Each of us has something we want. Often times – life can feel like a continuous pursuit of wants and needs. We love to do the things we want and more often than not, aren’t too happy to do the things we need to. In our instant gratification society, we want things now, not later. Imagine if we acquired the things we want. How would it affect our lives and the lives of those around us? Would it be positive or negative? Could it be dangerous? What if it left us wanting more? If the things we want leaves us with the burden of simply wanting more, could the things we want be the wrong things to go after?
What specifically do you want? What areas of your life do you want to change? Is it a particular set of skills? Your body? Do you want your career to take off? Does your relationship need to go to the next level?
What if what you were really after were a value and not a thing? Perhaps wanting to take your career to the next level is a deep desire for respect or maybe financial peace? When we take a long hard look at the things we want, often, we realize that there are values attached to our desires.
Goal setting is not a revolutionary idea. But in order to obtain the things we want – strategizing accordingly and often is a sure way to succeed. Knowing and understanding the WHY in our wants can help us to understand whether they will have a negative or positive impact. Thus, allowing us to strategize effectively. But more important than strategizing is how we execute. If you we can’t execute, strategizing is meaningless and ineffective.
Below are six big ideas to get you moving in the right direction:
1 – Be on FIRE for your plan.
Make a commitment to intentionally grow each day. Create a list of priorities for you to follow. The priorities you choose should reflect the things you want. Your list should be detailed to ensure you are on the right path towards your goals.
2 – Make your commitment public.
Ask trusted friends and family members to hold you accountable. A shared commitment becomes a strong commitment. When I was younger, I was very involved in acting. One day, my acting teacher looks me in the eye and in front of the class gave me advice I will never forget. He said, “No one can do anything alone, but we can grow strong in the presence of a strong community”. Look to each other for support on your journey to the top. God often uses the people around us to propel us to the next level.
3 – Developing your blueprint.
What two areas of your life do you want to master? Select at least two but no more than five. Choose an area of choice and an area of skill that you want to develop. For me – life coaching is an area I am currently focused on. Public speaking is the skill that I am developing. Always remember that there is always room for growth, no matter how long you have been doing it.
4 – Prepare, Train, & Reflect
Choose an hour of your day to edify the area of growth you are passionate about.
5 – Pick a specific time and day each week` to reflect and write down what you are learning.
Buy a journal if you don’t have one and fill that sucker up!! Don’t worry about making it perfect – just start by jotting down your ideas. The idea is to see your growth as it is happening in real time. That way you can go back and reflect on the things you’ve accomplished. What could you do better? How can you improve? The most successful people I know keep journals and are committed to writing in it each day.
6 – Help the people in your life grow.
Want to know if the people around you care about your success? Share your growth with them each week. If they seem happy and excited, continue to foster those relationships. Be intentional. Share your growth in a way that edifies the potential in others to live beyond their own limitations.
