What are your goals for 2020? I’m not talking about the typical New Year’s resolutions that no one seems to keep, but rather the strategic goals you set that will help you grow in terms of your career, relationships, knowledge and skills, or personal experiences.
We all have big dreams for our lives, yet many people know the pain of not living the life they want. Whether your goal is to achieve celebrity status, change the world, or simply try something new, the one thing that enables professional athletes and CEOs to succeed is the same thing that will help you continue to level up in the coming years and achieve unprecedented success — I’m talking about being persistent, of course.
Webster’s dictionary says that being persistent is the act of continuing to do something or trying to do something even though it is difficult or other people want you to stop. But what Webster fails to mention is that sometimes, the “other people” standing in your way is oftentimes yourself — your fear in setting bold goals and your belief that higher levels of success are unattainable.
How, then, can you develop a mindset of persistence that will not only help you overcome difficult obstacles, but also clear the path of other people including yourself that may be preventing you from succeeding. Put our top four strategies into motion for 2020 and beyond:
Set Specific Goals
Persistence only works if you’re working toward something. It’s not enough to say “I want to make more money.” Be specific about how much you want to grow your wealth, then work backward to develop a strategy that will help you reach those numbers. Break that larger goal into specific smaller goals and create strategies for those.
Every decision you make this year should link back to the goals you set. If they don’t, you probably aren’t prioritizing the right actions.
Understand Potential Challenges
Think about what you want your life to look like — why doesn’t it look that way? There’s something (or many things) preventing you from achieving the level of success you want. It’s essential to identify those obstacles so you can address and eliminate them and keep moving forward.
Stay focused on the obstacles that you have control over. Some things you may be unable to do anything about, but by demolishing as many challenges as possible, you’ll have more energy and resources to build resilience against challenges out of your control.
Don’t Confuse Setbacks with Failure
We don’t always get it right the first time, but that doesn’t mean we never will. As Thomas Edison once said, “I haven’t failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that don’t work.”
Remember that setbacks are often inevitable when you’re trying new things and stepping outside of your comfort zone. Don’t let fear paralyze you when you make a mistake. There’s no such thing as a “perfect” journey in life, so don’t let mistakes make you want to throw in the towel. Trial and error can be your friend, so embrace the opportunity to learn from your mistakes instead of letting them derail you from your greater goal. It will make your eventual victory even sweeter.
Think Long Term
The new year doesn’t define your entire life, but it can be a critical turning point in your success. Think about where you want to see yourself at the end of this year. Take it a step further and consider how you want people to remember you at the end of your lifetime and use that as a guard rail to keep you on track.
Our upcoming series presents the perfect opportunity for you to reflect on becoming the person you want people to remember — keep growing with us in 2020 and beyond!
Stay tuned! PEACE✌️