CHAPTER 14: STICK-TO-IT-TIVE-NESS!

Have you downloaded your free plan of action template? Now you can as part of our Goal Setting For Success tool for aspiring leaders. Here, you'll learn how to stick to the process of goal setting.

As you continue the process of planning your goals, and indeed, planning your life, DECIDE NOW that you will never give up on your personal goal plan - no matter how hard the struggle may be.

As we've discussed throughout Goal Setting For Success, having an aspiration to do great things is only half the battle. You must also have a systematic process, and the personal fortitude, to ensure that your goals are reached.

In fact, too many people start their goal planning much like they do when they make their New Year's resolutions. They are very energized at first and they make some initial progress on their goals in the very short term.

However, as time goes on and they allow themselves to become inundated with "other pressing matters", their enthusiasm wanes and they slowly drift away from that which would truly give them everlasting joy and fulfillment. Using our free plan of action template you can avoid this.

Top 5 for Stick-To-It-Tive-Ness in Goal Setting

1. Know What You Are Signing Up For - The goal setting process (using our free plan of action template) is an ongoing and never-ending process. Goal setting is a lifelong process, it is NOT a single event.
2. Revisit Goals Regularly - Your personal goals planner should be within reach at all times. Where ever you are, get used to taking your goals planner with you.

   Every month you should take time out to review your list of accomplishments. Review all the actions you've taken throughout the month that will support your future victories. This will help to keep you motivated and enthused about the next tasks. At least yearly, update and establish new goals for the coming year using our free plan of action template.

3. Anticipate Problems - Know from the very start that challenges and barriers will need to be faced and overcome throughout your journey. The more you can anticipate potential issues before they occur, the less impact they will have when they do arise and the more quickly you'll be able to address the challenge and continue on to your next task. Through effective anticipation, you'll quickly have a mindset that nothing can stop you from achieving your goals.
4. Analyze & Update - Stay in touch with your rate of progress. Regularly analyze what you've accomplished within the set time period. Determine whether the current rate of success is acceptable or whether you need to step it up in order to get to where you want to be within a reasonable timeline. Respond to your analysis with more immediate action. Adjust your actions so that your results will be in line with your expectations for success.
5. Celebrate Successes - Take time along the way to celebrate your success. No matter how large or small that step is, understand that every step is important. If not for each step, you would not progress forward to eventually achieve your larger goal.

Too many lives are filled with half-finished tasks that started with a good deal of energy and enthusiasm, only to be dropped due to a lack of staying power - a lack of stick-to-it-tive-ness.

Leverage the above five suggestions, using our free plan of action template, in order to ensure you maintain the momentum you've worked so hard to acquire.

Success Lesson #28: Clear Grit for Success

"Grit is the master key which unlocks all difficulties.
What has it not accomplished?"
- Orison S. Marden

Nothing can take the place of clear grit. An education cannot, a rich parent cannot, not even the most effective free plan of action template cannot - nor can any other possible advantage.

Persistence of purpose is characteristic of all men and women who have accomplished great things.

The whole history of achievement shows us that grit and determination has overcome the worst poverty, the most dire of circumstances, and it has been more than a match for life's most destructive forces.

When you come upon a person who is resolute in that, come what may, he is going to do the thing he has set his heart upon, and that there are no "ifs" or "buts" about it, you may be sure he is made of the winning material, the right stuff!

If there is one thing a person should never hesitate to fight for, it is the freedom to pursue his or her passion, the great ideal, the one true purpose in life.

The thing that will make every person's life distinctive, which will make it a supreme accomplishment, is to spend it doing that which God intended. No matter how difficult your present condition is, you should never give up hope or your determination to pursue that one ideal goal.

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Next Goal Setting For Success Chapters

» SECTION 14.1 - It Is Up To Me! - Don't wait to be motivated, motivation and goal setting requires you to be self-motivated.

» CHAPTER 15 - Celebrate To Motivate - Begin having the time of your life and celebrate every small success along the way to realizing your dreams.

» EXHIBIT A - Fitness Goal Plan - Example - Goal planning software can work nicely, but so does a pen and a piece paper, see this example.