|
 |
|
True Success |
|
|
|
"True success" cannot be specifically defined for the masses because success can be defined quite differently by each individual. Therefore, in order to achieve true 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:
- True 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 true success based on your values—not what your brother-in-law or Madison Avenue tells you it is.
- Your view of true 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 Your definition of true success will continue to change, so don’t make the error of pursuing an outdated version of it.
- When you achieve success, 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 true 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 true 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 your own personal success:
True 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”
True 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.
True 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.
True 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.
True 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 for True Success:
- 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.
Tools & Resources for True Success
myGoals.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 GoalPlansTM, 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.
|
|
|
|
