Blog #208
Last week, we discussed my favorite quote from Henry Ford, which is, “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right”. In that post, we talked about the first two steps to achieve your dreams, how to dream big, and the ins and outs of a simple visualization process.
This week, we will go through the more mechanical steps of what needs to be done in order to dig in and achieve your dream. These three simple steps are: break it down, set your accountability, and reset and repeat, which are discussed more in depth below.
Steps to achieve your dream:
- Break it down. From this point on, it is all about mechanics. In my session space, I have a small toy elephant, which symbolizes two things: the elephant in the room, and how do you eat an elephant? (Answer: one bite at a time). Once you have defined where you want to go (hopefully, it is completely unreasonable), you then need to outline what it will look and feel like. Now it’s time to get to work. Start with remembering that this is your dream – you can do this and you get to do this. Attitude matters. This is where you will need to be honest with yourself, define what really needs to be addressed first, and list out how you will specifically tackle the most important things first. Keep it simple and stay focused on where you are going. It will be worth it in the end. Break down what needs to be done, write it out, and assign a completion date to it. I do this quarterly; some people like to do it on a monthly basis.
- Be accountable. This is just as critical as the other steps. When you decide to go after something, be specific about how you will do it…then own it! Whether it is easy or hard no longer matters – you have decided you are going to do it. There are countless ways to create accountability (if you need help with this, let me know and I will offer some thoughts). To steal a quote from Yoda, “Do or do not, there is no try”. Own it!
- Review, reassess, and repeat. Things will almost never go 100% as planned – that’s okay. It often becomes a great opportunity or learning event. The main point here is to embrace that you are learning and creating a new habit. When you slip and catch yourself, celebrate that you caught yourself. Don’t focus on the slip. Assess how the previous version worked – maybe it was a little too much or maybe not enough. How can you make it better for the next time? Review where you are going, what you have learned, and then take another bite out of the elephant.
I have seen and experienced the results of these exercises hundreds of times. The results can take the form of unheard-of profits for a company to ridiculous physical goals. For example, I am now running 50K trail runs at age 51…and with a prosthetic hip and knee. I have seen others start businesses, go back to school, or begin to change the world in some form or fashion.
The point is this: Whether or not you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right. Thanks, Henry Ford. Dream big then go it. Anything is within your grasp.
Is your company getting hung up on breaking down its goals? Could you use some guidance in learning how to achieve your dream? Then reach out to us today to find out how! https://entrepreneurial-advisors.com/contact/
