Okay. You’ve got your ‘Be, Do, Have’ dream list completed and it’s now time to take the most important dreams from up there in the ‘I wish’ clouds and bring them down to the ‘ I do’ steps to bring them into reality in your life. The simpler this step is, the better. That’s why I like the advice given by one of the world’s most successful people of the past century, Mr. Warren Buffet. Make a list of the top 25 things you want to accomplish in the next year(s). (You should have done this in your dream list created from my last blog). Then, from this list, choose your top 5. The remaining 20 things you should AVOID AT ALL COSTS!
I’ve found this advice has set me free from the pressure to try to accomplish too much. I used to think the number of goals I wrote down, as well as their perceived loftiness, reflected my level of ambition so I would write down too many goals, as well as goals that would look good to society, but weren’t really in my heart to want to achieve. So even though I’d get that initial adrenaline rush in writing them down, it would quickly fade, leaving me feeling like I couldn’t accomplish any of my goals—so why bother?! Ever feel that way? You are a successful person when you choose and pursue YOUR dreams/goals!
It’s time to choose.
1. What are your top 5? Write them down now.
Don’t have 5? That’s ok—I’ll tell you a secret……I have 3! And I’ve never felt more freedom and expectation in accomplishing these goals in my life!!!
2. Next step: Why do you want to accomplish it? What would change in your life, and the lives of those around you by accomplishing this goal?…if you don’t accomplish this goal? Your ‘WHY’ is the fuel that will keep propelling you forward to the accomplishment of your goal. During those times when your motivational flame weakens, returning to your WHY will help pour the fuel required to keep moving ahead through the tough times. Write down your WHY. How will you feel when you’ve accomplished your goal? See yourself on the mountaintop. Feel your joy and feel the joy that those around you will experience by you succeeding. This isn’t a selfish goal. If it were only about you, you could afford to stop, or step off the path to ‘take a break’ or a detour to be ‘comfortable’. Achieving worthwhile goals will always involve discomfort and self-denial. Heroes fight for causes and you are the hero in your story and your WHY is your cause! The more detail, the more fuel you’ll generate in this step. Write it down!
3. Create a S.M.A.R.T. goal for each of the goals you’ve chosen to pursue. (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timebound). Use the S.M.A.R.T. acronym to help you build each goal into something that you can create a practical plan to accomplish. If your goal can’t be broken down into the S.M.A.R.T. criteria, you’ll have to re-jig it until it does or it’s likely your goal is too general, reducing its likelihood of being accomplished.
4. From the clouds to your feet.
What is the simplest step, the easiest ONE thing you could do to start your goal? As an example, if you’ve set the goal to start running, the simplest step would be to put your running shoes next to the front door. Yes, that simple! This makes it practical. This is your first step of faith. Faith in your head isn’t faith at all until you exercise that faith by taking action.
Remember, goal accomplishment isn’t achieved through a handful of huge, overwhelming leaps. It’s accomplished through small, seemingly insignificant steps that are figured out along the way and add up to the distance necessary to succeed. Take your first step with the joy of knowing you’re on a mission that will leave you, and those you love, better off for having pursued.
Next blog will be about the challenges you’ll face on the journey and how to overcome them!
Your Ottawa Chiropractor,
Dr. Derek Haughton