Have you ever wondered why some people reach their goals while others do not? Here are 4 key factors which are found in high achievers and are determining factors for the results you get. By adopting and practicing these four fundamentals, you will find yourself moving toward your goals faster than ever before.
1) A Clear Vision
Many people have general ideas of things they want, much fewer have concrete goals. Many will say things like: "I really want to lose weight." That's not a goal. If you really want something, it will help you tremendously to get as clear as possible about what it is you want. A goal should be crystal clear such as: "
I will lose 100 pounds no later than November 15th." This is specific and it is very obvious whether you've achieved it or fallen short. Clarity of exactly what you want is crucial. Imagine you were sitting in an airplane waiting to take off and the flight attendant said over the speakers: "
Just for your information, the pilot lost his eyesight earlier today so he's blind right now, but don't worry he'll get you there." Not having a clear vision for your goal and still thinking that you're going to be successful is like playing darts in the dark and thinking you'll hit the bulls eye - Not going to happen.
2) Enthusiasm
Once you know clearly what you want, then you've got to go get it. Nothing will help you along the way toward reaching your goal quite like enthusiasm. Enthusiasm drives actions and actions drive results.
Are people more productive when they are enthusiastic about a job or when they are indifferent? Of course, when they are enthusiastic.
That being said, there are constantly times when we have to do something and we don't feel enthusiastic. That's okay, just fake it until you make it. Pretend you're enthusiastic even when you're not and the enthusiasm will soon follow.
Doing what you should even when you don't feel like it leads right in to the third key to achieving goals: Discipline.
3) Discipline
Any goal that is worthwhile will take hard work and doing hard work consistently. Many people work hard when they feel like it. If doing the right thing only when you felt like it was enough in order to be successful than everyone would be successful and happy.
The fact is, success in any area takes consistent hard work, which is only accomplished through discipline. Discipline is forcing yourself to do what you should no matter how you feel. Its an essential quality to develop because we're always surrounded by things which can tempt us away from our goals.
In making decisions such as choosing between watching your favorite show on Netflix or studying for a test you have the next day, going on a shopping spree when you should really be saving your money, or eating cake all day when you're trying to lose 100 pounds, discipline is what will keep you moving toward your goals.
4) Perseverance
On the path to achieving your goals, there will always be obstacles. A person with a strong vision of what he wants, is enthusiastic about his goal, and even is disciplined in his choices will never reach his goal without the virtue of perseverance. Perseverance is continuing onward toward your goal in-spite of challenges and even failures.
Everyone who has achieved any significant goal has experienced failure along the way - the difference between those who reach their goals and those who don't is not that some people fail when they try and others don't. Everyone fails! What separates the winners from the losers is what they do after they fail. We always have a choice when we experience failure - we can get back up and persevere or we can quit. When you quit, you lose immediately. If you pick yourself back up and persevere, you stay in the game.
So if you want to have a chance to win, you have to persevere, and if you do you'll get there eventually! Think of a child when its learning to walk, does it just quit trying to learn after tumbling a few times? Should the parent say, "Its OK kid, you've fallen so many times you should just stop trying. Crawling for life is cool too."
This can be an analogy for people who are naysayers and encourage you to quit trying. Remember, perseverance always comes out on top.
