Someone wise once said that there are only two problems in life. You either know what you want and don’t know how to get it, or you don’t know what you want. These are the two biggest barriers to success that most women are likely to encounter. Fortunately, there are ways to push through these barriers and achieve the life that you’ve always wanted. Here are some steps that will move you towards your goals in life.
The first step to success is to figure out what it is that you want. Remember that second problem? It is not knowing what you want. Without clearly defined goals you will never have any direction in life. This applies to every aspect of your life. What are your career goals? What are your personal goals? What are your goals for your significant relationships? Where do you want to be in five years? In ten? These are some questions that will help you to start defining your goals. Figuring out what you want will show you where you are going. It will also help you to know when you have arrived and when it is time to set new goals.
Once you’ve started defining your goals, it is time to be really brave. Write down your goals and be specific about it. That’s right. Commit them to paper and to a timeline. This gets your goals out of your head and onto paper. In order to be able to write your goals down they need to be specific. Instead of saying, “I want to lose weight,” say, “I want to lose 50 pounds this year.” The first goal is very indefinite. You will have a difficult time knowing when you have achieved it. The second goal is very specific. You either will or will not have lost 50 pounds at the end of the year. Using specific goals will help you to stay motivated and accountable.
After you’ve written down some specific and measureable goals, it is time to make a plan. Figure out how you are going to achieve your goals. Write out your plan step by step so that you know exactly what needs to happen. In the example about losing weight, maybe you need to join a gym or purchase an exercise DVD, then commit to working out at least three times each week. All of these steps are part of your specific plan for losing weight.
Once your plan is written out, a great deal of the work is already done. If you’ve come up with a step by step plan for achieving your goal, then all you have to do is follow your plan. One effective way to do this is to put the next step to your goal on your to do list for the day or week. Once that task is done, add the next step to your list. By doing this, you will ensure that you are working through your plan one step at a time and that eventually you will reach your goal.
After spending time writing and acting on your plan, don’t forget to revisit your goals periodically. Many people like to do this each week or month. Review your goals and evaluate your progress towards those goals. Adjust your plan according to whether or not you feel like you are making adequate progress. Taking these steps will help you to work your way towards success one step at a time!
