Everyone dreams of achieving success. Whether you want to increase sales, grow your business, take a long-deserved vacation, or lose weight. Greater success is possible if you practice the following steps and take action on your goals. Because ultimately, goals are nothing without action.
Let me say you'll have heard some of these techniques for achieving goals before, but often we need to hear them again.
An easy acronym to remember is "smart" goals. Smart goals stand for specific, measurable, attainable and action oriented, realistic and time specific. I applied these strategies to becoming a motivational speaker. These easy tips produce results if you practice them consistently.
1. Specific goals: Write down your specific smart goals. Then, write down an affirmation for each of your goals on an index card. Start with the words, "I am." "I am" keeps your affirmation personal, positive and in the present tense. Next, add a feeling word such as, "happily," or "easily." Next, add a verb or action word. Include a specific month and year for when you'd like to have achieved that goal.
2. Measurable smart goals: For example, one of my affirmations for a specific goal back in 1995 was, "I am easily conducting speaking engagements all over the world, including in Hawaii, by March 1996." Write down a specific date. As a matter of fact, be as specific and measurable as possible including things like a job title promotion, specific sales goal, or number of pounds you want to lose.
3. Attainable and action-oriented smart goals: On the back of the index card I spent several minutes each morning writing down action steps for how I would achieve this goal. I then visualized myself taking action and attaining it. All Olympic athletes do this because they know it gets results!
4. Realistic smart goals: It may sound unreasonable that one of my goals was to do business in Hawaii. But, having "interviewed" other motivational speakers who spoke at conferences in Hawaii, I knew this was a realistic goal, and have since achieved it.
5. Realistic time frames on your smart goals: I gave myself nine months to achieve the goal of becoming a motivational speaker. It was going to take time to send out demo videos to speakers bureaus.
Look at your goals and affirmations daily. Write down specific action steps. Keep them in your wallet. Visualize how it would feel to already have achieved those goals. Don't wait another day. The future is now!
Don't worry; I'm not going to tell you to become a negative, selfish person who refuses to help others. What I am going to share, however, are effective strategies for saying 'no' when it really counts.
Most of us are kind people by nature. We really want to help others, whether we're volunteering our time at a charitable organization or being supportive to our friends and family. But sometimes our good intentions can get the best of us. We end up taking on more and more obligations, and feeling uncomfortable when someone asks us for a favor.
How do we say no without offending them? Will they get angry at us? What if we really WANT to help, but it would be a great imposition to do so?
It can be helpful to first figure out why you hesitate to turn down requests. Do you believe they'll stop liking you if you do? Do you believe that making life easier for other people is more important than your own peace of mind? What is the worst thing that can happen if you say no?
When you start thinking about the answers to these questions, you'll probably realize some surprising things about yourself that you may not have been aware of previously.
Then, come up with a simple response to use when you really have to say no. Here's one that works well for me:
'I'm sorry, I'd love to help you out but I just won't be able to at that time'.
Notice I don't try to defend or explain my decision. I don't promise to do something else for them in the future to make up for not helping now. Feel free to use this response yourself, or personalize it to fit your circumstances better.
When it comes right down to it, it's not up to you to save everyone. You have every right to help when you can and refuse when you can't! And you don't have to explain why or justify your decision.
Surprisingly, most people won't freak out over your refusal. They'll just accept it and move on. Some people might get annoyed, or even a little angry at you - especially if you usually bend over backwards to make their life easier. They won't be pleased that you're not willing to do it anymore.
But ultimately, what is more important to you: keeping them happy or keeping your sanity?
Saying no definitely requires a bit of inner strength and determination - but so do most positive changes in life.
Both Colleen Kettenhofen & Robert Greenshields are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Colleen Kettenhofen has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fitness, Difficult people and Leadership. Colleen Kettenhofen is a speaker and co-author of The Masters of Success, featured on NBC's Today Show. Popular topics: leadership, management, difficult people, public speaking. For free articles, e-newsletter, video:. Colleen Kettenhofen's top article generates over 90500 views. to your Favourites.
Robert Greenshields has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home, Neuro Linguistic Programming and Web Development. Robert Greenshields is a marketing success coach who helps entrepreneurs and independent professionals transform their business results by changing their mindset. Sign up for his free tips on. Robert Greenshields's top article generates over 90500 views. to your Favourites.