What’s on your to do list?
What is it that if you started today and followed through would be a difference maker to your family, career or personal happiness?
Maybe it’s learning a new skill, starting a new hobby, writing a book, learning to play the guitar (or any instrument), learning a foreign language, starting a new business or getting in great shape.
The hardest thing to do sometimes is to simply get started, yet so many us procrastinate. And a day turns into a week, then a month, then a year, then 10 years…
I’m sorry it’s true! But it’s true for all of us.
Below are the 5 killers of why people never get started on their dreams or goals, but I’m not going to leave you hanging there so I’ve included 5 solutions to help you get started today on making your dreams a reality!
Dream killer 1. It’s too late for us to learn or to start
Dream killer 2. Someone else is already too far ahead of me or has my idea
Dream killer 3. It’s too complicated (or over my head)
Dream killer 4. It’s going to be too much work
Dream killer 5. I don’t have enough time and/or money
5 Solutions to the Dream Killers:
1. Get started anyway!
We might think either we’re too old or at our age we can’t catch-up and compete. Yes, if you want to be a professional golfer and you’re 40 and have never learned to play, yes it’s too late for that. BUT that is the exception! Rarely is it too late to start just about anything on your to do dream list!
I challenge you as Paul J Meyer challenged me: Don’t only think in terms of years, think in terms of decades.
I remember when I was younger, my mother after years of putting it off, planted 2 pecan trees in our yard. I heard it would take 5-7 years for them to even bear fruit and I thought “what in the world is she thinking!” Well those 5-7 years flew by and now over 30 years later she has incredible trees providing shade and beauty and yes, thousands of pecans (and over 25 years of accumulated benefits)!
In fact 90% of the things that we are holding off on doing is simply procrastination.
What are you putting off from starting that if given enough time you can succeed at? Then get started today!
And by the way, if you think someone is already doing your idea, remember for every one idea there are hundreds and thousands of people implementing a business, a speech, a book around that idea. Ideas are easy. Once McDonalds started in the hamburger franchise business that did not eliminate anyone else from selling hamburgers. I promise it’s the same for your idea. We’ve all heard there’s room for everyone – there is! Go build your idea, write your book, launch your business and do YOUR thing.
You don’t have to be first to succeed with a particular idea, you just have to GET STARTED!
2. Have enough reasons!
Jim Rohn always would answer any lack of discipline or follow through with an observation that the person probably lacked enough reasons to succeed at what they were trying to accomplish. Why do you want to lose the weight? Why do you want to double your income? Why do you want to grow your business?
List out your 5-10 biggest and most exciting and motivating reasons! Make them clear! Visualize and read them to yourself daily!
3. Have a roadmap!
We all know the value of a GPS system or a map when traveling. Same is true for our goals and dreams.
If you went out and started trying to hit a golf ball perfectly or tried to learn to play the guitar without a lesson, chances are you may become very frustrated and even confused. Same is true with many of our goals. You can try to watch French TV to learn French but a CD or DVD that actually teaches you French would likely be much more helpful!
Is there a roadmap that will help you reach your plan not only quicker but with a higher probability of success? If so, get the map/GPS system and lock in.
4. Make a commitment!
As we all know talent isn’t always the key determining factor in success. But commitment on an individual basis is! When you are committed you will see success!
To lose the weight, start the business, write the book, learn the language… getting started is a HUGE step, but then follow-though and consistency is the next piece. Commitment is the key to keeping your dreams alive once you leave the starting gate.
5. Have a mentor!
Road maps are necessary! Mentors take it to the next level. They bring a level of accountability plus the “been there, done that” factor. That’s why at most gyms they also have personal trainers who can help you one-on-one with not only the how to, but also encouragement and accountability.
Almost every successful person I’ve known talks of a mentor. Of course Jim’s classic story always begins with his meeting of Mr. Shoaff and William E Bailey. If you don’t currently have a mentor, while in search let the books you read serve as mentors. Your associations are also so valuable. Surround yourself around those who have done what you want to do or are striving to reach similar goals (the value of attending seminars, church, gyms, etc).
ACTION STEP:
As you look out over the next 5-10 years, ask yourself what skills you want to grow, business you want to start, book you want to write, etc? Then pick the top three and list as either a 1 year, 5 year and/or 10 year goal/dream. Then make out a list of actionable steps that you will then begin implementing in the coming days and weeks.
“What the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” – Napoleon Hill
