MOTIVATIONAL MONDAY WITH DAN: The Power Of Choice!
“Make Wiser Choices—The Ones That Lead Towards Living A More Healthy, Meaningful And Fulfilling Life” – Dan Ekoko
It’s a brand a new week. This week, you will access opportunities that will herald a fresh start for you. People all over the world share several universal experiences. One of the most common of these is choices. Life is made up of choices.
?Almost everything is a choice. We make decisions every day — from seemingly inconsequential choices, to larger ones that have significant impact on our lives. From the choice of what we eat and what we wear, the route we take to our office, etc. Sometimes even the small choices can change the course of our lives. Failure or success is not the result of just one monumental decision. It is the result of a continuous series of every day decisions and choices.
?The Power Is Yours – If You Don’t Like The Circumstances Of Your Life, You Can Create A Better and New One With Your Choices.
It’s not our environment, the people around us, or the conditions of our lives that determine our futures, it’s the personal choices we make or don’t make. You may have grown up in an abusive family, you may be surrounded by negative people, or been victims of crime, extreme poverty, or physical handicaps; it’s the choices we make in the midst of those situations that make the real difference in our lives. Your ability to change your life is directly connected to your ability to make the right choices and to take responsibility for those choices.
?“Life is a matter of choices, and every choice you make makes you.” — John C. Maxwell
We are born with the power to create and manifest our future. Our future is determined by the choices we make, don’t make, or leave for others to make for us. There is a famous parable about the power of choice. It goes like this:
An old Cherokee Indian chief is teaching his grandson about life. “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a fight between two wolves. One is evil—he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego.”
He continued, “The other is good—he is joy, peace, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and loving awareness. The same fight is going on inside you — and inside every other person in the world.”
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?”
To which the old man simply replied, “The one you feed.”
?The choices we make each day are crucial. They can either empower or dis-empower us. They can lead us into failure, suffering and disillusionment or they can open the door to hope, abundance, success, and wellness. They can move us one step closer to purpose or lead us in the opposite direction.
“You are not the victim of the world, but rather the master of your own destiny. It is your choices and decisions that determine your destiny.” – Roy T Bennett
?Your most valuable Asset is not your Talent! Your most valuable asset is your power to CHOOSE! Here’s a list of criteria that you can use while making a choice:
• Don’t lose focus on your future. Many people tend to make choices based on present events instead of looking to the future. Make your choices of today stay within the goals that you have set for yourself for the future.
• Never allow emotions to sway a decision.
• Get all the facts. Consider as many alternatives as you can so you can make an informed choice.
• Before taking key decisions make sure to take them to God in prayers.
CHOICE = POWER!
Imagine going into a restaurant and asking the waiter, “What am I having tonight?” As ridiculous as that sounds, some of us go through life letting others make choices for us.
The people who enjoy success and happiness are not simply lucky. They are the ones who embrace and use their power to choose. They don’t put their success and well-being in the hands of others. They don’t wait for the government, economy, their parents, spouses, children, friends, bosses or co-workers to make things happen. They choose to be proactive — they forge their own destinies; they write their own scripts and create their own happiness.
?Something to Ponder:
Your choices won’t always guarantee you success, but they will open the door, and each choice you make after that opens the door just a little bit wider. Success will never walk in if you don’t open that door. Success will never walk in if you don’t use your power to choose. It’s your choice. To your success! #MotivationalMonday #PowerOfChoice #YourChoiceMatter #DanEkoko
MOTIVATIONAL MONDAY WITH DAN: 7 Traits Of A Great Leader
It’s another Monday again. In the course of last week, I encountered this article by Eric McGrath CEO and co-founder of Driven Leadership, a training and development organization. Hope you are inspired, motivated and empowered.
*Leadership – What Is It?
We know great leaders forge new industries, build great companies and advance social change. But how? Here are 7 Traits every great leader should possess.
♠Great Leaders Start With Why
Great leaders are connected to their “Why”. It is the fuel that drives them in everything they do. You cannot begin to lead without an understanding of who you are. Leaders know who they are and what they believe. This is the foundation of strong character, purpose, and authenticity.
♠Great Leaders Empower Others
A great leader must first become a good servant. A leader’s job, first and foremost, is to help and guide other people to achieve what they want to achieve. Great leaders do not see their employees as inferior. On the contrary, great leaders raise up more leaders.
♠Great Leaders Focus On Solutions, Not Problems
What separates great leaders from the rest is their ability to focus on solutions, rather than problems. No matter how hard you try to avoid it, problems and failures will happen. Great leaders take them in stride. They calm the waters, boost morale and push through.
♠Great Leaders Think Outside The Box
Great leaders challenge the status quo. No matter what others say, they believe the records and statistics, can be broken. They disrupt the natural order of things to find new and better ways of doing things. Great leaders achieve great things because they’re willing to ask questions, be critical and create change where it’s needed. Great leadership is about redefining things, finding new solutions and leading others to bigger and better things. Leadership is about bringing progress and provoking change, none of which can be done from inside the margins of the status quo.
♠Great Leaders Communicate Effectively
Leadership and effective communication go hand in hand. A leader who wants to be influential needs the ability to communicate effectively. Leaders need to be able to communicate clearly with the people around them. They also must be able to interpret other people accurately. In this same arena fall the giving and receiving of feedback.
♠Great Leaders Know Their Team.
Great leaders know each and every member of their team. They are approachable, personable and know the skillset of the individual team member when delegating duties. The great leader sets their team up for success.
♠Great Leaders Lead For A Cause, Not A Promotion.
A great leader focuses their time and energy first to the cause, then to their team and lastly to him or herself. The defining characteristics of leadership fall to integrity, character, initiative, etc. Bad leaders’ step into the spotlight and take credit for the end results. A great leader highlights the work of the team and uses “we” way more than “I”.
♠Finally, take a moment to consider where you are on your leadership journey. Which of the leadership traits do you need to strengthen? Great leaders don’t start by seeking followers, titles or position. Great leaders start by building their leadership traits and skills. A brand-new week full of opportunities awaits you. Be enthusiastic! Be positive! Be Expectant! To your Success! #MotivationalMonday #PersonalLeadership #GreatLeaders #DanEkoko
Read MoreMOTIVATIONAL MONDAY WITH DAN: Are You Guarding a Concrete Slab?
Welcome to a brand-new week. Great opportunities for growth, success and progress awaits. Be expectant.
?How often do you hear: “That’s how we’ve always done it?” “That’s the way things have always been done.” “This is how our forefathers said it is done.” This week I want to share another interesting story with you. I encountered an interesting story last week. It’s a great story from the military about an Army barracks that had a concrete slab out in front of the entrance. It’s a story about “Outdated Thinking.”
?There was an army barracks that had on its duty roster 4 soldiers to guard at all times a concrete slab in front of the barracks. The soldiers changed shifts guarding the slabs for many years. Different commanders came and went and the tradition continued. After many years, a new commander was assigned to the barracks. Amongst the things he did was asking why things were done the way they were. When he asked why soldiers were guarding the slab, he was told, “We’ve always done it this way. It’s our tradition. Our former commanders instructed us to do that.” The commander was adamant on finding out why.
?He went to the archives to look for answers and he came across a document that had the explanation. The document was very old. It had instructions written by one of the retired commanders who had even passed away. The new commander learnt that over 80 years ago, the barracks wanted to build a platform where events could be performed. When the concrete slab was laid, wild animals walked over it at night before the slab would dry. The soldiers would fix it the next morning but when evening came the same thing would happen. So the commander ordered that 4 soldiers should guard the concrete slab for 3 weeks to allow it to dry.
?The following week the commander was transferred to another post and a new commander was brought in. The new commander found the routine and enforced it and every commander that came did the same. Eighty years later the barracks continued guarding a concrete slab.
?The rest is history…for 80 years the soldiers had been guarding a concrete slab that did not need guarding! Why?… Because “This Is The Way We’ve Always Done It!”
?ARE YOU GUARDING A CONCRETE SLAB? What things are you doing now just because “That’s The Way I’ve Always Done It”?
?Take a look at where you can make some changes in your life. What beliefs are you maintaining that are quite possibly outdated? What beliefs, attitudes, traditions have you carried on that were relevant to certain people or a certain time and they are still being carried out by you? Is your opinion about yourself, people of a different race, the opposite sex, certain business opportunities, new products etc. obsolete?
?Get rid of old baggage and cobweb from your thinking and life. Relieve yourself from some of that “guard duty” that you have been doing for years. Do not be a slave to tradition. Don’t remain stuck to the “This-Is-How-We-Have-Always-Done-It” mentality.
?Status Quo is the way things are, but don’t necessarily have to stay that way. To challenge the status quo is what true living is all about. Simply put, “Nothing stays the same. It’s not supposed to.” To your success!
Read MoreMOTIVATIONAL MONDAY WITH DAN: The Power of Positive Thinking (3)
“Negative thinkers complain and whine about PROBLEMS. Positive thinkers focus their mind, energies and actions on finding SOLUTIONS. “– Dan Ekoko
Last week I shared on the benefits of positive thinking. A positive mental attitude can offer better psychological and physical well-being, decrease depression, reduce stress, enhance relationships, increase chances of success and help you cope better during challenging and difficult times. Today, I want to share tips on how you can improve your positive thinking skills.
Staying positive in today’s world can seem almost impossible with a great deal going on in our lives and around us. But, focusing on negatives and the things that are wrong with our world serves no useful purpose. In fact, it doesn’t help anything. Staying down because you have failed an exam or a job interview doesn’t solve anything. Blaming your parents for whatever error while raising you doesn’t fix what’s broken or make your life and situation better. I always tell people that those who succeed in this world aren’t the ones who don’t encounter obstacles and failures. Rather they are those who respond to obstacles and failures with hope, positive mental attitude and relentless optimism.
▪Here are some tips on how to develop a positive mental attitude:
?Count Your Blessings.
“We are all blessed, but the problem is that some of us count their blessings while others count their struggles, challenges and obstacles.” ― Edmond Mbiaka.
Gratitude allows us to celebrate the present. It magnifies positive emotions. The habit of being grateful is one of the most important life-changing habits we can cultivate. Be grateful and give thanks for the special things in your life rather than taking them for granted. Don’t allow your lacks, the struggles, challenges and obstacles blindfold you from recognizing how blessed you are. Take every opportunity to thank God for the things you have in life, no matter how small or big. It can make all the difference between where you are now and where you want to be.
?Learn To Turn Your Lemons Into Lemonade.
Look for the lessons to be learned in every situation. Whenever things don’t turn out as planned, instead of feeling depressed, do what you can to make the best of the situation. Don’t dissipate energy or waste time on a failed attempt. Learn the lessons and move on. Nobody is perfect. That includes you. You are going to make mistakes and experience setbacks in multiple contexts, in multiple situations and with multiple people. Remember: Successful people turn their failures into lessons.
?Surround Yourself With Positive People.
Spend time with people who are positive and supportive. Find positive friends, mentors and allies who will positively energize you. If you surround yourself with negative and drowning people, they will contaminate you with their negativity and drag you down with them.
?Study The Triumphs And Success Stories Of Others.
“That some achieved great success is proof to all that others can achieve it as well” – Abraham Lincoln
Many successful people have gone through challenging circumstances and adversity to reach where they are. Many overcame odds to reach the peak of their careers. Learning about their failure stories, trials and tribulations can inspire you to achieve that which you choose to achieve. To stay positive, focused and gain momentum, look for motivation in the failure and success stories of others.
▪Turn Challenges Into Opportunities.
Life doesn’t always go smoothly. There is no changing that! There will always be challenges, roadblocks and barriers on our paths. Instead of allowing those challenges stop you from reaching your goals and dreams, turn them into opportunities and ladders. If you see challenges as opportunities to become stronger, wiser and more resilient, you are thinking positively and productively. Positive thinking offers huge and pleasant returns. The more often you practice it, the greater benefits you will realize. As the new week unfolds, remember, that those who succeed in this world aren’t the ones who don’t encounter obstacles and failures. Rather they are those who respond to obstacles and failures with hope, positive mental attitude and relentless optimism. To your success!
MOTIVATIONAL MONDAY WITH DAN: The Power of Positive Thinking (2)
Happy new month and welcome to another week. I continue the series I started last week. Today I share on the benefits of positive thinking. Positive thinking is a productive mindset that is important in reaching fullness and success in life. It can change your life in a great number of ways.
Researchers are finding more and more evidence pointing to the
many benefits of positive thinking and optimism. Such findings suggest that not only are
positive thinkers healthier and less stressed, they also have greater overall
well-being. The rewards of positive thinking extend into many areas of life. If
you are not a positive-thinker yet and wonder why you should try positive
thinking yourself, here are some great reasons for you:
▪Positive Thinkers Cope Better
With Stress:
We can’t live without stress and it’s waiting for
us at every corner. Several studies are now revealing that people who have a
positive outlook on life cope with stress faster and more effectively. They are
less subjected to stress as they don’t have a habit of concentrating on
negative thoughts.
▪Positive Thinking
Is Good for Your Health
Not only can positive thinking impact your ability to cope with stress and
improve your immune system. it also has an impact on your overall well-being.
According to experts, health benefits associated with optimism, include reduced
risk of death from cardiovascular problems, less depression, and an increased
lifespan.
▪Positive Thinkers
are More Resilient
Resilience refers to the ability to cope with life issues and events. Positive
thinking can play a major role in resilience. Resilient people are able to
adapt well in the face of crisis, adversity, trauma or tragedy. Rather than
falling apart or giving up, they have the ability to bounce back and eventually
overcome.
▪Positives Thinkers Are More Successful
Positive people tend not to concentrate on their failures, mistakes and setbacks. Instead, they see more life opportunities. They are open to learning and trying something new. That’s why optimistic people are more productive and successful than pessimists.
?A positive attitude and mindset help you cope more easily with the daily affairs and challenges of life. If you adopt it as a way of living, it would bring constructive changes into your life. I close today’s Motivation Monday with this W. Clement Stone quote: “There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative.” To your success!
Read MoreMOTIVATIONAL MONDAY WITH DAN: The Power of Positive Thinking
“Nothing in this world can stop the optimist who believes it can be done and nothing in this world can help the pessimists who believes it can’t be done.” – Dan Ekoko
Welcome to a brand new week. This Monday, I start a three-part series titled: ‘The Power of Positive Thinking.’
▪What
is the power of Positive Thinking?
Positive thinking is a mental and emotional attitude that focuses on the bright
side of life and expects good and favorable results. A person with positive
thinking mentality anticipates success and happy ending in every situation.
?Researchers have found that people who practice positive thinking live longer, live healthier, live happier, have more successful careers, make better decisions, are more productive, are less stressed and have healthier relationships than pessimists. Positive thinkers don’t pretend they can avoid all adversity; instead, they believe they have the power to overcome whatever adversity comes their way. Positive thinkers always remind themselves that every problem is temporary.
?Consider this interesting story on how positive thinking works:
Leke applied for a new job, but he didn’t believe he will get it. He considered himself a failure and unworthy of success. He had a negative attitude toward himself, and therefore, believed that the other applicants were better and more qualified than him. For the whole week preceding the job interview, Leke’s mind was occupied with negative thoughts and fears concerning the job. He actually, anticipated failure.
On the day of the interview, he got up late, and to his dismay he discovered that the shirt he planned to wear was dirty, and the other one needed ironing. As it was already too late, he went out wearing a wrinkled shirt and without eating breakfast. During the interview, he was tense, negative, hungry and worried about his shirt. All this, made it difficult for him to focus on the interview. His overall behavior made a bad impression, and consequently, he materialized his fear and did not get the job.
?Biola applied for the same job too, but approached the matter in a different way. She was sure that she would get the job. During the week preceding the interview, she often visualized herself making a good impression and getting the job. In the evening before the interview, she prepared the clothes she would be wearing, and went to sleep a little earlier. On day of the interview, she woke up earlier than usual, and had ample time to eat breakfast, and then to arrive to the interview before the scheduled time.
Biola made a good impression and got the job. ?What do we learn from these two stories? What did Biola do differently? What made all the difference for Biola?
?Positive thinking is more powerful than most people realize. Positive thinking is a choice. It is a happiness and success magnet. If you stay positive, good results and good things will be drawn to you. You have to take responsibility for your thoughts. No matter what is going on, YOU get to decide whether you want to be positive or negative.
?Positive thinkers never give up, no matter the situation. They never stop believing that there is a way to turn things around. Nothing in this world can stop the optimist who believes it can be done and nothing in this world can help the pessimists who believes it can’t be done. To your success!
Read MoreMOTIVATIONAL MONDAY WITH DAN: Take Ownership! Take Responsibility (3)
“The only thing standing between you and your goals is the dis-empowering stories you keep telling yourself as to why you can’t achieve it.” – Dan Ekoko
?As this Monday and new month unfold, It’s my prayer you experience new opportunities and success in every area of your life. Here’s the conclusion of the piece I started two weeks ago.
▪Why
Taking Responsibility Is Important:
You are totally responsible for your life. This is the foundation principle you
must embrace if you plan for happiness and success in your life. For many
people, failure is never the result of the choices they made. Everything is
someone else’s fault. Every problem can be explained away with reasons why they
can’t affect the situation or the outcome. Every failure has a scapegoat that
they can use to avoid taking responsibility for their own actions.
▪So
What Is The Meaning Of Taking Responsibility For Your Life?
#Taking 100% responsibility means that
you acknowledge that you are the one who creates everything that happens to
you.
#It simply
means that you take responsibility of your past results, present experiences
and future outcomes.
#Taking responsibility means you acknowledge that you are the driver of your
life! No one can live your life for you. Taking full responsibility means
giving away all the blames, the excuses and complains.
▪How
to Take Responsibility for Your Life:
Realize that You Are the One Creating Your Results: When it comes to taking
responsibility, it’s important to realize that you are the one who creates the
results in your life. Imagine your parents bequeath a huge amount of money to
you. What do you do with the money? You can either spend the money wastefully
or you can choose to invest the money. When you spend the money wastefully. You
end up broke. That’s the result you get. On the other hand, if you choose to
invest the money, you will have an increased net worth. The event is the same,
but the choice determines outcome.
▪Make No Excuses! They Fuel Failure:
Excuses fuel failure. Making excuses instead of taking 100% responsibility for your actions, your thoughts, and your goals are the hallmark of people who fail to succeed both in their personal and professional lives. These are some of the common excuses that people often make.
How many of these excuses have you used:
“I don’t have time.”
“I don’t have enough money.”
“I can’t because I have kids.”
“I don’t have an education.”
“I don’t know how to do it.”
“I can’t change because this is who I am.”
“I always have bad luck.” Etc.
?Stop making excuses and start taking responsibility now.
▪Stop Playing the Blame Game:
When something is not happening according to your plan, what do you do? For most people, they blame, they complain, and they make excuses that it was not their fault. In other words, they are giving away the power to control and to make a change. No matter how hard you try to blame others for the events of your life, each event is the result of choices you made and are making.
Stop blaming your parents, family, friends, economy; your upbringing for your lot in life. Ask yourself what you can do to improve or change the situation. Blaming keeps you in victim mode and hinders you are dis-empowered to make changes to your situation. When you stop blaming and accept responsibility, you shift from victim to victor.
▪Learn to Live in the Moment:
Life is now. So live in the present. Avoid Dwelling on the Past. Throw all your excuses out the door. Take responsibility for this moment and make the best of it to reclaim the past and create the future you want.
▪Becoming an Optimist: Helen Keller once said: “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” Everything starts with your thinking. It is how you think that will determine how you live. Therefore, to take responsibility for your life, you must begin first by thinking positively.
Conclusion???
#No one can be successful by constantly making excuses and blaming others for everything.
#You must learn to accept the responsibility for your actions. You must learn to be accountable for your results. You must learn to take ownership of your mistakes and failures.
#The moment you take 100% responsibility for everything in your life is the moment you can change anything in your life. ?So to sum it up: The moment you take 100% responsibility for everything in your life is the moment you discover you are unstoppable! To your success!
Read MoreMOTIVATIONAL MONDAY WITH DAN: Take Ownership! Take Responsibility (2)
“Making excuses instead of taking responsibility for actions and goals are the hallmark of failures.” Dan Ekoko
It’s another Monday again. I pray it opens the door into a week of new opportunities, growth and progress for you. Here’s the second part of the piece I started last week.
?What
are Excuses?
▪Excuses are imaginary rationalizations and justifications we
make to ourselves and then to others.
▪Excuses are lies we tell ourselves so that it doesn’t have to be
our fault.
▪Excuses are the nails used to build the house of failure.
▪Excuses allow us to stay within our comfort zone.
▪Excuses are an easy way to shift the blame from an internal
problem (inaction, lack of discipline, laziness, lack of vision) TO an external
situation (finances, people, economy).
?We always invent reasons to defend our excuses while we neglect taking action and responsibility. Making excuses instead of taking responsibility for actions, goals and situations are the hallmark of failures. Relinquishing control and shifting responsibility for your decisions and life to others set the stage for creating an unhappy life — a life that fulfills none of your dreams and aspirations.
?You are totally responsible for your life. This is the foundational principle you must embrace if you truly desire happiness and success in life. For many people, every problem can be explained away with reasons why they can’t change the situation or the outcome. For many people, everything is someone else’s fault. “It’s His Fault.” “It’s Her Fault.” “It’s Their Fault.” “It’s Not Me.”
Why You Need To Stop Making Excuses:
▪Excuses prevent you from living to your full potential.
▪Making excuses prevents you from recognizing resources, opportunities and skills you have which could be the answer to your problems.
▪Excuses won’t get you anywhere at all. Benjamin Franklin once said, “He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.”
▪Excuses provide no value. Instead, they erode your self-belief and personal power to alter situations and outcomes.
?Accept responsibility for who you are, who you will become, the choices you make, and the consequences that result. Hold yourself accountable. The moment you take responsibility for everything in your life is the moment you can change anything in your life. To your success!
Read MoreMOTIVATIONAL MONDAY WITH DAN: Take Ownership! Take Responsibility!
There are two categories of people in the world. People who blame others for everything that happens to them and people who take ownership – people who take responsibility for everything that happens to them. Today I begin a three-part series titled: ‘Take Ownership! Take Responsibility!’
Amazing things happen when you take ownership of your life. ’Taking Ownership’ imply being in charge, being answerable or accountable for something within one’s power, control, or management. Are you taking complete responsibility for your life? This is one of the most important questions that you should ponder. The answer for most people will be a resounding “NO”. Do you find it convenient to blame everyone else and feel like a victim so that there is no responsibility to be taken?
Do you consider yourself as an honest and perfect person who has been victimized by everyone else? Having a victim mentality, blaming external circumstances for your problems, believing it’s not within your power to change, is the surest way to stay stagnant – it’s the easiest way to hinder yourself from making progress and avoid improving your life in the months ahead.
??An
Interesting And Unusual Funeral:
One day all the employees of a very unusual company reached their office and
all saw a big sign on the main door which said this…’Yesterday, the person
who has been hindering your growth in this company passed away. We invite you
to join the funeral in the room that has been prepared in the gym.’ In the
beginning, they all got sad for the death of one of their colleagues, but after
a while, they started getting curious to know who was that person who hindered
the growth of their colleagues and the company itself? The excitement in the
gym was such that security agents were ordered to control the crowd within the
room. The more people reached the coffin, the more the excitement heated up.
Everyone thought – ‘Who is this person who was hindering my progress?’ One by one the intrigued employees got closer to the coffin, and when they looked inside it, they suddenly became speechless. They all got to stand near the coffin, and all ended up shocked and in silence as if someone had touched the deepest part of their soul. There was a mirror inside the coffin: everyone who looked inside it could see themselves! There was also a sign next to the mirror that said.
??’There
is only one person who is capable of setting limits to your growth in 2019 and
IT IS YOU!’
??’There
is only one person who is capable of ensuring you don’t achieve your goals for
2019 and IT IS YOU!’
No matter the wrongs inflicted on you by your parents, family and friends, your school, the society, the government, remember: The greatest day of your life is the one you decide you are steering your own ship; you realize your life is your own, your future is in your hands and your destiny is yours to make. That is the day you truly begin to live.
??Accept responsibility for who you are, who you will become, the choices you make, and the consequences that result. Hold yourself accountable. Said Carol Burnett, “Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me.” Believe her. To your success!
Read MoreMOTIVATIONAL MONDAY WITH DAN: Set Your Goals! Set Your Sails!
Let’s kick start the 2nd Monday of the year with this Bill Copeland quote: “The trouble with not having a goal is that you can spend your life running up and down the field and never score.”
??A Goal is an end toward which effort or ambition is directed. A successful year begins with goal setting. Goal setting involves identifying something that you want to accomplish and establishing measurable goals and timeframes to reach them. Success and goal setting go hand-in-hand.
??Setting SMART goals provide a blueprint for our lives and keeps us in the direction that would lead to the realization of our dreams. There are eight different areas of life that you need to set specific goals in 2019. This includes – physical and health, social, family, personal development, financial, career and work, educational and spiritual goals. Below are six tips that could be helpful in achieving success in these areas.
??Tip
#1: Break it Down!
The bigger a goal looks, the more it creates fear. It’s wiser and better to
break your big goals into a sequence of smaller ones. The smaller the goal the
easier it is to achieve.
??Tip #2 Make it S.M.A.R.T
Make your goals fit the SMART criteria. SMART is a best practice framework for
setting goals which is an acronym for: Specific, Measurable, Achievable,
Realistic and Time-bound.
??Tip #3 Write It Down!
Write your goals down. Those who wrote down their goals accomplished
significantly more than those who don’t.
??Tip #4 Tell someone
Tell someone about it. You can involve your family and friends in helping you
stay on track towards the achievement of your goals.
??Tip
#5 Stay Persistent
Working to achieve your goals will certainly come with challenges,
difficulties, disappointments and frustration. Whatever the challenges you
encounter as you pursue your dreams in 2018: Stay Persistent!
??Tip #6 Keep a Record
It’s important to track your progress weekly, monthly, quarterly etc. Take time
to review your goals – write out what worked, what didn’t, why it didn’t and
how you can do better.
??Tip #7 Celebrate!
Finally, celebrate. Yes, whenever you reach a goal – celebrate it! Remember to also say “Thank You” to people that helped you achieve it. Then go back to the goals that are yet to be achieved.
??As we press forward in 2019, use all these tips to navigate your goals. Remember: Without clearly defined goals, you can spend the entire 2019 running up and down never achieving any worthwhile results. Are you ready to tackle 2019 head-on? Set your goals! Set Your Sails and Go! To your success!
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