Are You Really Serious About Achieving Something? Are you willing to plan for it?
- The first step in getting from here to there is to identify here and there. By “identify,” I mean write down specifics. Where are you now? Where do you want to be?
- Second, decide the time frame. Age 70? Age 50? Next year?
- Third, decide why: the benefits. Write them down.
- Fourth, make an estimate of how much it’s going to cost: (1) money, (2) time, (3) emotional distress, (4) forfeited opportunities.
Write it down. - Fifth, write down the major action steps and put dates on them. Then create a review/reminder system, date by date. This will tell you if you are sticking to your schedule. It is easy to forget what has to be done. This applies to everything you say you want to do. Don’t say, “I’ve got to lose some weight.” Say, “I’ve got to lose 20 pounds in the next six months. I must maintain the weight permanently, especially through the Christmas holidays. If I gain two pounds at any time, I will take specific steps to get them off.”
Goals without plans are dreams. Dreams don’t come true without plans.
Do you want more pay? Go through this procedure.
Do you want to live in a safer place? Go through this procedure.
The procedure should not be complex, but it should be specific. Specificity forces us to count the costs. We don’t want to count the costs. We prefer dreams to reality. We tend to give up on reality, which is another way of saying that we give up on ourselves. This makes us prime candidates for self-deception.
So, ask yourself these three questions:
What do I want to achieve?
How soon do I want to achieve it?
What am I willing to pay?
This will get you started.
Amy is a Christian mother of three amazing adults, a small business owner, and the director of student services for Essential Learning Institute. Her passion is helping children who are struggling to learn, find and reach their potential. Her daily motto is, “Find the joy in your moments”
