If you’re interested in having true success in life, then you need to set and achieve the goals that you set for yourself. This is true in all areas of all of our lives. On the surface, goal setting seems relatively simple after all you decide what it is that you want and put the steps in place to allow yourself to achieve that desire. However, as with many things in life, goal setting is often easier said than done.
Why is that?
Because just stating your goal is not enough for you to be able to achieve it. In order to achieve your goal, you need to have a process and several things need to be in place:
You need to know exactly what you want
You need to make sure that you are passionate about your goal
You have a solid, realistic plan of action.
These are the things that makes the difference between just having a dream or a wish and having a goal that you can truly achieve.
Often once you’ve set a goal, it’ll seem as if obstacles and challenges come out of nowhere in order to derail you and prevent you from reaching your goal. It’s happened to me more times than I can count. If that happens to you, read on to find out 5 methods that you can use to help yourself become successful in reaching your goal.
Know Your Goal
Your first job is to be very clear about exactly what your goal is. Try to visualize what the moment that you achieve your goal will look like. Be as specific as possible about what your desired result is. What does it sound like, look like, smell like, taste like, feel like? The more specific you are in this visualization, the easier it’ll be for you to recognize when you’ve achieved your goal. It will help you to figure out both what you do want and what you don’t want. Your success in reaching your goal is directly related to your clarity.
For example, as an entrepreneur, if your goal is to create a successful business, what will that look like? Are you thinking in terms of simply hiring someone else to give you more free time? Are you looking for a very specific monthly profit? Or can your goal be best expressed in terms of a certain lifestyle? How will you know that your business is successful and that you’ve reached your goal? What’s your definition of success?
Depending on your goal, it might be difficult to think of every specific detail of your desired end result, but without a clear mental picture, you’ll never have the focus required to achieve your goal when the going gets tough.
You’ve Got To Pay The Piper
Success takes dedicated planning and effort. In a way it’s like trying out a new recipe. In the beginning all you have is a rough concept or a just bunch of ingredients. Then you develop a complete set of plans (read and execute the recipe) and that helps you immediately move closer to success. The same is true of any goal whether it’s about creating a better lifestyle or a successful business.
But there’s always an *entry fee* to be paid for success.
Some of you may be thinking, the entry fee? What’s that?
There is usually some type of trade off to create more success. For example, having more success in your business may mean less recreational time. Writing your own book may require watching less TV. Being closer to your children may require adjusting your work or social activities schedule.
If your life is already full and your time is at a premium, you may feel like there’s no room for something new. Your entry fee is making time to carve out the time to create that something new. It’s a trade off, as sometimes you must sacrifice something in order to have the time to devote to reach your goal.
Focus, Focus, Focus – Every Day
If you’re like me then you probably want to achieve your goal as fast as possible. That’s why having a clear laser beam like focus is so important.
Consistent focus is an absolutely necessity to help you to create the new neural pathways you need to achieve your new goal by making the steps necessary to reach that goal into a habit. Without that daily focus, your old habits that have been keeping you from your goal will continue to take over.
This can happen subconsciously – since your old habits are wired deep in your subconscious mind. So you need to override your subconscious anti-success messages by consciously focusing on what you DO want – and build new neural networks!
That’s why success to achieve success, you need to focus on it daily.
Re-commit to your goal each day. Don’t let your goal take a back seat to the daily tasks and distractions of life that will try to take over. Life WILL try to get in your way. It’s all about making time. Just get and stay, on course every day. Focus on your goal, and on your future success!
Got Passion?
One of the most powerful tools in your goal success tool box is having a real passion for your goal.
Why passion?
Because intense passionate desire for your goal will help you burn in those new neural pathways even faster. There have been scientific studies that have shown that intense emotions such as passion is a key success tool.
PLUS (and this is really a *big* plus), intense passion will also help you on those days when things get tough and it seems as if you’ll never reach your goal, because you will have those days.
Take Consistent Action
In many ways, actually taking action can be the most difficult step. Successful goal achievement is built by taking one small action after another. Baby steps.
The word is ACTION!
It can be easy to go down the rabbit hole and do a lot of busywork that doesn’t propel you towards your goal (I’m definitely guilty of that!) If you commit to take at least one small action each day, your actions WILL add up and make a difference. Don’t think that you can sit back waiting for that big second when everything will magically “just happen.” You can’t as the gist of one of my favorite quotes by Gothe says, Be Bold.”
"Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it." Gothe
You CAN create whatever you want in life. The secret is to determine exactly what you want, then pursue it passionately. But remember — in the end, only action counts! You can’t just dream about it! You have to DO IT!
Which step will you start today in order to reach your goal? Let me know in the comments section.
Laser photo by Peppai Montenegro on Unsplash
Focus photo by Cassandra Martin-Himmons