The Path to Success
You have decided on your goal and committed yourself that you will reach it. Now comes the fun part, laying out the plan.
You see where you want to go; you are determined to get there, now you map out The How. You are going to plan out the steps it is going to take to reach that goal.
Planning is where people usually start to lose steam. It was relatively easy to visualize and set a goal and promise yourself that you will follow through. Now comes the work. And, I know you can do this!
If you have been doing the steps, you are clear on your goal, and why you want it, you know what you are willing to do to have it, and next, you will outline the steps you need to get there.
People often get overwhelmed at this point because they are looking at the end goal and all the things they need to do to get there. But I’m going to help you figure this out. If you break a goal down into doable chunks, make a realistic plan, and doggedly pursue it, you will succeed.
The plan I want you to make is an actual written plan that details each step. Even if you are starting something like an exercise routine. You may think it is enough to just say to yourself, “I’m going to exercise three times this week.” It is not. Research shows that you’re 42% more likely to achieve a goal when you write it down. And when you write, “I’m going to exercise Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 6:00 a.m.,” your odds get even better.
So, follow these steps for making your plan.
Write down everything you will need to do to accomplish your goal in as much detail as possible.
Break it down into small, doable steps.
Calendar each activity.
Some words of caution…
Be careful not to get caught up in the “research and learning” phase of planning. You can trick yourself into believing you are making progress by gathering information. My Texas brain calls this the “fixin’ to” stage.
Realistically plan the time you will need to accomplish tasks.
Plan to accomplish something. (Have a finished product.)
For instance:
GOOD - Meal prep on Sunday.
BETER - I will shop for, cook, and package four days’ worth of meals on Sunday.
Make sure the tools and supplies you will need are on hand.
Make this time and the activities non-negotiable and get to work.
Your goal is on the horizon. Keep going. You’ve got this.