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Secret of Success |
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The secret of
success is not really all that obscure— however, it cannot be
specifically defined for the masses because success can be
defined quite differently by each individual. Therefore, in order to
identify the secret of success, it is first necessary to come
to terms with your own personal definition of success. Each
individual’s own definition of will be influenced by several key
factors:
- Success is subject to individual interpretation based
on upbringing, past experiences, role models, personal motivations
and goals. For some it might be to own a home in an upscale
neighborhood, while for others it might be a career in the Peace
Corps. Carefully contemplate your definition of success based on
your values—not what your brother-in-law or Madison Avenue tells
you it is. Your own definition of personal success directly
influences the secret of, or critical factors of
success.
- Your view of success will change at various times throughout
your life. For example, what might be deemed successful in college
or on your first job is very different from successfully raising a
family or comfortably retiring in the Caribbean. Your definition
of success will continue to change, so don’t make the error of
pursuing an outdated version of it. Success factors will change
over time.
- When you achieve success in life, it is sometimes measurable
and sometimes not. Accumulating a certain amount of wealth is one
measure, but a successful marriage may be far more meaningful to
many people and can only be measured by how the two partners
feel about each other as the years go by.
- Very few people achieve success accidentally. Most people who
achieve success first defined it then planned for it; they set a
goal to achieve it. They also know that the secret of success
changes, depending on the goal.
Once you have
defined what it means to achieve success for yourself, your next
step is to set goals that will lead you to your definition of
success. You must create realistic, viable plans to achieve those
goals. Follow your plans, be flexible, and enjoy the process. It’s
not about keeping up with the Joneses.
Here are five
timeless "secrets of success" that will directly affect your success
in achieving any goal:
Secret of Success Step #1:
Identify Your Goal
Clearly determine what the goal is. Be
specific.
- Bad: “To lose weight”
- Good: “To lose 10 pounds in a healthy way”
Secret of Success Step #2: Identify Your
Obstacles
List all the obstacles standing between you (or
your team) and the goal. Identify resources, assistance, information
or anything else that might be needed to reach the goal. As your
writing, don’t get discouraged by the obstacles– they’re absolutely
necessary to help you with the next step in completing your plan.
Secret of Success Step #3: List Tasks to Overcome
Each Obstacle
Taking each obstacle one at a time, write
one or more ways the obstacle could be overcome. These are tasks (or
action items) that will comprise your to-do list. Expect to have
several tasks per obstacle.
Secret of Success Step
#4: Assign Task Deadlines and Set Up Task Reminders or Other
Alerts
Assign a start and completion date to each task in
the plan. It’s ok to be working on several different tasks at the
same time, but don’t overdo it. Be realistic. Assign a reminder or
alert to each task in the plan to keep you on track. If you're using
myGoals.com, you can specify how often you want to be reminded via
email of every task you've listed in your plan. You can choose to be
reminded daily, weekly, monthly, at random, etc.
Secret of Success Step #5: Follow Your Success
Plan
If you use myGoals.com, by the time to you've
reached this step, you will have defined a GoalPlanTM.
Complete each task in succession. Revisit your GoalPlan often and
make sure to use your reminder system to keep you on track.
Additional Suggestions:
- If your success plan is too long or complicated, try breaking
it into several smaller, more manageable plans.
- Don’t rely on luck or things outside your control as part of
your success plan.
- Be flexible–expect your success plan to change before you
complete it. Circumstances change, unexpected events occur, and
your plan should be updated to adapt to changes. Use planning
software such as myGoals.com
to help construct your plan and modify it regularly.
- Seek the input of others who have expertise in the area or who
have completed a similar goal.
- Reward yourself for partial success as significant milestones
are accomplished.
Secret of Success: Tools & ResourcesmyGoals.com (this
Web site) was designed to help you achieve success, regardless of
how you chose to define it. By helping you select and pursue
personally fulfilling goals, you create a clear, defined path to
your own personal success. myGoals.com's pre-made
GoalPlans®, goal-setting wizard, and email reminders are
extremely effective tools for creating viable plans and keeping you
on track.
As priorities change (and circumstances change),
goals will change as well. myGoals.com provides a convenient,
flexible, and easy way to manage your path to success. We encourage
everyone to pursue their goals with passion. Personal success
is yours alone to define, pursue, and achieve. We are here to help.
To learn more or sign up for a free
trial, visit our goal-setting homepage.
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