Before you decide where you want to go, take an honest look at where you are RIGHT NOW!

Are you satisfied with your accomplishments? Your career? Your finances? Your health? Your personal relationships?

What's going well? What could be better? What have you wanted to change but haven't done anything about?

Write down your answers.

You might discover that your greatest motivation comes from being excited about a new opportunity—or simply being fed up with something you've tolerated long enough!

LET YOUR CURRENT SITUATION GIVE YOU A REASON TO TAKE ACTION!

It's hard to get excited about achieving something when you haven't clearly defined WHAT that something is!

Want to write a book? Picture the finished book in your hands. Want to start a business? Imagine your products, customers, website, and daily operations.

Want to improve your health? Picture yourself participating in activities you want to enjoy. Create a vision board. Write down your desired outcome. Collect photographs or illustrations representing what you're working toward.

Then ask yourself: WHAT WOULD ACCOMPLISHING THIS GOAL ACTUALLY MEAN TO ME? The more personally meaningful your goal becomes, the more reasons you'll have to pursue it.

This is one of my FAVORITE approaches to accomplishing something worthwhile! Start with your desired outcome, then work backward. What needs to happen immediately before you accomplish your goal? What must happen before THAT? What knowledge, training, people, money, equipment, and time will you need?

Break everything into manageable steps. Assign realistic deadlines. Write it all down! In my book, I discuss creating what I call a LIFE BUSINESS PLAN—a practical roadmap for pursuing what matters to you.

A GOAL WITHOUT A PLAN IS OFTEN JUST SOMETHING YOU KEEP TALKING ABOUT!

Oh, this is where things get interesting! You can have a magnificent dream, a gorgeous vision board, and the greatest plan ever written. BUT IF YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING WITH THEM? WHAT'S THE POINT?

Set aside time to work on your goal. Make the phone calls. Conduct the research. Practice your skills. Create something. Finish an important task. Don't confuse being busy with making progress, either.

ASK YOURSELF EVERY DAY: "WHAT DID I ACCOMPLISH TODAY THAT MOVED ME CLOSER TO MY GOAL?"

Then make sure you've got a worthwhile answer!

Sooner or later, somebody will tell you your idea won't work.

→ "You can't do that."

→ "You're wasting your time."

→ "Somebody already tried that."

OH, REALLY? Well, here's a question: WHO APPOINTED THEM THE FINAL AUTHORITY ON WHAT YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH? Listen to legitimate concerns. Evaluate actual risks. Make improvements when necessary. But don't abandon a worthwhile ambition simply because somebody else doesn't share your enthusiasm.

And when obstacles arise, research your options and look for practical solutions.

SOMEBODY ELSE'S DOUBTS DON'T HAVE TO BECOME YOUR DECISIONS!

As you pursue your goal, pay attention to your results. What's producing progress? What's wasting time? What could be improved, simplified, or eliminated?

Keep notes. Review your plan regularly. Measure the results of your efforts. If something works, consider doing more of it! If something doesn't work, investigate WHY and make adjustments. Don't continue spending six months doing something ineffective simply because you spent the previous six months doing it!

SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE DON'T JUST WORK HARD. THEY PAY ATTENTION TO THE RESULTS OF THEIR WORK!

Here's something I learned early in life as a competitive athlete. You don't win a race by quitting halfway through it! Sometimes you'll be tired. Sometimes you'll experience setbacks. Sometimes progress will come slower than you'd like.

That's when patience, determination, and persistence become important. Review your progress, adjust your approach when necessary, and keep your attention on the finish line. And when you finally accomplish your goal?

CELEBRATE! YOU EARNED IT!

Take time to appreciate your accomplishment, recognize what you've learned, and enjoy the rewards of your efforts.

Then ask yourself one more question: "WHAT'S NEXT?" Because accomplishing one meaningful goal often prepares you for your next exciting adventure!