People focused on short-term goals often experience life as a series of fires to be put out. Successful people are focused on what works. They put energy into creating what they desire, not what they resist. This type of person is often found refining and enhancing existing procedures to make them work even more efficiently. Unsuccessful people often have their attention focused on problems and always seem to know all the reasons why their life is going poorly.
Successful people take full responsibility for both their wins and losses.
Talk to any really successful person, and you'll find them to be frank about their past successes and failures. They don't choose to play a victim role. They see life as a game to be played. Successful people are also doggedly persistent. His business plan was turned down over 1,000 times.