There’s absolutely no way around it. You’re going to have to work to make your dreams of success come true. And, I’ve never really understood those who try to succeed in achieving their goals without having somewhat of a work ethic behind the whole goal-achievement process.
I mean . . . “money doesn’t grow on trees.” People actually have to put in some effort to generate the ever-elusive dollar (or whatever currency you use in your part of this great big world). In most cases, anyway. (However, I imagine there are some anomalies (outliers) on the receiving end of money generated from thin air – that most of us can’t relate to.)
And, the goal destination doesn’t have to be money. It can be whatever your idea of success and achievement means to you. Whatever it is that you are striving to reach — the whatever that makes you feel successful — that’s your measure of a success story.
I simply used money in my example above to give you some tangible measure of success. But, success isn’t always tangible. Sometimes, it’s the intrinsically valuable stuff that our dreams are made of.
Regardless of being tangible/intangible or extrinsic/intrinsic, future achievements are going to take some work. And usually, not just the one-and-done stuff. Oftentimes, we have to put in some “consistent” work over time.
Here’s a self-made definition for consistency that I used in multiple blog posts and in my self-published book, Playground Instruction for the Growing Adult:
“A willingness to work on a regular and continuous basis until the goal is achieved.”
Now, that’s been over 5 years ago since I typed up this definition in print, but the meaning still holds true. The pivotal words here are as follows: “willingness,” “work,” “regular,” and “continuous” — when it comes to GETTING THINGS DONE!
I knew that it took the four pivotal words and much, much more to get the getting done. Again, there’s no way around it.
In a world where things are getting “tight” (for a lack of a better word) in every possible way — from natural resources to currency to jobs to benefits to human experience and connection and the list goes on — it should become quite obvious that some effort, on our parts, is needed to achieve and succeed.
And, I’m all about the beautiful simplicities of life (no grand gestures needed).
What about those little things you do day-to-day (those compounding effects of your efforts) that add up to the success story? The continuous (but doesn’t have to be strenuous), bite-sized things you do (let’s call them those positive, forward-moving habits) that lead to accomplishment.
There’s something to the whole repetitious routine. I mean . . . it may be boring to some. But oftentimes, the boring, repetitive, little actions taken over time are the ones that get the job done.
It’s the consistency, fam, that allows you to be the Energizer bunny, outlasting all those on the fast track who peter out when the gettin’ don’t get got fast enough for their goal-setting ways. (Try saying this sentence 3 times in a row and fast. Hee. Hee.)
If it takes the same-old, same-old to get you closer to your goal destination, then so be it. Because the goal achievement is ultimately aligning you with your success story, right?
Right?
And if the thing that stands in the way of that success is “consistency” in the work effort you put forth, then WORK ON THAT!
Get the mind right. Shift it if you need to, and put systems in place to assist you in keeping yourself consistent in the work that brings about the outcome you’re looking for.
Systems. Systems. What kinds of systems?
Well, maybe you could . . .
- get the mind right! Like I just stated above. Your actions start with your mindset. Mind over matter. Mind over circumstances. Mind over challenges. Mind over setbacks. Mind over others’ negativity. Mind over limiting beliefs. Mind over body. Mind over self-will, at times. Mind, mind, mind. Your success story ultimately starts with the mind.
- enlist the help of an accountability partner who can help keep you motivated to stay on the “consistent work” trek and provide you with the encouragement you need in those difficult spaces and places where goal achievement efforts get too hard for you to bear on your own.
- create a rewards system for yourself that you have someone else administer for you (family, friend, accountability partner) when you reach small milestones. Seeing yourself achieve the mini goals that work up to the overall goal (and getting awarded for it) may help keep you on the path toward your goal destination.
- even trigger “checks” (not punishments per se, but, insert “balances” as a system) that warn you when you’re getting too close to veering off to the right or left of your success path instead of staying straight ahead.
- keep tempting obstacles out of your way that you KNOW (YOU KNOW! YOU KNOW!) will throw you off track. Don’t bring those things around you. Avoid them like the plague if you have to. They are your kryptonite and will take you off track. YOU KNOW!
The application of results-driven knowledge over time leads to the success story.
Once you know better, do better.
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