The 4th step in this week’s blog series about goal setting is about anticipating challenges. It’s these challenges that stop us achieving our goals and id we’re aware in advance we can plan for them.
Missed the other parts? Check out the links at the bottom of this page:
But for now let’s talk about motivation:
Motivation can come from all sorts of places and generally when we first set our goal it is natural to have high motivation levels to achieve it.
With time, it is very easy to become tired, bored and de-motivated especially if our journey is a long one. There are a number of ways to keep motivation high:
Tell someone and share your goal – when you tell someone else you are likely to feel a sense of responsibility to that person, and more ownership of the goal itself. It becomes real and if you don’t succeed then there is a risk that someone else other than you will view you as a failure. Why not tell all your Facebook friends?
Work with others – This is a great one if you have similar goals to someone else and works well with weight loss goals, taking up an exercise class together means you are both more likely to attend, comparing weight loss adds an element of competition.
Check in regularly – Once you’ve shared your goal, checking in regularly with that person (facebook) keeps your accountability levels high and stops you slipping behind your target.
If there isn’t someone that you want to share your goal with, consider enlisting the support of a coach or mentor. Although a coach/mentor will charge for their services, a good coach will know what questions to ask to get the best out of you and you will find it a highly motivational and enabling experience.
Take Action – I heard a story about the grandfather of former American president, John F. Kennedy (Fitzgerald). I have been unable to qualify this on the internet, so you decide if it’s true:
Fitzgerald grew up in Ireland, and like many boys his age, he’d regularly walk home with a gang of boys. Their walk passed high walls that were dangerous to climb.
One day, Fitzgerald threw his cap over the wall. In doing this he realised that he had to retrieve his cap. The fear of going home without his cap far outweighed the danger of scaling the wall. He did what the others were afraid to do.
It’s a lovely tale and if it is true a fine example that sometimes we need to step out and take action because action always leads us somewhere – much better than nowhere.
Missed parts 1 and 2 – catch up with them here:
part 1 – understanding the what?, where?, how?, who? and why? of setting your goals
part 2 – stepping stones for your journey
part 3 – anticipating the show stoppers
All 5 steps this week are extracts from my “Making a Splash” workbook. If you’d like to get your hands on the full version, it’s free when you sign up to my newsletter.
Carolyn Trafford is a confidence coach and speaker, if you need help creating and your 2015 goals and staying motivated call Carolyn today on 
07714 216388 to book your free 45 minute kick start session and create the work life YOU want.
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