Book excerpt: Just remember, you can't climb the ladder of success with your hands in your pockets. Arnold Schwarzenegger Everyone is searching for a formula for success, but there is no one, single formula for everyone as our needs, wants and wishes vary from individual to individual. On the other hand, it is noteworthy to mention that those who have achieved success have many qualities in common. The attributes of vision, risk-taking, passion, planning, focus and perseverance are typically utilized in various proportions to accomplish success. On the journey to success, the first-timer must identify a goal, as the goal determines your actions. Then there is your measurement of success. One commonly-used gauge of success is financial progress. Other yardsticks include public acclaim, spiritual progress, personal health, knowledge, improved self-esteem and confidence ... and the list goes on. What is yours? After deciding on your goal, you proceed to develop your own success formula. This is where our Celebrity Experts(R) (authors/mentors) in this book can help. These mentors can save you time, effort, heartache and resources by helping you to create The Success Formula needed to achieve your goal. Successful people maintain a positive focus in life no matter what is going on around them. They stay focused on their past successes rather than their past failures, and on the next action steps they need to take to get them closer to the fulfillment of their goals rather than all the other distractions that life presents to them. Jack Canfield