Posts Tagged ‘Confidence’

Getting started is one of the biggest challenges you face when starting a new project. This can include anything from a new exercise program or a new task at work. However, there are a few things you can do that will help you to get started and stick with it.

Choose your goals carefully

In the begining choose things that you really care about and really want to achieve. It can also be helpful to start small and work your way up to difficult. As you begin to accomplish your goals you will gain more confidence and the whole process gets easier. Think of all the things you would like to accomplish, and then choose the three that will make you the most happy. Focus on those goals first.

The plan

If you do not clearly define your goals and how to achieve them, then there is a good chance that you will give up. Putting your goal and plan down on paper makes it real and allows you to clearly see the path to the rainbow and the pot of gold at the end. It will also make the task much easier to accomplish. I have found that the best way to do this is to write down my end result and then work backwards figuring out the steps I will need to take. Also create a backup plan if you get off track. For instance, two weeks into your new workout plan you get sick and are unable to do it while your sick. Have a backup plan to continue afterwards or create a plan you can do while you are sick.

Take the first step now

There will always be a million and one reasons why you can’t accomplish your goal and why another time will be better. if you really want to accomplish your goal: start now. Start this instant by writing down the things that are important to you. Once you have decided the things that are important then write down how to achieve them. There is no better time to start than NOW.

I would love to hear everyones methods for obtaining their goals and also any difficulties that you had.

I came across a post by Guy Kawasaki yesterday titled The growth Mindset. I have made a few posts about goals and I think that the pursuit of constant personal growth is also really important. Guy and Carol Dweck talk about how people with different mindsets will end up with different goals and different paths. I think this is an excellent article and have listed a few key point I think are important.

The two mindsets

The first is the person who thinks people are limited with the talents and abilities they are born with. This can also include the environment they are born into as well. They view these factors as how much or what they can achieve in life. The second mindset is the person who believes they can learn and accomplish whatever they want. They generally believe that how hard they work at something is more important than how good they are to start with. I obviously agree with the latter, and I believe you will find that most very successful people would say they would too. In many events in life, whether it is sports, business, school, or politics; the person who wins isn’t necessarily the one who was the best. It is usually the person who wants it the most and is willing to work the hardest.

Pursuing Constant personal growth

1. Set your goals very high and create a strategy to achieve them. This will allow you to keep learning and keep stretching for the next level. It is much better to set your goals high and fail then set them low and succeed. However, you can break your ultimate goal down into smaller goals to gain confidence in accomplishment.

2. Instead of coming up with reasons why you can’t, come up with reasons and methods to how you can. People achieve amazing things everyday that most thought were impossible. Focus on how to do it and don’t let yourself think about the negative.

3. Think positive and tell yourself you will achieve it. The mind is an amazing thing. Once you set it in your mind that you will achieve something your brain goes to work on how to accomplish it. I had set goals to study in Japan as a college student even though the costs were much more than I was able to afford. I told myself that I was going to go no matter what. I started creating strategies on how to get there, and was able to work even harder because I had a focus. The hard work paid off and I was finally able to study at Waseda University for a year on a full scholarship.

4. Don’t allow people to pull you down. People will have a million reasons why you can’t accomplish your goals. In most cases the truth is they have never tried themselves and are afraid to do so. If you want something bad enough, just go for it. In many cases the same friends and family who might have told you it was impossible will cheer you on once you start into it.

5. Fail and learn. The best way to get better at something is to fail. Failure is not the end of the game, it is just one of the steps. Don’t be afraid to fail and you will increase your chances of success dramatically. This has been extremely true in my Japanese language studies. I used to get embarrassed to make mistakes in front of people. But I soon learned that I would remember a word much better after I had butchered it in a conversation. You will also find that the people who are really great at languages (and other things) are the ones who just keep trying.

6. Adjust your goals over time. Set your goals high. When you achieve them, set new goals. Don’t feel that goals are too high. If you set your mind to something, you will be amazed at what you can achieve. Don’t let anyone or anything limit your mindset.

Books

The 4 hour work week

The Magic of Thinking Big

Time Power