Be careful what you believe because that is what you’ll experience. Our belief system is a mechanism which is uniquely ours for the most part. It’s powered by your desire and controlled by your thoughts and actions. In other words, your success is measured by the strength of your belief.
What is it that you want? A lot of us don’t have a clue what it is we want. We can definitely express what we don’t want, and honestly that’s not a bad place to start. With that said, now is a good time to evaluate your goals and determine the end result you want to achieve. Put your goals in writing and place them where you can see them throughout the day. Read them frequently to keep them fresh on your mind. This is nothing new; however it’s not a practice that most people seem to adopt.
Here are a few steps to put you in the right mindset to adopt the practice:
- Be inquisitive. Research and learn as much as you can about how you can achieve your goal. However, be aware of information paralysis. Use all possible resources books, online videos, courses and people. Yeah, people. Speak to as many folks as possible who are already successful in the area you want to achieve. Ask, ask and ask some more about what they did to reach success. I read somewhere that you ask three times if the first response was a No. Don’t limit your contacts to only the people you already know. Introduce yourself by email, social media (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook are huge for this), explain your purpose for contacting them and ask what their needs are. As Gary Vaynerchuck often says, study your prospect; figure out how you could contribute to their lives. The worst thing that can happen is that they ignore you. The best thing that can happen is that they become your mentor and offer support and encouragement. Chances are you will receive at least one great tip from many of the people you contact. This method is the least expensive and most rewarding.
- Stand out. Next, take the ideas you learn, embellish them and come up with your own creative process. Think of how you can approach your goal in a way that no one else has. Dare to be different. Don’t be afraid to take risks. What do you have to lose? Write out a list showing the worst things that could happen and a list all of the best possible outcomes. Always maintain your concentration on your desired result. Stay positive.
- Be better than your competition. The first bicycle that I ever rode solo happened to be an adult bike, my fathers to be exact. I saw other kids in the neighborhood riding their bikes, and to my seven year old self, if they could, then hell I could too. I got on that bike; don’t know how I did it, but in what seemed like a couple minutes, learned to balance and rode that bike up and down in our front yard. From my very first effort, in my mind, no one could tell me that I could not ride that bike. There was never an ounce doubt.
- Be positive. If you see obstacles before you, then you will also only see problems. If you have hesitations that your plan will not work, then it WILL NOT WORK. If you are influenced by the power of negative people, then you will never be any better than they are. Believe in yourself and that you are capable of achievement.
When our desire to succeed is stronger than our anticipation of pain, fear or the frustration of failing, there is no turning back. I challenge you to view your goals just like you did when you were a child, before you learned about self-doubt and negative criticism. Remember, anything is possible as long as you believe. Make a commitment that you will not let anything or anyone, including yourself stand in the way of you reaching your goals.