Got a question from a reader who is ambitious and has had some successes, but feels erratic and like he's taken on too many projects that haven't borne fruit. My reply --
I recommend you take a notebook to a nice cafe with no technology and write down every major success of your life (major being however you define it).
Look for commonalities.
We often make the same mistakes over and over and our only plan is "try harder" -- instead, identify elements/features of when you've thrived...
Well, that comes later. Start by just listing the successes, all of them.
You can also do this exercise with major failures, but start with successes and do that thoroughly first. Then design your projects and project environment around those types of elements, and you'll likely see a similar or higher success rate.
SM
The more I see instances of success and failure, the more I keep thinking that "try harder" isn't the answer to anything. Analysis is critical to evolution. Analyze successes first -- they're often more insightful than failures, and almost always get less time spent on them. Then architect future projects and actions in a way that match what's been successful in the past. Sounds obvious, but most people don't do it.