We often make things complicated. But the secrets to success are often very simple.

Just act like it. Be the person you want to be, and the rest will follow. Want to be a writer? Just write. It doesn’t matter if it’s one sentence or one page, fiction or non-fiction, just write something. Want to be a leader? Act like a leader in some way, big or small. Find a leadership around you and just take it. That’s it. There’s not shortcut or substitute for action.

Don’t worry about the “perfect opportunity.” Perfect doesn’t exist. There’s always a reason not to do something. I’m too young, too old. My idea is too small, too big. I have too much of this, too little of that. Other people are already doing it, I don’t have time…Stop.

Just get started. It’s a long journey, and no one just hands you success on a platter. Success doesn’t grow on trees; it comes from taking decisive action. That action becomes a part of you, and that changes you into the person you will be.

The truth is everyone is unsure. Although successful people make it seem so simple and expected, they have the same doubts as everyone else. The difference is that they continue on and act like the person they want to become.

At the end of the day, what separates people is their mentality, how they think about challenges and take action. So in a time of doubt, ask, “What would this person do?” Then act like it.