Author: Sharat Sharma, Author, Speaker, Coach and Human Capital Consultant
Is constant distraction, information overload, in-consistent action plan draining the energy out of you?
Does remaining focused seems impossible? Do you often wonder how would you ever achieve your goals and fulfill your dreams in such chaos?
Do you often want to become powerful enough to tackle all the unusual demands?
STOP EXERTING ALL YOUR ENERGY ON SETTING GOALS!
Most people exert all their time and energy only in setting goals and are left with very little or no energy in achieving them. In my passion of studying successful individuals, I learnt how successful people deliver top class outcome and remain unshaken in demanding times. A close look will reveal that the key distinctive factor is in their ability to not just constantly set goals but also follow through until they achieve them.
Setting goals and achieving them are two sides of the same coin . However, they require different types of skills and behavior. To get most out of life it’s imperative that one must learn how to achieve goals. If you do not achieve your goals it erodes your self confidence.
LIFE IS LIKE A MOUNTAIN, HARD TO CLIMB. BUT ONCE YOU ARE ON THE TOP, THE WORLD VIEW IS BEAUTIFUL.
Achieving goals is like conquering the highest peak of mountains. We can learn several profound lessons from the extraordinary expeditions of mountaineers who climb the highest summits like – Mount Everest. Climbing the highest peak of the world is challenging, it can be life threatening too. However, most mountaineers consider that the journey is the most fulfilling experience of their life.
“IT IS NOT THE MOUNTAINS WE CONQUER BUT OURSELVES..”
While working on your goals – what you get by achieving your goal is not important as what you become while achieving your goals.
5 Keys To Achieve Your Goals
1. Stay Strongly Committed:
The journey to the highest peak of Mount Everest is filled with several challenges and once they begin the expedition there is no looking back. There are moments where victory seems too close and yet too far. There are moments filled with the thought of giving up and going back. Yet, staying committed to their dream and the desire to turn the dreams into reality keeps them moving. This victory is not winning against people but winning against oneself. The Mountains are tough and challenges with its rough nature. If they aren’t committed and prepared to tackle things strongly, they are setting themselves up for failure.
Commitment is that turning point in your life when you seize the moment and convert it into an opportunity to Alter Your Destiny. – Denis Waitley
As you decide to set goals it’s crucial that you develop an attitude of strong commitment and decide not to look back no matter what. Your goals are your standards you set for your new life. Commitment means stretching yourself beyond what you have imagined to discover your new self. Commitment means no looking back and handle things with conviction. Commitment means being prepared to face the adversities in the journey of your success and not to give up. Making commitment and sticking to it will develop your self esteem. Commit yourself to mastery in everything you do. Stay Committed – Victory is yours !
2. Developing Laser Like Focus:
The weather on Everest is ferocious. The temperature varies between -20 to -40 degree Celsius. Conquering the highest summits of the world requires one to develop a lot of physical as well as psychological muscle even before taking the first step towards achieving it. Many a times your physical and biological abilities would give in and you still have to remain focused. You don’t have a choice but to remain focused.
When tough times come which will come anyhow – you change your direction to reach your goal and do not change your decision to get there. – Zig Ziglar.
While you commit to a goal and start working towards achieving it, it’s vital that you develop laser like focus. Stay focused on your goal all through your journey. Start developing wider awareness on the rapid changes in your market conditions or in your job market or the technology you work on or the industry you serve. Don’t rush but remain focused on your end goal. You have to watch out for the competition; if you don’t , it can wipe you out.
3. Develop Decision Making Muscle:
The journey to the top of the mountain and back to the base camp is filled with uncertainties. In the blink of an eye, you might get hit by an avalanche, the Ice Pinnacles might snap in seconds, you might encounter the deepest Crevasse right around you that can knock you right on your face. You must decide and act instantly. While trekking up the peak, there are moments when you need to decide to let go off your fellow mountaineers to finish the remaining journey on your own or the group might decide to let go off you. Such decisions are tough, yet need to be taken. You have to watch-out because one wrong decision could be life-threatening!
When of the hardest decisions you will ever face in life is choosing to whether to walk away or try harder.
Ability to be a swift decision maker is most essential while working on conquering your goals. This one skill can make or break your dreams. Learn to develop the decision making muscle and act quickly. Some key decisions you have to make is not to achieve perfection in everything you do and let go off procrastination which can hold you back. Decide to let go off people who de-motivate you and decide to let go off your comfort. Your comfort is your biggest enemy in achieving your goals.
“Waiting hurts. Forgetting Hurts. But not knowing which decisions to take can sometimes be the most painful.” – Paulo Coelho
4. Developing A Support System:
Climbing the Everest all alone is impossible. The final achievement is a collective effort of several individuals, each one working towards finishing the summit successfully. Professional mountain guides, sherpas (local guides) and other experienced climbers work together with the common vision of conquering the Everest. Experience of others ensures that you are headed in the right direction and are well equipped to handle possible challenges you face while you are summiting.
Emerging Leaders need mentors to guide them, but they also need a network of peers to reassure them that they are not on the path alone. – Alyse Nelson
Successful people never reach their goal alone. You must develop a network and a support system which shares your vision. Find those who can guide you. Build a support system of mentors and group of those who have traveled the path you wish to travel, this will save you a lot of time and energy. Modeling their behavior will contribute towards your greater success. Develop a team which can support you in your journey. Never underestimate the power of collaboration!
5. Celebrate & Move On:
The final part of the summit is known as DeathZone. At this point, it is highly exhausting but one cannot give up. As they stand few steps away from their dream, the moment is filled with fear, anxiety and deep set of mixed emotions. One can hardly sleep and would be waiting for the final move. The imaginary yet realistic view of the peak is few meters away. Watch-out – Everything one needed to come until here, is exactly what one needs to finish the final few steps. You cannot get excited. Many mountaineers do give up at this point and turn back. Here is the most interesting part ,the average time taken for entire climb is six to nine weeks and the time spent at the peak is not more than 15-20 minutes and you have to head back. As the celebrations of the victory begins at the summit, deep down their hearts they know that staying there too long could be dangerous and they quickly decide to move on and head back.
Celebrate what you have accomplished. But raise the bar a little higher each time you succeed. – Mia Hamm
As you work towards achieving your goal know that the last mile is usually the toughest to walk. Choose faith over fear. There will be moments in your journey when victory seems impossible and you might want to give-up. The victory might be right just around the corner – Don’t look at how far you have to go, look at how far you have come. Do not give up no matter how hard it gets. When you achieve what you always wanted, celebrate; celebrate your triumph. As you celebrate your success, don’t hold yourself back from achieving more out of life.
Every time you set a goal and work on achieving it, remind yourself…,
It’s not Over Until You Win! – Les Brown.
Sharat is the founder of IAM Human Capital Consulting. He is an author of an upcoming book, a serial Entrepreneur and a Performance Coach.
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