Simple Steps Forward

I hope that every day you are seeing more and more light come into your life and you focus on what is important...your goals, your life and your happiness!  Yesterday we talked about planning for success.  Today we are going to dig a little deeper into planning.

In one of my former careers I was responsible for a department called "Planning & Control."  In a Fortune 500 company while planning was a critical function oftentimes the "goals" that the senior leaders had in their heads weren't realistic.  There is a big difference in stretching yourself in the growth process and burying yourself before you even start.  Where are you?

I believe in dreaming bold dreams...I however also believe that when we are trying to make a 180 degree turn in our life that there is no need to heap unnecessary stress onto ourselves.  It's like the tortoise & the hare analogy...  crossing the finish line is the goal...those of us that make a consistent effort reach our goals long before those who's efforts are irratic. 

Here is one of my goals as an example.  We want to move back to the Pacific Northwest.  I originally planned to achieve this goal by June 1, 2011.  While a year doesn't sound unreasonable there are components that must be timed optimally.  They includes putting our home on the market & selling it (without losing all of our investment); saving sufficient funds to pay for the relocation costs (moving, deposits on a new home or condo, utilities, miscellaneous expenses of a new location), downsizing our stuff and finding the exact place (town, neighborhood) that we want to relocate to.  The latter requires a trip or two to explore options.  Additionally we are in the process of closing down a couple of businesses which takes many months to work through. 

So as I rethought my completion date I decided to move it back to 9/1/2012.  That gives me sufficient time to get my ducks in a row and not be stressing over the goal...and potentially abandoning it because it wasn't realistic.  

While I have extended the date on my goal...I have kept every single one of the action steps which are necessary to achieve it.  My agreement with myself is that any decision that I make has to support one of my goals.  So if there is a way to achieve this goal sooner there is nothing in my way to keep me from doing so.  I am the tortioise...And that feels good to me. (Which by the way is a 180 degree change for me.)

Take another look at the goals that you wrote down yesterday.  (Did you write them down???)  Are your timelines realistic?  Give youself the opportunity to succeed! 

The only thing that matters is that you are happy.  You have already decided that your goals are what you want your life to be.  Set aside instant gratification... take a Simple Step forward.  

Plan Your Success

You are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel grow a little brighter every day.  You know what buried you in the dark and you’ve made the decision that you aren’t going to take it anymore. 

As part of our efforts to respect ourselves we need to incorporate a plan, a schedule, a roadmap to following along this journey that is life.  Get out your GPS (ok compass if technology isn’t you thing. 

Now’s the time to make some decisions about your life.   Follow these Simple Steps to get you off the starting line:

• What is THE most important goal that you want to accomplish?  Go back to school and get your GED,  College Degree, learn an entirely new trade or vocation?  Do you want to set up your own business, find the job of your dreams?  Do you want to travel the world? 

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

– Chinese Proverb

• Commit to Your Goal.  In writing (or a Word Document) write specifically what your goal is using the following with that statement.  Examples include: 

Reduce my weight by 10% (20 lbs) by January 1, 2011. 
Move to Oregon by June 15, 2011.
Obtain my GED by September 30, 2010

I am 100% committed to attaining (insert your goal)( ie. Reducing my weight by 20 lbs by 1/1/2011.) Every decision that I make considers my goal and moves me in the direction of it. 

Sign and date the document. 

The final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands. – Anne Frank

• List out any requirements you need to obtain or achieve in order to reach your goal.  Using the weight reduction goal this might include:  Purge pantry of all junk food.  Replace sodas with water or diet sodas.  Stock up on fruits & veggies.  Buy meets with lower fat contents.  Plan my meals.  Buy a divided plate to portion my meals in.  Tell my family & friends so that they can support me.
• Take each one of these and schedule it into your days.  Some plans might take weeks or months.  The idea is to have a schedule.

Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now.

– Alan Lakein

• Take your first step!  When you have completed it cross it off your list with a bold mark so you graphically see your success! 
• Take your next step…and so on and so on and so on…

An intelligent plan is the first step to success. The man who plans knows where he is going, knows what progress he is making and has a pretty good idea when he will arrive. – Basil Walsh

As you move confidently in the direction of your dream…your goal…your confidence to handle anything that comes your way increases exponentially.  Along your path you may need to take a detour or two…  Don’t be discouraged.  Use those opportunities to enhance your journey…

One final Simple Step…sit back and close your eyes.  Experience in your mind what it feels like to reach your goal.  Go to this place often…because as you send this vibration out to the universe it comes back to you. 

It’s the Law of Attraction!