A ship does not leave the harbor without an end port in mind. This is critical because it impacts how much fuel, food, crewmembers etc. are needed for the journey. Consider yourself as a ship, and the destination as your goal, Start preparing for this voyage by first establishing the goal you would like to achieve. This is a critical first step that is keeping most people from obtaining their goals. They have no vision of what they want to achieve – so the goal is not attainable. Outlined below are some things that you need to consider in order to overcome some of the obstacles you will face on your journey towards your goals.
Self-doubt or self-sabotage
There is a famous quote by Henry Ford, where he said that “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you’re right.” This is as true today as when he first made the comment. Your attitude will give you the impetus you need to advance in life and to achieve the goals you set for yourself. Therefore, for you to have any chance of achieving any goal – you must first believe that you can, and you will. Once you have this mindset – you will start doing the things you need to do each day. As well as aligning yourself with others who are in a position to help you and cheer you along.
People who are focus on getting their predetermined goals are said to be driven. As they will not be impeded by any setback. Adopting this way of thinking will be evident to everyone and pretty soon everything you need will start falling into place. However, this journey starts with you. Therefore, give yourself a head start by believing you can since the converse is true.
Too much information
We are no doubt living in the information age, where everything you need to know about any subject matter is literally at your fingertips. As long as you have access to the internet – you are able access information that you will need to catapult your career. The internet also provides information that will increase your awareness on any subject matter of your choice, as well as access to information to help you improve your relationship with others.
This can be an overwhelming endeavor which is often referred to as information overload. What you need to do is start filtering the information to what is of interest to you. Then zooming in on the specific information that you will need on your quest to achieve your goals. This can be done by limiting the Podcasts you listen to, Blogs and the Newsletters you subscribed to, as well as the courses you take online. Remember whatever you access online is fed to you back through the algorithm used by these applications. Therefore, be intentional on the information you processed online – this will help to decrease the information overload.
Lack of Discipline
By not completing what you have started is a vote cast against achieving your goals. Many of us can relate to the situation of starting a book without completing it (I have several on my bedside table). It’s very difficult to get going after long pauses – therefore, the books you started reading or the online course you are enrolled in, are not that appealing anymore. This is why you need to be discipline and show up every day. This will allow you to keep the momentum going while maintaining your interest. The more you work on your goals the quicker they are achieved and the less you do the longer it takes. Artist, musicians, and athletes will tell you that dedication is critical to their success, and they would not have been great without being disciplined. Mike Tyson had this to say when asked about discipline – “Discipline is doing what you hate to do, but do it like you love it.” He understands the value of discipline -therefore, if you want to achieve your goals, you should be dedicated to the cause every day and remain motivated on the journey – much like how steadfast these professional athletes are towards their goals of becoming the best in their craft.
Fair of failure
One if the main reasons why many people fail to achieve their goals – is because of their fair of failure. There is always an element of failure involved in any activity we set out to achieve – but our desire to succeed should be more compelling than that of failure. Think about anything you are doing quite well now, that you were afraid of trying. It could be riding a bike, driving a car or starting a new career. You are good at it now – not because you get it right the first time you tried. However, you were willing to do it over and over until you got it right. This attitude should be used to fuel your desire to achieve any goal. The aim is not to fail – however if you do, the lessons learnt during the process will help you to be better prepared on your journey to achieve your goals.
Poor Network
Your circle of friends has a direct influence on how you set your goals and your approach to achieving them. If you want to be successful, then you must surround yourself with people who are success oriented, driven, and have a positive attitude. Whether you want to lose weight, improve your health, learn a new language or advance in your career – then you must align yourself with people who are interested in these areas as well. Therefore, you might need to attend seminars, workshops, start reading books in your interest or get a coach or mentor to help you. The bottom line is that the company you keep can hold you back or push you forward towards your goals.
Lack of talent and skills
In order to achieve your goals, you must conduct a skill inventory of yourself. Examine the skills you possess and what you will need to achieve the goals you are targeting. If you lack the skills, then seek training and align yourself with others who can help you overcome any deficiency you might have in your skillset. Many of us are not born with certain innate talent or skills and abilities. However, most of these skills are trainable – therefore, if you apply yourself, you can demonstrate these competences as if you had them from birth. The key is to make a decision to improve if you find your skills lacking. Therefore, don’t despair, obtaining your goals might just be one course or a skill away.
Your goals are now within your grasp – take these points seriously and set your sails. The points we explored in this article possess the current you need to send your ship sailing safely to your next destination.
