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What’s the secret to success? We would have guessed money, talent or luck. But these celebrities say positive thinking and confidence in themselves is what helped them rise to the top.
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Arnold Schwarzenegger
How do you go from an immigrant who knows very little English to a famous athlete, movie star, and politician? Arnold Schwarzenegger says the key is knowing it’s going to happen: “When I was very young I visualized myself being and having what it was I wanted. Mentally I never had any doubts about it. The mind is really so incredible. Before I won my first Mr. Universe title, I walked around the tournament like I owned it.”
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Will Smith
How did Will Smith go from nearly bankrupt to megastardom? He says that the key to his success is taking the first step: “Make a choice. Just decide what it’s gonna be, who you’re gonna be, how you are going to do it. Just decide. And from that point, the universe is gonna get out your way.”
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Jay Z
Jay Z said that it’s not just his talent that’s taken him this far: “God has given every single person a genius level talent. You just have to find what it is that you are great at and tap into it.”
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Kanye West
Kanye West gets a lot of flack for his confidence, but he said that believing in himself is what has taken him this far: “Everybody always says, ‘Be humble’… when the last time somebody told you be great, be amazing, be awesome. Be amazing!”
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Angelina Jolie
When Jolie decided to embrace life, everything changed. “Being happy is a choice…you have to be happy.”
“Being happy is a choice…you have to be happy.”
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Sean Combs
How did he go from backup dancer to music mogul? Diddy’s mantra is “Positive attracts positive, negative attracts negative.”
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Mariah Carey
Thinking you are successful is different than knowing you are successful. Mariah Carey said that knowing you will make it is the key to actually seeing your dreams come to fruition: “Don’t say if I make it, say when I make it! God bless!”
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Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey’s positivity is what has helped make her a media mogul and household name. Her advice for others looking to follow in her footsteps? “Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another steppingstone to greatness.”
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Harrison Ford
Harrison Ford said, “’May the Force be with you’ is charming but it’s not important. What’s important is that you become the Force – for yourself and perhaps for other people.”
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Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman is one of they hardest working men in Hollywood because he says success is a lifestyle, not a goal. “Hey, if I don’t have a job, I don’t know why I bother to get up. Any time the phone rings, I’m ready to go. What else am I going to do? See, I’ve never retired. I don’t even know what it means.”
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Chris Pine
Chris Pine said that, for him, part of positive thinking is blocking the haters out: “Ignore the naysayers. Really the only option is, head down and focus on the job.”
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Justin Timberlake
Part of thinking your way to success is putting those thoughts into actions. Justin Timberlake said you shouldn’t believe in anyone who makes it look effortless: “I think people sometimes don’t pay enough attention to what they do. I’ve done well, but the reason is pretty simple: I’ve worked my a– off. The toughest thing a performer can do is make it look as if it comes easy.”
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Ashley Judd
Can’t think positively? Borrow someone else’s positive thoughts. Ashley Judd said it’s what she does to start her day: “Daily meditation keeps me sane. I memorize prayers or poems that express my highest spiritual ideals, and quietly, word for word, go through the prayer first thing in the morning…It’s called passage meditation. You internalize the perennial philosophies.”
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Ellen DeGeneres
Famous talk show host Ellen DeGeneres says she learned transcendental meditation from Russell Simmons. And it helps her focus on her goals and continue climbing to the top of the entertainment industry ladder.
