If you want to be successful, you have to have patience, perseverance, and an unwavering determination. Because your road to success is going to get bumpy.
You’re going to hit potholes, and you’re going to face obstacles...many of which are created internally. You might be aware of some, but the truth is most of these will catch you by surprise due to a lack of self-awareness.
The good news is that no matter what task you're taking on, you can set yourself up for success!
Here are some ways to hurdle your roadblocks and race to your success:
1. Understand your goals. Know exactly what it is you're trying to do. A race car driver would never drive a race blindfolded, and the same applies to you. Take the time to plan out your goals and the steps you intend to implement to reach them. Draw out your map and know what direction you’re going. Identify as many obstacles as you can ahead of time and think through how to handle them.
* Even with an exceptional plan, the reality is that things rarely go exactly as you'd expect. You'll have to stop and make changes at times, and that's okay! Be prepared for the unexpected with ideas on how to handle a situation if it arises.
* Look for alternative routes — Identify the parts of your plan that may become problematic and lay out alternatives.
2. Trust yourself. You're in charge of your journey to success. You define success for yourself, you set your goals, and you're the one making it happen, so you have to trust yourself. If you truly have a great passion for what you're going to do, then you'll be the best judge of what you want.
* Follow your instincts. That little voice in the back of your head may very well end up telling you exactly what you need to succeed in your goals.
* Lean into your values. When you make choices that honor your values, you build confidence and pride in yourself. And your journey brings you fulfillment.
3. Get help. If there's something in your way and it's too big of an obstacle for you to remove on your own, get help! You can't do everything by yourself. As humans, we're social beings and we need help from those around us.
* Get your friends, family or co-workers involved and welcome their input on how to get around an obstacle in your path. This will bring in new ideas and fresh perspectives on the problem in ways you may have never considered.
* If you need outside perspective, get a coach. Make sure you find one who’s already traveled the same path so that they can offer tools, techniques, and insights that will accelerate your own success.
4. Gain a fresh perspective. There are times when, no matter how hard you try, things just don't go your way. You feel trapped or think you’ve hit a dead end. This is where you need to stop, take a step back, and look at things from a different perspective.
* You become used to your routine, so you hit the auto-pilot button and think it’s safe to cruise. But the fine details can easily slip past you. Take a break and walk away for a little bit. Change your focus for a time; then come back to the problem and you may see something you missed.
5. Never ever give up. Nothing has ever been solved or accomplished by giving up. Vince Lombardi said it best: "Winners never quit and quitters never win!" This is as true as it gets.
* Being too rigid with your thinking can be counterproductive. In order to succeed, we sometimes have to change our approach completely. Keep at the problem until you find a solution. It's there; you may have to think outside the box to get the answer.
* Break the “either/or” thinking habit. Our brains want to simplify complex ideas, so it’s easy to create black and white solutions...it’s either this, or it’s that. When you catch yourself in an either/or situation, take a step back and ask, “What else might be possible?” Give yourself permission to harness the vast, limitless potential of your mind.
6. Start again. Sometimes, despite all your efforts, you need to rebuild from the ground up. Maybe one of your fundamental ideas was wrong and had an effect on everything else. This happens, and while it's a setback, it's not the end of your dream.
* Render the problem obsolete and create something better. This approach was pioneered by architect and systems theorist R. Buckminster Fuller. He said, “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” So don’t be afraid to start over and then create something even better!
* With a little more effort and hard work, you can do it!
Being successful isn't easy and it involves a lot of hard work, dedication and sometimes sacrifices. With these tips, a good plan, and positive people around you to help, you can accomplish anything you set your mind to.
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