Setting Yourself up for Success
by Cecile Peterkin
Most people want to be successful in life. But success can mean
different things to different people: making more money;
spending quality time with your family; or learning to play a
musical instrument.
Since success is personal, defining what it means for you is the
first step to achieving it. Once you are clear about what
success looks like for you, here are some important points to
help you achieve it.
Steps to Success
1. Know your Potential: In order to succeed at anything you need
to see that you have the potential to reach your goals
2. Understand your Goal: List three or four reasons why you want
to achieve this goal? What is the result you want to obtain?
3. Set Realistic Goals & Timelines: Often times we want
overnight success. Make sure your goals and the time frame you
have set are realistic.
4. Create a Plan: This is by far the most important document of
all. It allows you to keep track of everything involving your
goal.
5. No Shortcuts: Shortcuts are sloppy and compromise your work
and your integrity. “Anything worth doing is worth doing well.”
6. Have Courage: Depending on what success means to you, you
will have to have courage to stand up for what you believe and
desire to do, even if it means disappointing others.
7. Stay Motivated: It is critical to stay motivated when
striving for the big goal of success. Motivational tools will
help you stay on track.
8. Be Passionate: Have passion for what you are doing and
working toward. You will automatically put more effort into it.
9. No Excuses: If you want something badly enough, there is
always a way!
10. No Fear: Fear of Failure is a normal emotion for everyone.
How you get past the fear determines whether you experience
success.
11. Create Opportunities: Make things happen rather than waiting
for opportunities to find you.
12. Attitude: A good attitude will allow you to turn any bad
situation into a learning experience. Staying positive and
surrounding yourself with friends that share a positive attitude
will help you succeed.
13. Make the Best of Each Day: Make the most of every day and
accomplish something - even if it’s something small. Every baby
step counts towards your success.
14. Set Daily Goals: Setting daily goals keeps you on track.
Seeing your progress will help keep you going.
15. Accept Responsibility: You will have help in many instances;
however, the bottom line is that you are responsible for the
choices you will make.
16. Be Open to Improvement: Accept that you do not have all the
answers and more importantly, be open to recommendations from
other people.
17. Paint a Picture: A great way to keep working toward your
goal is to picture what it will look like when you are
successful.
18. Identify Procrastinations: If you have a problem with
procrastination, make a list of distractions you routinely
choose, so you can recognize when you are off course and get
back on track.
19. Want versus Need: Do it because you want it, not because you
need it. When you want something, it requires and creates
intention, desire, and action – all powerful tools for being
successful (doing something out of need usually leads to pain,
stress, and frustration).
20. Believe in yourself: Your confidence is what will get you
through the challenges.
21. Be Efficient: Use your time and effort wisely.
22. Have Balance in your Life: Make the time for both hard work
and pleasure.
23. Have Fun: Fun is a crucial element of success, but one that
often forgotten once we get into the process. Find fun and joy
in what you are doing, even in the midst of the challenges.
Copyright 2004-2005, Cecile Peterkin
About the author:
Cecile Peterkin is a Certified Career Coach, Retirement Coach
and Speaker. With over 17 years of managerial, leadership,
empowerment counseling and personal development experience,
Cecile specializes in helping Middle Managers overcome the
“Middle Syndrome” of being stuck in a middle position in
mid-life. To learn more about Cecile, visit her website at
http://www.cosmiccoachingcentre.com or call 416-782-5001,
Toll-free:1-866-486-4112.
