3 Ways to Achieve Your Goals
Planning and goal-setting are essential components to reaching any dream. Whether it's inventing something new, launching a business idea, or trying something more ambitious like discovering the cure for cancer – having determination with strategically placed milestones will help you cross that finish line! Working on your project by giving it an inspiring name; setting realistic goals with accomplishable deadlines; pushing yourself out of your comfort zones and finding creative ways to save time without sacrificing quality standards can all make those dreams become reality. So what title have you given YOUR big adventure into greatness?
- Working with the end in mind is a powerful tool for focusing on success. It involves giving your project a title, setting goals and deadlines, as well as identifying upbeat reasons to pursue it.
- Raising the bar means challenging limits and trying something new to achieve revolutionary results. Commitment is key to creating an energy of creativity that leads to distinction.
- Going down the path of least resistance can be beneficial when dealing with self-imposed deadlines or exhaustion from doing too much work; finding shortcuts such as taking classes or seeking help from experts are great ways for achieving this goal quickly and easily while still maintaining quality standards set by yourself.
“The trouble with not having a goal is that you can spend your life running up and down the field and never scoring.” -Bill Copeland
“The road to success and the road to failure are almost exactly the same.” — Colin R. Davis
1. WORK WITH THE END IN MIND- OR FOCUS ON SUCCESS
Beginning with the end in mind is the endowment of imagination. If you are the programmer, write the program, says, goal expert- Stephen R. Covey. Goals help us to focus, and the quality of our attention is enhanced by having a project so cool and interesting that we can’t help but make a leap. Let’s say, you want to organize your workspace so that everyone is inspired to do their best work. The in-between steps: like ergonomic concerns & planning comfortable lighting, in and of itself can seem mundane, but joined together they name a bigger accomplishment and by doing so, asks us to spice up our expectations & upgrade who we are. Focus on success & keep in mind how you want things to end up–And you’ll soon enough be successful.
- name the accomplishment
- give your project a title
- what needs to be done by when
- how would you like things to end up
- identify upbeat reasons for pursuing the goal
“Success usually comes to those who are too busy looking for it.” — Henry David Thoreau
2. RAISE THE BAR OR SHOOT FOR THE MOON
Define greatness, challenge the limits, double the goal, or try something new…These are just some of the sentiments that put our plans into action and move us toward revolutionary results. Look around and witness the very essence of commonplace activities being tested and re-imagined. Such as schools redefining Physical Education by bringing in activities ranging from kickboxing to more esoteric offerings like tai chi and yoga. And with social media, an international conversation is in full swing with millions of links and a central clearing house inspired by immediacy, intrigue, and tension.
Raising the bar on a project can simply mean taking one extra step, having an allegiance to a weird idea, or devoting yourself to a regular practice. Commit to a goal in a meaningful way, personalize it & make it your own, and then watch an otherwise sleepy project wake up and give way to newfound energy, creativity, and distinction. Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.”
- double the goal
- challenge the limits
- create a regular practice
- raise your standards, values, or beliefs
- make it a game
3. GO THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE-OR SHOW ME THE SHORTCUT
Sometimes a goal deserves a break. TIME MAGAZINE reported that after 8 hours of sleep, you'd be more than twice as likely to find a shortcut for solving a problem. Suggesting that taking it easy is good for the brain, and what’s good for the brain is good for the overall psyche and soul. Are you doing too much, not getting nourished, and being exhausted? Well, perhaps it's time to consider another path.
Don’t reinvent the wheel. Pick up a book written by an expert, join a group that's geared around your project, sign up for an informational newsletter, or ask someone to buddy up & help. If I was writing a screenplay and struggling with a self-imposed deadline, I could simplify my project just by signing up for a writing class. With weekly writing tasks & in-class exercises, this alone would expedite the development of my script. Another overlooked shortcut is to consider smaller steps. The smaller the increments the easier the goal.
Deng Ming-Dao writes in EVERYDAY TAO, An inch in one direction, then an inch in another already makes a span of 2 inches. Gradually we can improve on that. Go the path of least resistance, it’s a gift of energy.
- don’t reinvent the wheel-find someone who’s done it before
- slow down or change the pace
- keep to minimum daily standards
- write everything down–loose ideas vs. lost ideas
- the smaller the increments the easier the goal
No matter what your goal is, the key to success lies in staying focused and having a plan. Whether that means shooting for the moon or taking the path of least resistance, there are plenty of ways to stay on track with our projects and reach our objectives. By keeping these ideas in mind, we can set ourselves up for success and remain motivated on our journey toward greatness.
Happy goal-setting!
