Ed. note: We've broken the great advice here into several articles because there is so much to apply in each one. You can read them separately or together, but no matter what order you read them in, use the advice to make yourself more productive. CLICK HERE to go to Part One of this article.
You can keep the main thing foremost in your life if you remember to make your goals your own, to set goals that can be measured and to commit your goals to writing. Ironically, many of us take more time to plan a vacation than to plan the more important aspects of our lives. Get your goals on paper now. You owe it to yourself to have a sense of direction. Be responsible for doing this for yourself.
• Act on your plans. Once your goals are identified you start the adventure of beginning to work on them and seeing them become reality. Knowledge is of little value unless it is put into action. The hardest part of any project is often just getting started.
The science of physics recognizes two kinds of inertia. Standing objects tend to remain stationary; moving objects tend to remain in motion. It is difficult to get an object with stationary inertia started. Conversely, it is hard to stop an object once it is in motion. Once you get going as a goal setter, you will be hard to stop. A first step is to be determined enough to convert your wishes into daily habits.
• Establish productive habits. As much as 70 percent of what we do is determined by habit. Your habits are always with you. They can be your biggest helper or your heaviest burden. Do something a few times the same way and a habit, good or bad, is formed.
The secret is to take habits seriously and to be firm as you work at developing productive habits. Bad habits can destroy your loftiest intentions to change; good habits can increase your chances for victory in whatever endeavor you undertake.
• Cultivate a positive attitude. Positive attitudes are like nourishment to the body and soul. The right attitude will carry you through the worst days. You can believe God’s word, “but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26.
Most of us get from life exactly what we expect to get. God has given you the privilege of making choices; you are in charge of your life. You are in control of your attitude. It is not your family, your boss, your parents or your breaks in life that create attitude. Your thoughts and reactions are totally up to you.
Expecting failure often creates failure. Expecting success releases energy to create achievement. Never make excuses for yourself.
Begin today to see yourself as the person you plan to become. You will find yourself living up to the image you have of yourself. Think bigger than you ever have before. Consider the many parts of your life. Decide which are really important to you; make specific plans to spend your life on what matters.
Goals:
• provide direction; point you toward the future
• keep you on track; motivate you to achieve what you care about
• prevent wasted time by focusing your efforts
• contribute to your sense of purpose
• form the basis of your philosophy; say, “This is who I am.”
Goals must be:
• clear and specific; write them down and give each a deadline
• realistic and valid; not wishful thinking
• achievable; consider your resources but don’t sell yourself short
• important to you; are you willing to pay the price in time and effort?
• worthy; will this make you a better person? help others? bring satisfaction?
Don’t make the mistake of wasting time, effort and energy on things that really do not matter. Keep the main thing the main thing.
Please share your thoughts, comments, questions!