You have big goals but can’t seem to stick with them. So what is it that successful people do differently? They are consistently consistent. Read that again. We’ve all heard the term “overnight success.” The truth is, most people don’t realize that “overnight success” can take years. What do most people do? They start working on a goal and, as they gain knowledge, realize it’s more of a slog than they thought. So if you truly want to change you can stick with, follow these simple tips.
It all starts with mindset. You’re going to have to step out of your comfort zone. No matter how well educated or what economic background we come from, we can’t always see ourselves. We all have blind spots. Let’s explore them.
Take Inventory of Your Habits
Simply put, self-development is the capacity and consistent action towards growing one’s self-awareness, capabilities, skills, and talents and, in turn, improving their quality of life. Often, your life circumstances are a sum total of a thousand microdecisions tied together in what we call “habits.” Step back and take a look at yours. That’s all self-development is: habits that either add to or take away from your life.
Write out your ideal day. What does that look like? What would you have to do differently to create change?
Set a Routine
If you “wing it,” you’re not going to achieve success. Simply waking up in the morning to “work on your goals” can seem daunting when you’ve no plan. You have two-hundred things you need to do. Now . . . go! It’s always easier to surf Facebook instead. Seriously, write down a routine schedule. Every day you should be chipping away at your goal. If you have fifteen minutes, dedicate that time to focus and take just a small step forward. Focused, you can do a lot in fifteen minutes. Try it. Time yourself.
What time do you need to wake up? What can you do differently to help you wake up earlier? What time of day do you work best? Maybe each morning you spend thirty minutes reaching out to people and networking. Each day you take one step and chip away at your goal. They add up.
Acknowledge Your Strengths and Weaknesses
An important step in your self-development journey is acknowledging and understanding your strengths and weaknesses. Know yourself. If you’re trying to do high-focus work at 5pm, but you’re drained at that time, what can you do to shift your schedule and work in the morning? How do you work best? Be honest with yourself.
Never Stop Learning
You can have any degree in the world, but the learning never stops. Reach out to successful people on LinkedIn. Search for a free webinar or take a class. Hire a coach. Don’t work in a silo. Again, unless you can continuously evolve and pivot, you’re doing to give up the first time you feel frustrated.
Ask for Feedback
Self-evaluation is prone to bias. That’s why, when you have to evaluate yourself, it’s best to ask for someone else’s opinion. Find a mentor or coach. If there are people working under you, ask them. The reality is, most people do not offer feedback unless asked. Do not get offended or discouraged; rather, take these opinions as ideas to further your learning.
Learn from Others
Look around you. What do successful people do? In any situation, ask yourself, “Is this what a successful person would do?” That includes negative self talk. A successful person does’t fail at something and say “See, I knew that would happen.” They say “What can I do differently?” and they try again.
You’d be surprised what people will do for you if you just ask. Again, get out of your comfort zone! Self-development workshops are a great place to start.
Final Thoughts
Getting familiar with the concept of self-development will help you devise a strategy to accelerate the entire change process. If you’re looking for professional help, get in touch with Paul Bickford Solutions. Our excellent self-development workshops offer useful mindfulness techniques to empower your inner manifestation engine. So, get started today and change your life.