Everything you want is out there waiting for you to ask. Everything you want also wants you. But you have to take action to get it.
Jules Renard
In my previous posts, I discussed goal setting, how to develop a road map to achieve your goals.
Today I am going to show you how to take action to achieve your goals.
Here is where the rubber meets the road
I am going to share with a proven strategy to achieve your goals. It is a seven-step action plan.
I like this strategy because you can also use it to solve problems
Seven Steps to Achieve Your Goals
Step #1. Decide what you want and write it down.
This activity alone moves you in to the top 3 percent of successful people in our society today and can change your life forever.
The key to success is to decide on exactly what you want and write it down in the present as if you already have it.
Let us use an example with setting your financial goals.
If you decide to earn $100,000 as passive income in the next one year, you should write, “I earn $100,000 from XYZ activity. This is different from writing, “I hope to earn $100,000 ” or “I want to earn $100000 “.
Writing your goals in the present is important for a number of reasons. The first reason is that it helps to fix your goals in your subconscious mind. Secondly writing your goals in the present gives more reality to its achievement.
Step#2. Set a deadline for your goal.
Remember your college days. When you had to submit your homework ahead of deadline? Of course, you remember! You would do everything to make sure your gets submitted before the deadline because the- deadline creates a sense of urgency- for you to submit your homework.
The same principle applies to setting goals. You need to be very specific about the timeliness of your goals and what you intend accomplish every day, week, month and year. The more specific you are about your goals deadlines, the more you will accomplish, and sooner than you expect.
Step#3. Determine the obstacles that you will have overcome to achieve your goal.
The common obstacles to achieving goals are the fear of failure and lack of discipline. Don’t let these common obstacles get in your way-face your obstacles and overcome them. You can do so by searching deep within yourself
Ask yourself these questions. What are the choke points that determine the speed at which you achieve your goal? Why aren’t you at your goal already? Of all the obstacles, you will have to overcome, what is the largest single obstacle? When you identify it, Begin with that.
Step #4. Determine the additional knowledge, skills and ability you will need to reach your goals.
Remember this fact…to achieve something you have never achieved before, you must become someone you have never been before. You must develop knowledge and skills that you do not have. When you set new goals, it will require you become a new person, by developing additional skills in order to achieve and to keep it.
The good news is you can develop the skill and get the knowledge to achieve your goals. You can read books on your topic of interest; attend seminars and courses in your spare time.
The key to success is getting help and additional knowledge once you identify your weakness.
Step #5. Determine the people, groups and organizations whose help you will require to achieve your goals.
Here is something I have found out from experience…Big goals require the active cooperation of lots of people. In order to get the cooperation of these people, ask yourself -what will you to do to earn their support? Try to figure out what you have to do to earn their support and backing. Figure out what is in it for them.
Remember relationship is everything. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, even if it’s in the form of advice and introductions from people you know. One person, one contact can make all the difference between success and failure.
Step#6. Make a plan to achieve your goal.
This step requires you make a list of the obstacles you will have to overcome, the additional knowledge and skill you require and the people whose help you need. You then organise the list into a plan based your priorities
Step#7. Take action.
This is perhaps the most important part of the exercise, take action immediately on your plan. Once you start, don’t stop.
Do something every day that moves you towards the achievement of your goals.
Become intensely action oriented. Move with a sense of urgency.
Develop momentum-a principle for success. The momentum principle states that once you are in motion, it is much easier for you to stay in motion than if you come to a complete halt and try to start all over. This principle is one of the success secret practiced by high-achieving men and women.
Your own 12-month action plan
Here is a key exercise you can start today
- take a clean sheet of paper and write at the top of the page the words “my goals” and today’s date
- Write down 12 goals you would like to achieve in the next 12 months
- write these goals in the present tense as though a year has passed and each goal has already been attained
- Write these goals in present tense personal and positive word forms. Use words like ” I am, I earn, I drive, I have” When you use the word I with regard to yourself, you program your subconscious mind to go to work on your goals
- once you have written down your 10 goals , review you list and select the one goal that will be your priority
- make this goal your major definite purpose for the next 12 months
When you are able to start your day, clarifying your goals, taking action to achieve them, you will live a wealthier and happier life.
Think rich and grow rich
Akin Osho
