Steve Harvey Clearly Spells Out How to Act: (Like a Success, Think Like a Success ...)

Steve Harvey appeared on "Oprah's LifeClass" last month to share success and failure stories. Photo from OWN Web site.

BY TAMIKA CODY

God has already lined up all the people in your path to get you to your dreams and your visions, all you have to do is get rid of the wrong ones.

… failure is such a HUGE part of succeeding.

Words to live by and some of my takeaways (and others interspersed throughout this article) from Steve Harvey's latest book, “Act Like a Success, Think Like a Success: Discovering Your Gift and the Way to Life's Riches.”

To illustrate his points, SH pulls examples from his personal life experiences as well as those of others. For example, he references Jordan Belfort, the author of “The Wolf of Wall Street." The book spawned a film of the same name (http://www.ow.ly/s6FwI).

“The only thing standing between you and your goal is the bullshit story you keep telling yourself as to why you can’t achieve it,” JB is quoted as saying.

Entertainer and Emmy-winning media mogul SH takes that quote to the next level, declaring that “Excuses are the lies you convince yourself are true to avoid proving you are worthy of the gift you were given … NO MORE EXCUSES.” (Visit http://www.bit.ly/YDsXWx to listen to an excerpt from the book).

Steve Harvey (right) with Bob Borzotta on Steve Harvey, the latter's daytime talk show. Photo from Steve Harvey Web site.

That passage in “Act Like a Success, Think Like a Success” reminded me of the time I was pledging Zeta Phi Beta. Whenever one of our line sisters would make an excuse, our Big Brother would always make us repeat the following after him:

“Excuses. Excuses are tools of incompetence used to build monuments of nothing. And those who use them seldom accomplish anything. Excuses.”

That was almost 20 years ago and I still can recite it as if I was a pledge.

“Act Like a Success, Think Like a Success” debuted atop The New York Times best-seller list last month. It held that spot for two consecutive weeks. As of 26 Oct., it is No. 10.

Steve Harvey's "Act Like a Success, Think Like a Success: Discovering Your Gift and the Way to Life's Riches" is a New York Times best-seller.

It started trending before it was available in bookstores or in the e-book arena, thanks to the native West Virginian's appearance on “Oprah's LifeClass” on OWN days before its release.

“I was tired of myself for not going after my dreams ... I was tired of not being able to see the potential in myself that others clearly saw," SH told Oprah. “I was tired of living in a rut.” (See video snippet below from "Oprah's LifeClass").

His words described exactly how I was feeling and how I have been feeling for the last 10 years.

Release yourself from excuses and limitations.

After SH's appearance on “Oprah's LifeClass," I had to wait two days before my copy of “Act Like a Success, Think Like a Success” was available on my iPad Nook reader. It was 3 a.m. when my iPad chimed to let me know that the book was ready to read on my device.

Get back to that space of being like a kid and let your heart and desires guide your vision.

Once I started reading I said to myself, “This will be the last success self-help book that I purchase in my lifetime.” Why? Well, I felt that SH was speaking directly to me.

The host of a daytime talk show, game show and radio show will be talking about his book at 9 p.m. on Wednesday (29 Oct.) on the UP channel in “A Special Night with Steve Harvey.”

There are four kind of haters. Get the book and figure out which one you need to get rid of.

I have every excuse in the book for why I am not where I am supposed to be in my career, my life and my spiritual journey. All of those excuses I believe are 100 percent valid. But I am only fooling myself.

Become one of those people who are willing to share, educate, gift, help inspire, lead and push. Afterward, watch to see what comes your way.

Steve Harvey greets an audience member on "Family Feud." Photo from Family Feud Facebook page.

What about you? Are you on track to where you want to be? If not, "Act Like a Success, Think Like a Success" will help guide you on your journey.

… make the choice everyday not to let anyone’s negativity stop me from fully operating my God-given gift.

Visit http://www.steveharvey.com/ to learn more about “Act Like a Success, Think Like a Success: Discovering Your Gift and the Way to Life's Riches,” including purchase information and Steve Harvey's various ventures.

Tamika Cody is an NYC-based multimedia journalist with a niche in finance. She currently writes about topics trending in arts and culture at http://www.ArtsOfCultures.blogspot.com; visit http://www.tamikacody.com to learn more about her ventures.