Taking action towards our goals is hard. It’s hard to get started, it’s hard to stay motivated, its hard keep going, it’s hard to overcome the inevitable challenges. It kinda sucks, and that’s why most of us give up trying or don’t even start, no matter how much we think we want it.
The truth is, most of us don’t take action because we don’t know where to start, we don’t really know what we want, or we’re afraid of failing. We don’t want to make sacrifices if we’re not sure they’ll pay off, and that makes total sense. Who the hell wants to spend their evenings working towards an unknown outcome when we could be chillin out in front of the telly after a hard day at the office right?
But here’s the thing, if you’ve ever dreamt of a more fulfilling life, on your terms, then all those evenings chillin in front of the telly is a sacrifice too, and the cost is probably higher than we think.
We’re sacrificing our future. A future that could be more like the life we dream about when we’re asleep, where everything is as it should be and we have everything we’ve ever wanted. And that one where you’re walking out of the office for the last time, as you casually flip the bird to your boss.
Here’s what I’ve learned: If you want to create that life, you need clarity above all else. You need a solid plan, and the courage to take small steps forward of course, but its clarity on what you actually want from life that drives all that. Without clarity, you’re running blind.
Get Clear on What You Want
It’s hard to build anything if you don’t know what it’s supposed to look like. Most of us don’t take the time to figure out what we really want. Instead, we focus on what we don’t want: “I don’t want to feel stuck anymore.” “I don’t want to work this job forever.” or “I wish I didn’t have to worry about money.”
So we’ve got to put some time into thinking about what we actually want, and what that really means to us. But clarity doesn’t come all at once, and it doesn’t come easy either, it takes time and effort. But it’s worth it.
Grab a notepad and start writing. You’re not writing poetry here, you’re the only one who’s going to read it.
Think about what your perfect day would look like, feel like, where would you go, what would you do, and why? What if you didn’t have to go to work, if money was no object? When you start to run out of ideas, write about your days, what you liked, what you disliked, hated, loved? What made you angry, or frustrated and why? What you’re grateful for?
After a few days or weeks, depending on how much you’ve got to work with, re-read what you’ve written, and ask yourself what you’ve learnt about yourself, were there any surprises?
Only now, after a good deal of introspection can you ask with conviction, what do I really want, and why?
Writing teaches us to think, because we have to make sense of our thoughts in order to write it down. Pick a time of day, a quiet time, when you’ve got at least a half hour undisturbed, make yourself a hot drink and put pen to paper.
If you’ve never done anything like this before, you might find it difficult. I spent a good few long mornings staring at a blank page, but trust me, it gets easier with practice.
Break It Down
In the words of Desmond Tutu “There is only one way to eat an elephant; one bite at a time.”
Big goals are inspiring, but they’re also paralyzing, if you try to tackle everything at once, you’ll end up overwhelmed and frustrated. That’s why breaking things down is so important.
Start with your vision, the big picture of what you want your life to look like. Then work backwards to set goals that will move you toward that vision. These goals should be meaningful and specific.
Once you’ve got your goals, you need a strategy. Think of it like a roadmap. Your strategy helps you decide what to do first, what to do next, and what to ignore entirely.
Make a Plan You Can Actually Follow
Once you’ve got a vision, goals, objectives and a strategy to make all that happen, you need an action plan. This is about turning your strategy into bite-sized tasks. It’s what you’re going to do today, tomorrow, and next week.
The key here is to always know what your next step is. If you’re stuck, it’s usually because you’re not clear about what to do next. When you always have that next step lined up, there’s no room for hesitation.
That doesn’t mean you’re not going to hit roadblocks, it just means when you do, you’re not tempted to turn around and go home. Plans change. Life throws you curveballs. But as long as you’re willing to adapt, you’ll keep moving forward.
Review, Adapt, Course Correct
Plans are tools, not rules. They’re meant to change as you learn and grow. That’s why it’s important to review your progress regularly. Weekly is good. Look at what’s working, what’s not, what still makes sense, and what needs to change.
When you review your plan, don’t forget to acknowledge your progress. Even a little progress is progress, and its important to recognise it as your achievement.
Give yourself the freedom to adjust your plan when things go off track. And most importantly, trust that if you keep moving forward, you’ll get where you want to go.
Once you truly understand what you want and why, your thinking starts to shift all by itself, because whenever you make a choice or decision, your brain is asking whether its moving you towards or away from the life you’ve imagined.
Building a life you on your terms isn’t about big, sweeping changes. It’s about taking small, consistent steps toward a clear vision. If you want more detailed advice and guidance check out the The Solopreneur Foundations Guide.
