A friend recently told me that he had just paid off a long term debt — and that it was one of three major financial goals that he has for the year. I fully expect him to share with me before Christmas, that he has accomplished the other two financial goals as well.
It happens all the time. Someone wants to lose weight. They get committed and focused and are willing to eat healthy; willing to say no to poor food and beverage choices; willing to get up early or stay up later to exercise; willing to watch YouTube videos for instruction; willing to associate with other like-minded people; etc. Eventually, after a certain amount of time, they lose the weight and feel great. They didn’t just wish to lose weight and miraculously the weight fell off. Indeed not. They had to focus in on all of the micro decisions that would lead them to the outcome they desired. And most importantly — not quit.
Many people miss their goals because they quit. Why? They do not set small regular steps that need to be accomplished consistently in order to achieve the said goal. Sure people set goals; one person may want to pay off a long term debt; but many times they are not willing to stop spending in ways that created the debt and certainly not willing take the money that they now spend at a restaurant or bistro to pay it down and eventually pay it off, it will never happen. Instead, they just “want” it to happen or “wish” they could be lucky enough to pay it off. They don’t truly believe it will happen. Because if they did, they would change their habits to reflect someone who is serious about accomplishing the goal. So, because of their disbelief that it can ever happen and unwillingness to do something about it – consistently — the goal is really just a want or a wish, not an actual target that they are committed to hit by focusing on a series of actions that will lead them to success.
So, what is it that you want to accomplish? I warn you that it will not be easy. Success at any level requires commitment and discipline, which can be painful at first but super rewarding after you start to achieve success and hit your goals. It also is hard and there are dark times where you do not believe in yourself. As you start to make consistent effort, your confidence will grow. When your confidence grows, your action will increase. When your action increase over time, you will achieve your goals. But, like my friend, be sure to have another goal to shoot for through discipline, focus, and action. After you have accomplished that one, then have another . . .and another, because anyone can set a goal but achieving a goal is another thing.
EBTGains 