“All of us are self-made, though only the successful will admit it” – Earl Nightingale
What do you want to achieve in your lifetime?
I like to begin my motivational talks by asking the audience that very question. Thinking about it now, a more poignant question would be, how are you going to achieve the things you want to? You see, we all want things. It’s human nature. While they may differ as some may want happiness while others want comfort; some may want significant wealth while others only seek economic security; some want to cure world hunger, while others only wish to satisfy their own. While we all want many things the pathway to achieving our goals are often unclear. And even more frequently, we are the reason why. Life is a process, and similarly, there are no secrets to success, only systems. These 3 tips are a part of my system. I hope they help you on your journey to achieve your goals.
1. Believe That You Can Achieve It
As simple as this sounds, many of us are held back from achieving the things we want because we don’t believe in ourselves and the validity of our dreams. We give in to our own negative self-talk and the talk of those around us. Believing that you can achieve something is a fundamental step to actually bringing it into reality. While many say, mind over matter, I like to say mind=matter, because I fundamentally believe that we become that which we think. As the father of the Model T, Henry Ford once said, “whether you think you can or think you can’t you’re right.” Our minds directly impact all that we will achieve in life. Programming your mind to win is vital if your goals are to be realized.
A positive mental attitude is a key to manifesting our goals because we attract that which we think to us. Our thoughts are magnetically charged. Only a positive mind can yield a positive life.
2. Make A Plan & Make It SMART
Once you believe in yourself and your ideas, its time to make a plan. Too many of us never take the steps necessary to achieve our goals because we can’t identify the first one. Achieving a big goal is only possible when we break it down into bite-sized morsels that our minds can actually digest. Don’t get me wrong, huge goals are great and we should always dream big, but trying to eat a whole cow at once when you have just begun teething is impractical and won’t end well, for you or the cow. You’ve got to grow some teeth through building your skills and resources in the desired area and then break or butcher your idea down into smaller pieces at which point you can make a hamburger. Something small and digestible and rather tasty depending on the chef.
Sometimes we ruin our mind’s ability to comprehend or take action on our goals because we try to do too much too quickly. Success lies in the daily micro-decisions we make that come to define our lives. As one famed Greek philosopher put it, “we are what we do daily, excellence then is not an act, but a habit.” In short, what we do daily comes to define us. Are you working on your goals every single day? Begin your day by writing 3 tasks which you must complete if your goal is to be achieved. Remember to prioritize and also remember that how we set our goals impacts the probability of their achievement. Goals should always be SMART, that is, Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-Bound. Work hard, but work ‘smart.’
3. Enlist A Team
It literally makes the dream work. There is only so much one person can achieve. While we can spend time learning every skill necessary to achieve our goals, there is the opportunity cost of time and effort, and as found by serial entrepreneur Bill Gross, one of the most important factors for success is timing. Ensure you don’t miss your launch date by scrambling trying to learn to write code. Hire for your weaknesses and be bullish on your strengths. Along each of our journeys’, there will be mentors, teachers, companions and friends that help us move from one level to another. Surround yourself with people who want to see you win and share your vision of a brighter future both personally and professionally. We are an average of the 5 people we associate with daily. Choose your team wisely is a major key to manifesting your goals, dreams, and ambitions. Dream on!
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Well said Kemal.
Thanks Rodane.