At the start of every new year, most of us are determined to hit the ground running with goal sheets and checklists in hand. “Yes,” we tell ourselves, “this year is going to be different! Lose 30 pounds, run in a 5k, get that promotion, start a blog, write a book, and go to Hawaii!”
And yet, things seldom turn out the way we imagined.
Why is this? It’s because we are so enamored by the romance of our dreams that we forget to build a relationship with them. That’s right. We must cultivate a relationship with our goals if we expect a successful outcome.
Think of it this way; when you first meet that special someone—the person you hope to spend the rest of your life with—you spend most of your time together having fun, going out for entertainment, doing recreational things together. That’s all fine and good, but if you want the relationship to go deeper and become permanent, the time comes when you have to do the work of communicating well, meeting one another’s needs, and making adjustments along the way.
Successful goal-achievement is like marriage and family. First there is courting, then engagement, the marriage, consummation, pregnancy, and birth. And baby advances to maturity by taking baby-steps before being able to walk and run.
If you want reach your goals and build the momentum needed to achieve them, you have to start with baby steps.
Courting: Where you dream big.
It doesn’t matter how huge or crazy your dreams are; what matters is that they are authentic.
Play around with your dreams.
Decide which ones are the most important to you.
Engagement: Where you get committed.
Commitment to your goals means making a realistic plan for daily, weekly, and quarterly action steps. Make them specific, measurable, and something you can actually commit to.
Marriage: Where the rubber meets the road.
This means prioritizing your activities on a daily basis, getting the most important things done first. If you are consistent with doing the small, achievable things that move you toward your goals, then the urgent things that come up unexpectedly won’t derail you.
Consummation: Where you accomplish, achieve, and attain.
Consummation is the act of totally embracing your dreams and integrating them into your thoughts and habits. It’s moving an idea from the spiritual or thought realm into the physical realm.
You’re probably familiar with the maxim that “As a man thinketh, so is he.”
This is true.
What you focus on, you gravitate toward.
What you gravitate toward, you manifest in your life.
So keep your thoughts positive and productive.
Be solution-oriented rather than problem-focused.
Pregnancy: Where you begin to see results.
Taking little, manageable steps one day at a time brings big changes. Each day that you nourish your dreams, every week that you nurture and care for your goals, grows them into the reality you planned for!
The momentum of seeing what you’re achieving will carry you forward toward successfully accomplishing what you had set out to do.
Birth: Where you congratulate yourself on success.
The romance of dreaming big blossomed into reality because you took the time to cultivate and nurture your goals. And you did it one step at a time, one day at a time.
That’s something to be proud of!
So are you ready for a little romance and courtship?
Do it; take the plunge!
I’m glad you asked.
There are so many details (that comes with so many questions) about how to actually go from courting all the way to birth when it comes to your writing and business needs.
That’s why we’ve created The Book Ninja Academy. To help you through this, baby step by baby step, to get you where you want to go.
There are over 50(!!!) courses waiting for you, packed with the answers to all your writing, publishing, and marketing needs, along with valuable co-working and open office hours within the community.
