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Step Four to Achieving Career Joy - Commit to Action |
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"The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don't define them, or ever seriously consider them as believable or achievable. Winners can tell you where they are going, what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing the adventure with them." - Denis Watley
Step Four to Achieving Career Joy - Commit to Action
What came up for you when you were taking inventory? Were there any themes that kept emerging? How did it feel to wave your realistic magic wand and say what you want? For some people the answer is scary and by saying what they want, they suddenly feel a responsibility for achieving it and realize that if they don't, they only have themselves to blame.
I think that is a pretty powerful concept actually because when we look at it from this perspective, we have 100% control over what we have and what we want. In fact, I would argue that we have exactly what we want - or at least that which we are committed to getting. So, what do you want?
Look at the 8 areas of your life and then reflect on questions #4 and #6. We touched on the magic wand concept but what about the action plan? Do you have one? If you do, great. If not, it is time we get started.
Most people are good at setting goals. They can spend all day identifying something they want (set the goal) but the execution gets them every time. Why? Because setting them is one thing, working toward them tirelessly every day no matter what is another. And that is what it takes. Daily commitment to achieving the goal is the only way it happens. Oil billionaire HL Hunt said success requires two things: 1) you have to know exactly what you want and 2) you have to determine the price you will have to pay to achieve it and then get busy paying the price.
Achieving goals takes time, energy, focus, commitment and the ability to overcome obstacles that are sure to get in your way.
Exercise:
1. Identify your top 3 goals in the area of your career. (you can apply this process to all areas if you wish)
2. Identify a specific date by which you want to achieve your 3 goals.
3. Break each goal into 5 steps and identify 5 things you must do or that must happen in order for you to reach this goal.
4. Create a time-line for each of the 5 steps for each goal. On this time-line include what you will accomplish, by what specific date, how achieving it will move you closer to your ultimate goal, and how you will know you have accomplished it.
5. Make a commitment to view obstacles as merely pebbles in the water and identify the support systems you have in place when you are faced with an obstacle.
6. If it feels right for you, share you goals with a trusted friend.
7. Every night before you go to bed or first thing in the morning, spend 10 minutes focusing on your goal. Whether you choose to do a visualization where you see yourself accomplishing your goals or you want to make a list of the things you will do today to bring you closer to your goal, it doesn't matter. What matters is that every day you give your goals your attention. You will become what you think about most often. This daily practice will have a huge impact on whether or not you accomplish your goals. Keep your eyes forward but work in the present. And, when you are forced with choices each day, ask your self this question. "Will this choice bring me closer to or further away from reaching my goal?"
8. Think about how you will feel in 6 months or 3 years if you achieve your goals. Think about how you will feel if you don't. |
