Are Excuses Masked As Valid Reasons Derailing Your Goals?
Just like the maze above, life is full of twists and turns, but each one is guiding you to the end goal. Don’t let fear of the unknown, or worse yet, EXCUSES keep you from starting. The most significant difference between those who succeed and those who don’t is action. Inaction is the greatest enemy of fulfilled dreams.
Something that may help overcome analysis paralysis, is to change your mindset about goal setting. You absolutely have to “look” at goal setting differently. If you have already fallen short of your new year’s resolutions, don’t worry, you are not alone. I challenge you to “look” at goal setting differently this year. In goal setting, how you start has a HUGE impact on how you finish. “Corrective Vision Goal Setting” lets you “see” goal setting through a different “lens,” understanding that what you “focus” on WILL DEVELOP.
“Looking” at goal setting differently helps take the fear out of goal setting and decreases chances of failure by helping you clearly identify your goal, maintain laser sharp focus and manage expectations. I want to share the Game On! Challenge Action Plan: six steps to help you push toward the finish line. No matter if your goal is to create and grow a vibrant volunteer program, learn how to swim, save money or find a new job, if you follow these steps, I guarantee that your life will be different a year from now. If you want to see yourself in a different place a week, month, or year from now, this is my challenge to you. Follow the steps below.
G — Write Down Your Goal.
Writing your goal makes it tangible; it registers differently in your brain than merely thinking about it. When you write down your goal, you can look at it in the morning before you leave your home and at night before you go to sleep as a constant reminder. Your goal should be attainable, have a specific end date and the result should be based on the work that you put into it.
A — Assess/Ask/Accountability
To move toward your goal, you have to be honest with yourself about where you are now. Conduct an unbiased assessment or ask someone to give you constructive criticism regarding your starting point. Then choose someone (or a group of people) who will keep you accountable to your goal. Remember, not just anyone should be your accountability partner. They should be encouraging (not demeaning) but most importantly, someone who regularly achieves their goals as this will help them encourage you to achieve yours.
M — Make a Plan
It’s time to make a road map. You have your destination in mind (your goal). Your plan is the map showing how to get there. The great thing is that there are many ways to arrive at a destination. For now, all you have to do is START! Don’t let perfection be the enemy of the great. Everything doesn’t have to be perfect for you to start. Write out the plan and see where it takes you. Every small step will get you one closer to your goal and as you travel toward your journey’s end, you can adjust along the way if needed.
E — Envision the Plan Coming to Pass
Create a vision board of your dream as it will look fully realized. Put it somewhere you can see it every day. Include pictures of yourself in your dream role. Every morning before you leave your home and at night before going to bed, repeat the dream out loud as though it has already come to pass. Check out these two resources on how to create a vision board! https://www.oprahmag.com/life/a29959841/how-to-make-a-vision-board/https://cassiuslife.com/43423/vision-boards-for-men/
O — Overcome Challenges and Self-Doubt
Write down all the concerns you have and every reason why your dream may not come to pass. Identify them as valid concerns disguised as excuses. Come up with a solution to overcome each challenge.
Example:
Concern: I don’t have enough money.
Solutions: Get a second job; exchange services; apply for grants or scholarships.
Concern: I don’t have enough time.
Solution: Perform a time audit of your day to see where you can make time.
Concern: I don’t have enough resources.
Solution: See how you can barter or network with others.
N — Never Give Up!
You will get frustrated — that’s inevitable. The important thing is that you keep getting back up after falling short. Keep starting over, no matter what rejection or push back you may face or how many times you may “fail” or get it wrong. In every “failure”, there is a lesson to be learned. Once you learn it, you can apply that lesson the next time you try. Seek guidance. Try different solutions. If this seed has been planted in you and is growing, do not give up until it comes to fruition. You will be miserable if you don’t.
— Click Here For Free Game On! Relentlessly Pursue Your Dreams Workbook Download as a Gift! and you can write down your progress and stay encourgaed with my Game On! Relentlessly Pursue Your Dreams Affirmations Journal. It’s my way of speaking encouragement to you even when I am not there!
You Got This. Game. On.
Nicole is a Panamanian-American, workforce development specialist, dancer, motivational speaker and published author of Game On! Relentlessly Pursue Your Dreams and the 101 Affirmations Journal Series. She attended Oral Roberts University on a Division I full-ride track scholarship. After graduating, she founded Step It Up! Inc., a non-profit dance organization. Her experience in sports and entertainment, radio, TV and the performing arts has spanned nearly 20 years covering the Chicago, Houston and Miami markets. She has danced and cheered for four Professional and Semi-Professional sports teams, has prepared more than 800 interns to enter the workforce and has inspired crowds upwards of 2000. In 2020 she received the Emerging Leaders ALIVE Impact Award and joined the Board of Association of Leaders In Volunteer Management. In 2019, she was listed as one of WLRN’s “Local Women Who Inspire You” and was selected as one of Legacy Miami’s MOST PROMINENT AND INFLUENTIAL BLACK WOMEN IN BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY OF 2019 and became a contributing writer for The Life of a Single Mom.
