As we grow older, it can sometimes be difficult to understand where we are in life and what we have accomplished or have not accomplished thus far. The following list of ten tips will help you to determine exactly where you stand in the grand scheme of things, and how you can get on the right track to achieve your goals and as well as your dreams. Follow these ten tips, and soon enough you’ll feel like a million bucks! (Oh, who are we kidding, R1 million still won’t buy you happiness.)
1) Know where you came from
There are moments when we look back on our lives and want to turn back time. We question whether or not we took a wrong turn somewhere, or if there was something more we could have done. Some of us blame our past for why we haven’t gotten where we wanted to. You know that you can’t change your past, but you can use it as an opportunity for growth and improvement now that you know where things went wrong last time around. Don’t let today be yesterday repeated. Instead, use today to make tomorrow even better than it would have been otherwise!
2) Know where you are going
You must know where you are going before you make your decision. If you don’t know where you are going, how can you expect yourself to get there? Once you have some idea of where it is that you want to go, it becomes easier for others around and alongside you to help out by sharing what they have learned along their journey. This will help guide them and give them advice on how they can make adjustments or course corrections if need be.
3) Know what you need along the way
Starting today; Make a list of everything you think you need—clothes, money, a new house—and set aside time every week or so to work on each one. Then cross them off as you go. A quick win is all it takes for motivation and confidence to soar, says Michael Daley, author of On Top of Your Game. Once I complete my checklist for getting rid of clutter and keeping my desk clean, he says, I feel like I can tackle anything. Many people make long lists with few actual actions (other than cleaning their desks). If that sounds like you, make specific tasks that lead up to bigger goals instead.
For example, if you want to start an exercise routine, first write down “Go to the gym” and then break it down into smaller steps. Set an alarm, wake up early, etc. As you finish each task, mark it off. This will help keep you motivated because once you finish step three, your brain has already moved on to step four. The same goes for any other goal: Write down what needs to be done, then break those tasks into small chunks that are easier to accomplish.
To get started today, try writing out some steps towards achieving a goal that has been weighing heavily on your mind but has not yet been completed! Do not let procrastination hold back progress! Work hard now and enjoy later!
4) Know who your competition is
If you think you can get away with a mediocre product or service, think again. Your target market is being wowed every day with products and services that far exceed your own; if you want them to buy from you, your offering has to be just as good (if not better). How do you ensure that? By doing your research.
Take time regularly to research other companies within your industry and their offerings; what they do well and what they could improve upon. Use it as an opportunity to learn from your competitors so you can offer a superior product or service. It’s also important to know who your competition isn’t—in other words, don’t waste time trying to compete with companies outside of your niche.
5) Know how much it will cost
If you are not sure how much it will cost to succeed with your goals, be specific and make an estimate. Decide what you’re willing to spend on your goals so that you have some sense of whether they are realistic or not. For example, if you want to start a business but aren’t sure how much it will cost, talk to a few professionals who might help.
Entrepreneurship is often considered risky because there is always an unknown factor -you don’t know if anyone will like your product or service. Research shows that having clear financial goals increases people’s likelihood of saving money and reaching those savings targets. That said, creating a budget may sound overwhelming—especially if you haven’t done it before—but all it takes is one month to get into a good habit.
Your first step should be finding out how much money you bring in each month after taxes and other deductions from your paycheck.
6) Find people that have succeeded before you and learn from them
Keep an eye out for individuals who have succeeded before you and keep tabs on what they’re doing. Who are these people? Reach out to them. If you don’t have their contact information, consider finding out what school they went to or contacting a mutual acquaintance that may know how to reach them. There’s no one better than someone who has already done it than those who are currently doing it.
7) Stay focused on your goal
Do you have a goal right now? Think about what you want. Is it money, power, fame, or something else? Maybe it’s a combination of everything. Maybe you just want to be happy and you’re not sure how that relates to your professional goals.
First, decide what is important to you and don’t waver from it. Don’t get distracted by other people’s definitions of success or any other temptations along your journey—stick with your goals no matter what.
8) Celebrate your wins along the way!
No matter how big or small your successes are, you should celebrate them—and as often as possible. Did you ace a presentation at work? Buy a new car? Land a killer deal on eBay? Take some time and pat yourself on the back; successful people take pride in their achievements. When you recognize when you do well (big or small), it tells your mind that you’re awesome!
And, yes, there’s research to back up celebrations of all kinds. Celebrating wins will help keep the momentum going and provide motivation for more success down the road. That’s why once a month take some time to celebrate anything and everything that makes you feel proud.
9) Have fun! We are young. Just enjoy it!
Don’t take life too seriously. Have fun, enjoy your time and make sure you have some good friends around you so that life can be a lot more enjoyable! Trust me, I know from experience! No one likes living a sad or depressing life! The earlier you learn how to live life to its fullest, it will only make it better as you age.
Happy people are generally very successful people because they don’t let anything bring them down and allow themselves a chance at greatness! Also, remember that we are all human, no one is perfect and everyone makes mistakes. Learn from yours and move on! So what if there is still sand between your toes? At least you had fun playing in it. And please don’t forget to smile, even when things get tough! Smiling is contagious and others will notice and follow suit…trust me!
10) Take notes as you go along
The fact that you’re reading this book right now is proof of your willingness to learn new things. The best way to keep on learning is by taking notes as you go along; it’s not just good for grades, but great life advice too. Whenever you read something new or have a conversation with someone, stop and take note of what happened — what was said, what questions were asked, what suggestions were made. Then look back at these notes periodically and try to apply them in real-life situations. Once again: your future self will thank you!
