Determination for Success

Goal floundering

Why do so many say they want to lose weight, quit smoking or whatever they choose to desire but not achieve. Actually we all do it, talk about desires but they just never materialize. Every New Year’s, the same few resolutions everyone makes and fails at usually within the month of January. We take a closer look at determination and success here.

Decide

When you decide to do something, it is your drive, your choice to make this happen. The pain of your current situation becomes stronger than the effort to make the necessary changes. This is a key point, let’s use weight loss as an example. One great way to determine finally to take action is to focus on the pain of your current situation. Think about the way you look, think about how much better you would look if you lost weight. Think about if you were more fit, and all the advantages you would have with more activity. Think about your health, how much better you would feel.

Pain Points

List all the pain points you currently have and how the efforts you put forward would give you benefits. Don’t just think about it, make a list. List the benefits, list the pain points, then the plan. This is not a onetime thing, you should add to all parts as ideas come to you and you talk to others and such. The more powerful these lists are, the stranger your determination will be. These need to be reviewed and expanded on a regular basis. Too many people avoid going into this depth of review. Thus, they just become involved in life and avoid the real determination to take significant action.

Action

Determination means you have eliminated all other results. You have decided to bring this dream or desire to reality. You may not have the resources, you may not know how right now but you will give the effort to make it happen. The plan does not have to be complete, make small changes, and make the obvious changes. Record this as you go, record temptations, weaknesses, wins and strengths. Build a log that will become your story as time goes on.

Experience

Over time you will be able to form plans for temptations, for your weaknesses. You will optimize your strengths, the key is record and review. Focus your thoughts on success. This in itself helps you avoid failure. Your focus is on a structured plan. You just need to push yourself forming this effort as a new habit.

Clearity

How far will you push yourself? You must push yourself beyond your comfort zone. Doing this will expand your comfort zone, it will cause you to grow and gain confidence. This requires you to be clear on your goal, your pain points, your actions. Make sure you review all of this and do not let it fade down your priorities as life happens.

Getting Caught Up

Too many people let life sweep them away, they react, they minimalize effort. It all becomes part of mindset, this is critical which we discuss at another timeMindset. Life is busy, it is easy to just let it happen to you. Don’t get caught up in day to day activities, carve out time for your plans. This will meet resistance. Those around you may criticize or mock your efforts, this should just reinforces your efforts and shows how important these people are in your life.

Personally, when I have plenty of goals and tasks, I really feel good because I can see and feel progress in my efforts. I have a reason to go harder and farther. Without a good plan and structure you may also feel busy but at the end of the day you are just tired, not fulfilled. You may have just worked on someone elses goals.

In Closing

They key is, be really clear on what you want and how to get it. From there, expect obstacles, be ready for them and don’t let them derail your focus. Then just follow the basics outlined here. We will be back with much, much more.