FORM A PLAN OF ATTACK

No matter what you choose to do in life, you must follow a system that allows you to access new opportunities. The way that you go about chasing your goals should be strategic. I say that because I know people who have succeeded in something strictly in a serendipitous way. They fell into it and had no idea they were about to become successful. While it’s great and works sometimes, ultimately, the results are not really what they were searching for in the first place. Setting goals in life require you identify the actual goal first. Then you start the steps to reach it.

Create the goal, then take a long look at it.

You really can accomplish anything you set your mind to do if that’s what you want. There’s always a price to pay for everything and you have to be willing to pay the price. You must have a solid understanding of what it takes to get there before you begin. If you want to be an attorney, you have to decide if you are willing to give up the time to classes and study for several years to reach the goal, only to work hard to start a practice or get a well paid job. If you want to lose 20 pounds and several clothing sizes, you have to make sure you’re willing to pay the price of the energy and commitment it takes to working out and the effort it takes to change your eating habits. Of course, if you don’t, there’s also a price to pay down the road.

Don’t give up on your goals.

When you accept the challenge you are in for the long haul. For a fitness goal, it isn’t for one day or one week. It should be for a lifetime. Of course, for many people reaching the goal will end the journey. When you commit for a lifetime, it becomes a lifestyle change. To make this less daunting, commit to the goal and reevaluate once you reach it.

You’ll succeed when you do the first two.

Even though success is important, the journey to it is just as important. The ability to commit to a goal is as or even more important than the outcome of success, because success will occur when you make a firm decision and commit. Of course, the successful completion of the goal makes it all worthwhile and drives you tackle even more difficult tasks.

• When you don’t make a firm decision about achieving a goal, your just making a wish.
• Commitment to a goal means you won’t let anything stop you from carrying out the steps to reach the goal.
• Sometimes, no matter how committed you are, something stands in the way of your success. It doesn’t take away from your plan or commitment, it just means you have to evaluate the steps to reach it and make adjustments.
• When making a decision, if you say, “I’d like to do X” rather than “I will do X,” you haven’t made the decision you need to succeed.