We all want to be successful at something, whether it is getting fit, changing the world for the better, finding a job we love, or having great kids. Whatever you want to do, there are certain steps you can take to raise your chances of being successful.
1. Visualise
I’m not a fan of the whole mystical, ‘Law of Attraction’ thing. What I do know is that you can’t work towards something if you don’t know what it is. You have to know exactly what you want as the end result, so that you can plot the best path to it. If you want to write a novel, you have to decide what kind of novel it’s going to be and flesh out at least some of the background. If you want to get fit, you have to decide what you want to be able to do at the end (lift really heavy weights? Swim and run great distances? Lose weight? Have a great immune system?) and then work out a fitness program accordingly.
2. Plot the Path
Once you know what you want, you have to break it down into stages. Writing a novel is daunting. Writing a page is less so. But you only need to write a page after a page to complete a novel. Plan your progress, figure out small stepping stones. If you have a fitness plan, celebrate the first time you manage ten (or one hundred) sit-ups. If you want to start your own business, figure out what you need (business cards, a financial cushion for the first couple of months, promotional literature, etc) and make it happen.
A journey begins with a single step. Just remember you have to keep putting one foot after another.
3. Believe, and make a commitment
If you want to be successful at something, you have to believe in it. You can’t make a happy marriage if you don’t believe in your love. You can’t get fit if you fundamentally believe that your metabolism will prevent you. Commit 100% to what you are doing. That means making it a part of your day to day life. Not, “Oh, I should really try and exercise more”, but “I am going to take action every day towards increasing my level of fitness”. Not “I need to spend more time with my kids” but “I am going to give these hours on these days to my children, and nobody else”.
4. Do it
The hardest part of all. Get started. Write that first page. Attend that first gym session. Take your kids out for a walk in the park. Then do it again. And again. And again.
5. Reward yourself
For every milestone you break, treat yourself. If you finish a chapter, buy yourself your favourite desert. If you manage one hundred push-ups, get yourself a new book, or that nice outfit you’ve been wanting.
Follow these steps, and you will increase your chances of success.
