Making it happen: 10 steps to success

Working towards goals that you set for yourself can be one way of taking control of the direction your life is taking. Having goals can help to focus your mind and motivate you to take action. Setting your goal is the first step.

If you have a goal that you really, really want to achieve, here are 10 steps to success that can help to keep you on track.

10 steps to success

1. Know your goal

“Every day, do something that will inch you closer to a better tomorrow.” – Doug Firebaugh

Write your goal down and look at it every day, perhaps several times a day. Prime your mind with what it is that you want to achieve. Be specific about what you want, when you want to achieve it and how it will feel when you do.

2. Plan

“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” – Florence Taylor

Think about what you need to do and plan it out. How are you going to move towards your goal? What has stopped you from achieving this goal so far? What do you need to do to overcome this? Identify what help you may need along the way.

3. Review

“The primary reason for failure is that people do not develop new plans to replace those that didn’t work.” – Napoleon Hill

Review your actions and results along the way. What is working well and what isn’t? What do you need to do differently to get back on track? Do you need to review your timescales? Has the goal changed since you started moving towards it? Review and update your goals regularly, perhaps every month.

4. Increase your skills and knowledge

“I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.” – Vincent van Gogh

Identify the skills and knowledge that you will need to achieve your goals. What are your strengths and weaknesses? Your weakest area may be the one that limits your success. What do you need to learn or improve to reach your goals?

5. Make time for priorities

“The future depends on what we do in the present.” – often attributed to Mahatma Gandhi

Time is a precious resource. Does the way you use your time reflect your priorities? It’s easy to find yourself with no time to spend on the things that are most important to you. What do you need to change to make time to work towards your goals? If your time is limited, what is the most important thing you can do to move towards your goal?

6. Spend time with people who will support you

“Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Who do you know who can support you as you move towards your goal? Spend your time with people who are positive and encouraging. If you are in the process of building your own self-belief, find ways to shut out the negative opinions of others. Who do you need to spend less time with, and who do you need to spend more time with?

7. Take action

“Nobody ever gets ready by waiting. You only get ready by starting.” – John C. Maxwell

While planning and preparation are key ingredients of success, nothing changes unless you take action. What are you waiting for? What is stopping you? What would it be like if you decided to stop waiting?

Ask yourself: What small step can I take today that will take me closer to my goal?

8. Have the right mindset

“You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.” – Michael Jordan

Our attitude to life can shape our future. As the familiar saying goes, whether you believe you can or you can’t, you’re probably right. Skills and knowledge can be developed, but mindset and attitude also make a considerable difference.

Our thoughts and what we believe affect our feelings and behaviour, and therefore our results. What do you believe about yourself that may be stopping you from achieving your goal? If your beliefs are getting in the way, you may need support to find a mindset that will allow you to move forward.

9. Stretch yourself

“Progress always involves risks. You can’t steal second base and keep your foot on first.” – Frederick B. Wilcox

In our comfort zone, everything feels easy and familiar. However, to grow and learn, we need to step out of the comfort zone and into the stretch zone: just far enough that we are slightly uncomfortable without entering the panic zone.

As we learn in the stretch zone, it becomes part of our expanded comfort zone. What do you need to do to expand your comfort zone? What small steps can you take that will stretch you and help you achieve your goals?

10. Determination

“Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent.” – Marilyn vos Savant

One thing successful people often have in common is determination. They do what needs to be done, even when they don’t feel like doing it. They have self-discipline. If something doesn’t work, they look for another way or find someone who can help them.

What might set you back, and how might you overcome it?

And finally…

Be kind to yourself. If things are not going the way you want, find the support you need to help you feel better and continue moving forward.