The 10X Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure

Chapter 6

Assume Control for Everything

I was going to call this chapter “Don't Be a Little Bitch” but decided to back off a bit so as not to offend anyone. I have been trying to work this title in since I published my last book, If You're Not First, You're Last. I still love the title and have been dying to work it in somewhere. I thought it would be perfect for this chapter, since the purpose here is to discuss the idea that crybabies, whiners, and victims just don't do well at attracting or creating success. It's not even that they aren't capable; it's just that people who typically succeed are required to take big actions—and it is impossible to take big actions if you don't take responsibility. It is equally impossible to do something positive when you are spending your time making excuses.

You must understand—as I've already stated countless times—that success is not something that happens to you; it's something that happens because of you and because of the actions you take. People who refuse to take responsibility generally don't do well at taking much action and subsequently don't do well in the game of success. Successful people accept very high levels of accountability for creating and having success for themselves—and even for failing to do so. Successful people hate the blame game and know that it is better to make something happen—good or bad—than to have it happen to you.

Those who suffer from victim thinking—which I roughly estimate to be about 50 percent of the ...