 |
 |
|
Steps to Success |
|
|
|
The exact "Steps to
Success" cannot be specifically defined for the masses because
success can be defined quite differently by each individual.
Therefore, in order to pursue the correct steps for 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:
- Steps to success are 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 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pursuing an outdated version of it.
- 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.
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 simple steps to help you
define and achieve success:
Steps to 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”
Steps to 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.
Steps to 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.
Steps to 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.
Steps to 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.
Steps to 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.
|
| |
|
