As the end of the year rapidly approaches, we are starting to focus on our goals for the new year. What can we improve on? How can we move to our next level of success?
We all have areas we struggle with. We all have roadblocks we struggle to overcome. I’m going to show you how to kick your own bum, and get things done! This article is focused on moving to your next level of success.
When analyzing how to move towards greater success, the first and most important step is to self-evaluate. As Socrates said, “Know Thy Self.” Knowing yourself is a process of digging deep inside yourself. It is a process of discovering your principles and understanding that your principles are what form you as a person. You want to leverage your personal assets and mitigate your weaknesses. This means having a vision and making a plan.
Start with paying attention to what you have done and what you are doing. Take time out and be silent and uncritical; reflect, observe and listen to your inner feedback. Identify your strengths and weaknesses. The goal is to maximize your strengths and minimize your weaknesses. Once you know where you are now, you can focus on where you want to go. Next, you want to ask yourself, “What can I do to maximize my best assets?”
Be Selfish
This notion most likely goes against just about everything you have read about leadership. But being selfish works because you cannot give what you do not have. This makes paying attention to self-improvement and self-development your number one priority. You have to become committed to being a lifelong learner. When you continually build your capacity, and increase your skills, you will have the capacity to do the same for others. You cannot give what you do not have.
Have a Vision
We all need a vision. A photograph in our heads of ourselves being ultra successful. Living by our values and living a life filled with meaning. By creating a clear vision in your head of where you wish to go, you are providing yourself with a focus—an opportunity to help yourself navigate towards the attainment of your goals. Your vision of success will inject energy into your life. By following your clear vision of what you next level of success looks like, you will be able to move towards creating your desired outcome because you have a clear roadmap to follow.
The idea of having a clear idea of where you want to end up extends to every aspect of our workday lives. Project management, crisis management, finalizing tasks and building relationships. What does the end goal look like? What would you like to accomplish? What does success look like in this particular circumstance you currently face? Define success, create an image in your mind of the ideal outcome, and create a plan of action to move towards this vision.
Commit to Making Choices
Science has discovered that we only have a limited amount of decision making capacity per day. Therefore, if you spend your precious energy mulling over every single tiny decision, you are crippling your own success. You are blocking your own way. When you avoid making a decision, you are procrastinating. You already know this is a lethal habit. Stop putting the choice in someone else’s hand. The truth of the matter is that we simply need to admit that no one has all the answers. We cannot predict how any particular decision will ultimately work out. So make a choice. Evaluate the data and relevant information, and then make a choice. Stick with it and move forward.
Success is Truly in Your Hands
To be successful, it takes a vision, a plan, a commitment to taking action, and confidence to become a productive leader. Your next level of success is not about the ideas of success you see portrayed around you daily. Your next level of success is found first within yourself, clarified through your vision, and expressed through your confidence in making firm choices and fast decisions.
Move forward with boldness. It takes courage to embrace your next level of success. Work and live with personal and professional excellence.
About the Author
Karen Donaldson is a personal performance and success coach whow works with individuals and corporate teams. You can find her on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
