, silence is golden.”

The wisest people aren’t the ones who talk the most – they’re the ones who listen the most.

Successful entrepreneurs and leaders understand their market before they try to sell something. They listen to their customers, observe trends, and make decisions based on facts rather than assumptions.

How to use it:

Listen more, talk less. Success starts with understanding.

 

7. “All that glitters is not gold.”

Many chase quick money, trends, or flashy opportunities that look great on the surface but don’t hold up over time.

How to use it:

Be skeptical of things that seem too good to be true. Success is about substance, not surface.

 

8. “Fortune favors the bold.”

Many dream of success, but few take the leap.

How to use it:

Stop waiting for perfect timing – it doesn’t exist.

9. “When one door closes, another opens.”

Failure and setbacks are part of the journey. The most successful people have failed countless times before finding the right path.

How to use it:

See failure as learning, not defeat.

10. “The grass is always greener on the other side.”

We tend to think others have it better than we do. But success is about cultivating your own garden, not envying someone else’s.

How to use it:

Focus on your own journey.

Takeaway: Success is a Choice

The most successful people aren’t necessarily the most talented or lucky. They are the ones who consistently live by timeless wisdom.

Once you begin applying these 10 principles in your life, you won’t just experience more success – you’ll also be happier, more fulfilled, and financially free.

So ask yourself: Which of these principles can you start applying today?

The answer to that question could change your life.