Last week I spoke to a group of professionals about
achieving their goals and making more sales in 2014.
Afterward, in the Q&A session, they wanted to focus on the
"missing links" that prevent them from achieving the
success they desire in business, and in life.
It was a challenging presentation because these are not
ordinary people! They know about written goals. They know
about motivational seminars and using competition and
accountability to increase performance. And yet, like most
people, they were frustrated. Like most of us, they have
"worked hard." They have done the "right things" and yet
they often fail to cross the finish line. What are the
missing pieces?
After briefly reviewing the fundamentals of having written
goals, a clear strategy and intermediate benchmarks or
"baby-steps" to move forward, I gave them three suggestions
to fill in the missing links and achieve their dreams:
1. Focus on personal development. I love Jim Rohn’s quote
that "everything changes when you change!" And I also noted
the corollary: "nothing changes until you change." To live
a different life requires that you become a different
person.
If you want different results, it’s not enough to focus
only on the mechanics! We all know stories of people who
win the lottery or have other huge changes in external
circumstances, but within a short time their lives look
remarkably the same. To achieve your goals, you must become
the person you want to be!
High achievers read different books. They watch different
shows. They use their time differently. They walk and talk
and think differently. And so should you.
2. Change your environment. To a remarkable degree, we are
all creatures of our surroundings. It may sound odd, but
our lives reflect our furniture! We all know our behavior
changes in a fancy restaurant, or when visiting the boss,
or our in-law’s. We become a different person at a funeral
compared to a ball game. Our behaviors always reflect our
environment.
To achieve your dreams, create a world that supports you.
Whether it's your office, your car or your kitchen, live in
a world that reminds you of your priorities, a world that
energizes you and pulls you forward. This doesn't
necessarily require a major investment, but it does require
attention to detail.
3. Choose mentors wisely. Over time, we become like our
friends. Unconsciously, we model our behavior after the
people we admire and respect.
The way to learn any skill is to work with someone who can
teach you! Learn from your friends, from colleagues, from
competitors. By reading biographies, you can even learn
from dead people! Winners hang out with and learn from
winners. Surround yourself with wise and accomplished
mentors!
Thousands of books have been written on goal-setting,
motivation and achievement, but most of them focus on the
easy mechanics--developing written goals, setting deadlines
and so forth. Too often, they neglect the more critical
elements of personal development, supportive environments
and the need for mentors. Don't do that to yourself!
achieving their goals and making more sales in 2014.
Afterward, in the Q&A session, they wanted to focus on the
"missing links" that prevent them from achieving the
success they desire in business, and in life.
It was a challenging presentation because these are not
ordinary people! They know about written goals. They know
about motivational seminars and using competition and
accountability to increase performance. And yet, like most
people, they were frustrated. Like most of us, they have
"worked hard." They have done the "right things" and yet
they often fail to cross the finish line. What are the
missing pieces?
After briefly reviewing the fundamentals of having written
goals, a clear strategy and intermediate benchmarks or
"baby-steps" to move forward, I gave them three suggestions
to fill in the missing links and achieve their dreams:
1. Focus on personal development. I love Jim Rohn’s quote
that "everything changes when you change!" And I also noted
the corollary: "nothing changes until you change." To live
a different life requires that you become a different
person.
If you want different results, it’s not enough to focus
only on the mechanics! We all know stories of people who
win the lottery or have other huge changes in external
circumstances, but within a short time their lives look
remarkably the same. To achieve your goals, you must become
the person you want to be!
High achievers read different books. They watch different
shows. They use their time differently. They walk and talk
and think differently. And so should you.
2. Change your environment. To a remarkable degree, we are
all creatures of our surroundings. It may sound odd, but
our lives reflect our furniture! We all know our behavior
changes in a fancy restaurant, or when visiting the boss,
or our in-law’s. We become a different person at a funeral
compared to a ball game. Our behaviors always reflect our
environment.
To achieve your dreams, create a world that supports you.
Whether it's your office, your car or your kitchen, live in
a world that reminds you of your priorities, a world that
energizes you and pulls you forward. This doesn't
necessarily require a major investment, but it does require
attention to detail.
3. Choose mentors wisely. Over time, we become like our
friends. Unconsciously, we model our behavior after the
people we admire and respect.
The way to learn any skill is to work with someone who can
teach you! Learn from your friends, from colleagues, from
competitors. By reading biographies, you can even learn
from dead people! Winners hang out with and learn from
winners. Surround yourself with wise and accomplished
mentors!
Thousands of books have been written on goal-setting,
motivation and achievement, but most of them focus on the
easy mechanics--developing written goals, setting deadlines
and so forth. Too often, they neglect the more critical
elements of personal development, supportive environments
and the need for mentors. Don't do that to yourself!
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