One Step Back: Plan the Next Steps Forward
If you use the “P’s” to move forward:
As you Ponder: Remember - Simon Sinek would encourage you to: Start with your Why. Why is this idea or goal important to you? I will be asking myself this as well as - on a scale of 1 – 10 where does this idea or goal rate and how excited am I about it?
Remember - Saying no to one goal today doesn’t mean you are saying no forever. It just means not right now. When you say no to one thing, it means you get to say yes to something else. And that something else can bring you immense joy, satisfaction, and a sense of accomplishment. It can be a relief to focus on one major goal. What can you do and what do you want to do by the end of the year.
As you Plan: Mark time in your calendar and be specific on what you’re going to focus. For example, one of my goals is to develop an online course. Instead of writing on my calendar – work on online course. I will write specifically on what I will be working. Mind mapping (outline). Course objectives. Timeline.
As you consider Perseverance and Persistence: I looked up the definition of each and even though they sound the same they are different. Persistence is defined as “firm or obstinate resistance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.” Perseverance is “the continued effort to do or achieve something even if it's difficult and takes a long time.” The difference is subtle, but it's an important one as you move forward.
You can also use this time to begin pondering and planning for 2025 if you want – totally up to you. When deciding which road to take I am reminded of this story from Lewis Carroll’s books, Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass. One day, Alice was running around Wonderland, chasing me. She came to a fork in the road. She stopped. She thought. She contemplated. She asked herself, loud enough for those close to her to hear, “Which path do I take?”
Sitting in the tree watching and listening was the extremely wise Cheshire Cat. Slowly he stretched his legs, and with a wide grin on his face and deep sigh he asked, “Well Alice, where are you going?”
Alice replied, “I don’t really know.”
He smiled and simply stated, “Then it doesn’t really matter which road you take.”
This is so true. If you don’t know where you’re going, it doesn’t matter which path you choose. The path which will lead you to success is determined by what is important and on what success looks like to you.
As you work on moving forward, I encourage you to write the following
Goal:
Action:
Who can support me and what do I need to succeed?
Date to begin:
How will you know you have made progress?
It takes time, energy, and hard work to move forward with your goals and it’s worth it.
I have your back, and you got this!
