Day 6: 10 Steps to Achieve Success
As we’ve discussed, success can mean many different things to different people. For some, it means achieving a career goal or building strong relationships, while others choose to focus on improving their health and wellness or positively impacting the world.
We’ve already discussed how gaining clarity around what success means to you is an important part of this process because success is an individual thing. What constitutes success for you will depend on your values, priorities, and life circumstances.
Always remember SUCCESS can only be defined by YOU, not society
Many strive for success, but achieving it is challenging. However, by getting clear on where you’re heading from the beginning – and taking intentional steps to get there – you’ll increase your chances of achieving your goals and living the satisfying, fulfilling life you’re meant to live.
10 Steps to Achieve Success
Here are ten steps to help you make the right choices and achieve the success you desire:
Step #1: Prioritizing
Prioritizing requires deciding what is most important and focusing your time and energy on those things. Prioritizing effectively involves making tough choices and saying “no” to things that don’t align with your priorities. My experience has taught me that saying no to certain things can be VERY productive. You’ll need to take the time to think about how your choices advance your goals and which actions to take to achieve them.
Learning about the Eisenhower Matrix* allows you to seamlessly prioritize and choose what is urgent and important, important but not urgent, urgent but not important, and not urgent and not important.
Step #2: Monitoring Choices
Monitoring your choices requires that you’re aware of the decisions you’re making and consider their impact on your goals. Therefore, evaluating your options regularly and adjusting them when needed is vital.
Practice Mindfulness set reminders, journal, take breaks, and get feedback from others so that you’re cognizant of your choices and how they affect your life today and in the future.
Step #3: Setting Boundaries
Setting boundaries means creating clear guidelines for using your time and energy. It requires that you say “no” to things that don’t advance your morals, values, principles, and goals.
Start by identifying your priorities, values, and limits. Then, communicate your boundaries clearly and assertively to others, and be willing to enforce them when necessary. Finally, remember that setting boundaries is an important act of self-care and self-respect.
Step #4: Practicing Self-Discipline
Self-discipline is a crucial component of achieving success. It involves making intentional choices and following through on commitments, even when difficult. Self-discipline keeps you focused and motivated, increasing your chances of achieving your goals. Utilize habit-developing routines, learn to say “no” to distractions and temptations that might hinder your progress, and hold yourself accountable for your actions.
Step #5: Setting Clear Goals
Setting clear goals involves defining what you want to achieve and setting specific, measurable goals to help you get there. Clear goals keep you focused and motivated, making tracking your progress easier. Keep practicing setting SMART and even SMARTER goals. The more you practice setting goals and following your plans, the better you’ll get at doing it.
Step #6: Developing Your Action-Plan
Your action plan involves breaking down your goals into smaller, more manageable steps. And remember, your Plan of Action must written down. Preferably using pen/pencil and paper, rather than a keyboard. Studies and experience have indicated the hand/eye tactile experience is helpful for retention and conviction
Create a timeline or schedule that defines when you’ll complete each step. Don’t forget to identify any resources or support needed to succeed. Finally, continuously evaluate and adjust your plan to stay on track.
Step #7: Building Your Support Network
Building a support network means surrounding yourself with people who support and encourage you and provide needed guidance and advice. You’ll need to identify the people who are supportive and encouraging but also honest. Then, reach out to them regularly. Don’t forget to express your gratitude for their support. Join groups that align with your interests or goals and participate in activities that allow you to meet new people with similar values.
Years ago, Jim Rohn shared the now-famous quote “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”
My personal life experience has attested to that truism time and time again. And I feel blessed with having decades of close accountability partners available.
Step #8: Learning from Failure
Setbacks and failures are inevitable. However, viewing failures as learning opportunities is vital to your success. Take time to reflect on what went wrong and use that information to adjust and improve your approach moving forward. It’s not about blame. It’s about discovering what happened so you can do it better next time. Make it a habit to evaluate and learn.
Step #9: Celebrating Success
Celebrating small successes inspires you and gives you a sense of accomplishment. So, take the time to acknowledge your achievements, no matter how small they may seem. You don’t have to go nuts and have a party for everything, but just taking a few moments to mark your calendar, give thanks, take a breath, and acknowledge the success you achieved solidifies the feeling in your mind motivating you to keep going forward.
Step #10: Taking Care of Yourself
Taking care of yourself is essential for achieving success. Ensuring you get enough rest, eat well, and stay active is very basic but vital to ensure you can even do the things required to be successful. So do all the things you’d do for your best friend, spouse, children, and pets to care for yourself the best you can.
Achieving success isn’t easy, but you really can do it with hard work and dedication. When you know how to make the right choices and stay the course based on your principles, morals, values, and goals, you’ll increase your chances of achieving your desired success.
Day 6 Finding Clarity Exercise: Prioritizing with the Eisenhower Matrix
Developed by former US President Dwight D. Eisenhower, this matrix is a simple, yet powerful way to categorize your tasks and determine which ones to prioritize based on their urgency and importance.
Instructions: Understanding the Eisenhower Matrix
The Eisenhower Matrix* categorizes tasks into four categories based on their urgency and importance:
- Urgent and important tasks require immediate attention and are critical to your success. They should take precedence.
- Important but not urgent tasks are vital to your long-term success but don’t require immediate attention. However, they should be scheduled and prioritized accordingly.
- Urgent but not important tasks are urgent but not critical to your success. Delegate or reschedule them if possible.
- Not urgent and not important tasks are not urgent and not critical to your success. Therefore, they should be eliminated or minimized.
Make a List of Tasks and Responsibilities
Make a list of your tasks and responsibilities. Include everything from work-related tasks to personal errands and hobbies. If you want or must do it, it must be included.
*For more on this topic, visit https://www.eisenhower.me
Categorize your tasks using the Eisenhower Matrix
Using the matrix, categorize each task based on its urgency and importance. This helps you see which tasks you must prioritize and which you can delegate or eliminate.
Prioritize Your Tasks
Start by focusing on urgent and important tasks. These are your top priorities. Then, move on to the important but not urgent tasks and schedule them accordingly. Finally, delegate or reschedule the urgent but not important tasks and eliminate or minimize the not urgent and not important tasks.
Evaluate and Adjust
Periodically evaluate your tasks and responsibilities to align with your goals and priorities. Then, adjust your priorities and schedule to stay on track toward achieving your desired success. Prioritizing your tasks and responsibilities is essential for achieving success. The Eisenhower Matrix is a powerful tool that allows you to prioritize effectively and maximize your time and energy. Use this tool regularly to stay focused and motivated toward achieving your goals.
Make a List of Tasks and Responsibilities
Make a list of your tasks and responsibilities to complete. Include everything from work-related tasks to personal errands and hobbies. If you want to do it, it must be included.
Categorize your tasks using the Eisenhower Matrix
Using the matrix, categorize each task based on its urgency and importance. This helps you see which tasks you must prioritize and which you can delegate or eliminate.
