Success: First Steps

Our success, whether it is a lifetime goal or a goal for the year, hinges on our ability to create an accomplishable plan to get there. One of the reasons that change is difficult for people is because they see such a big gap between where they are and their goal. This perceived distance can feel overwhelming and frustrating. But, big things happen step by step. Usually, there is one piece to the puzzle that once in place makes the goal much more achievable. The following paragraphs offer some problem solving tips aimed at helping you figure out and follow through on your plan.

How do I pick the right step? Ask yourself: What is one step that I can take today that will lead me closer to where I want to be? Remember there is no substitution for doing. If you want to be a writer, write every day. If you want to lose weight then commit to using the stairs every day at work or skipping your morning snack.

I can’t get started. Perhaps, you picked a first step but day after day is going by and you are not doing it. Did you pick a first step that is something you hate doing?  Did you say that you are going to work on your business plan at six am in the morning when you like to sleep until at least eight? Or, did you decide that you are going to tackle the hardest part of a project in order to prove that it is the right way for you to proceed? Make it easier. Pick something you know you can do fairly easily and then make it your number one priority. After you have some successes, these challenging steps will become easier too.

I quickly lose interest. There are lots of reasons that people lose interest. One is perfectionism, which leads to setting very high goals that quickly burn the person out. Sometimes people, with the best of intentions, decide that they are going to go to the gym for 2 hours each day or they are going to have their first individual show in six months when they just started painting last week. Such ambitious plans are not necessarily bad. It is great to dream big but not when that holds you back rather than sets you free. Consistent small steps are almost always more effective in the long term.

I’ll never be good enough: Julia Cameron describes this predicament though the following short story: There is a sixty-year old woman who has always wanted to play the piano. When asked why she does not start learning she says, “You know how old I will be when I finally learn.” She is answered, “The same age you will be if you don’t.” If you really want to do something, start today.
Sometimes we hold onto a dream that you held onto since we were twenty but the truth now is that you wouldn’t want it if you got it. Sometimes, it is hard to let go of something that has inspired us for so long. But if you let go let go of the dream then a new one can come in that is in line with the person you are today

If you are still not sure how to proceed, don’t worry. This may be a time to seek some outside support. Talk to a friend or colleague and help each other develop a successful plan. Or, try a coach.  Coaches are trained to help you clarify your goals, determine next steps, and develop a plan.