by Theresa Bradley-Banta
The difference between wildly successful people and those who struggle to succeed is that successful people learn how to move forward when they feel “stuck.”
They set goals to advance. They’re expert at setting business goals that are meaningful and achievable.
You can do the same thing.
Here are some ideas to get you thinking and motivated, along with some steps you can take today to start creating change in your life.
Set a Goal
Set a simple goal that gets you on your way to your larger goals. What can you accomplish in a short period of time? Small successes can be incredibly powerful.
Start Hanging Out With the Right Crowd
This isn’t easy. You’ll have to make some difficult choices.
If you are spending time with people who are negative, who are stuck doing the same stuff day in and day out, who will never make an effort to change their lives and constantly come up with excuses about why they won’t change, you are hanging out with the wrong crowd.
Find a mentor in your chosen field. Network with individuals who have already achieved success.
Decide On One Business Plan and Go for It
Have you ever heard of bright shiny objects? Those are those ideas that sound or look really great when you first hear about them. You think to yourself, “Why not jump on the bandwagon? Everyone else is doing it and they claim they are wildly successful.”
If you chase the newest and greatest business idea, all your good plans and careful work go out the window. Stick to your plan.
Shift Your Energy
When those thoughts of, “I can’t do this” pop up, don’t be hard on yourself.
Acknowledge negative thoughts as limiting beliefs and change your energy. Start thinking in terms of, “Why the heck not? I’ve got the drive, I can stick with a plan, I have fantastic mentors, and anything is possible!”
Make a List
Write down the goals you want to accomplish. Get a clear picture in your head of where you see yourself in your ideal life.
Let your imagination run wild.
For example, do you want to have a dream vacation home? Something you can share with your friends and family? Picture your favorite room in your new home… down to the smallest detail. Picture yourself spending time there. What do you do? Where are you? The beach? The mountains?
Poke a Hole in Your Limiting Beliefs
Now that you have your list of goals you want to accomplish, write down the excuses you come up with for why each goal will never be possible.
Are your excuses legitimate? Do you really believe them? Poke as many holes in these limiting beliefs as you can.
Find someone you trust and read your list to them…out loud. Don’t hand over your list, read it in a clear, loud voice. This is a good way to hear how ridiculous your excuses sound. Give your trusted friend permission to challenge your underlying assumptions. Keep an open mind—don’t take the feedback personally.
Take a Risk
Taking one tiny step that scares the hell out you is the very best thing you can do even if you think you might fail.
Set an intention about what you want to accomplish. See it clearly. Success begins with a desire to take action.
Ask These Questions About Each Goal on Your List:
- Is your goal realistic? Is it too easy, too hard? (Hard is good.)
- Do you see an area where you might “step it up?” Can you be more aggressive with your goal? Is it challenging enough and will it be a stretch for you?
- Is there a good life balance? Will the time spent achieving your goal cause you to sacrifice important areas of your life? Is it worth it?
- Is your goal a “no kidding” goal? Are you really committed to achieving this goal?
- What concerns do you have? Do you see areas where you might fall back on old paradigms? Will old preconceived assumptions and expectations around achieving your goal come up? Can you handle it?
- Do you have a “SMART” Goal? Check your goal against the following SMART criteria:
Setting “SMART” Goals
- Specific: Your goal should be specific, unambiguous and written so that anyone can read it and have a clear picture of what you are going to accomplish.
- Measurable: Your goal should be measurable and/or have a final outcome so you can determine if it has been achieved.
- Attainable: It must be possible to attain the goal in the time frame stated.
- Risky: Your goal should be risky and must be a stretch for you.
- Time Limit: Giving a time limit to achieving your goal creates urgency and prevents you from stating open-ended goals.
Carefully weigh the criteria above against each of your goals. It’s okay to modify your goals. And once you get started with the implementation of your plan, you’ll probably find that minor course corrections are necessary.
Use this article as a guideline for making those course corrections.
Related Articles:
The Art of Creativity in Business
8 Secrets To Delegating Tasks and Empowering Your Team
23 Extraordinary Questions to Ask Your Mentor
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