Understand Why This Matters So Much<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nOftentimes, we give up on our goals if we hit a snag in the road. In fact, it\u2019s estimated that people on average give up on 80% of their goals. With time, negative, destructive thoughts such as \u201cThis is too ambitious\u201d and \u201cI\u2019ll never be able to do this\u201d creep in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In order to keep that from happening, remind yourself why this goal, as ambitious and even far-fetched as it seems, is so important to you. If you don\u2019t have the answer, is it really the kind of goal you want to achieve? It\u2019s just random this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you do this, you get a more powerful sense of purpose that will push you when needed and motivate you through hardships and setbacks. The moment you start lacking purpose is the moment you start downgrading your goal, lowering your standards, and stop putting in the effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can <\/em>achieve the biggest goal you can imagine, but only if you\u2019re focused on it and don\u2019t give out at the first or second sign of trouble.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAssociate professor at Harvard Business School, Laura Huang, found that overachievers tend to make these giant mental leaps that show their lack of focus. They go from thinking that one A+ will guarantee them the competitive internship they\u2019re after. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then if they get an answer wrong, they close their books and accept the fact that they\u2019re a complete failure. This is a giant leap<\/em>, and it\u2019s unhealthy and unproductive.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIn her own words, professor Huang says, \u201cOverachievers tend to toggle very quickly between \u2018the world is amazing and everything is a huge success\u2019 and \u2018this is a disaster and I\u2019m never going to make anything of myself.\u201d This mindset is absolutely destructive to success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Keep Track of Your Progress<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nUnfortunately, even the most ambitious person can hit a period of time when their reservoir of will and motivation runs low. It happens to the best of us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tracking your progress invokes a powerful sense of accomplishment that pushes you to continue. This increases both your belief in your approach and increases your confidence that success is not just achievable, but that it\u2019s inevitable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It even comes down to this. When you\u2019re feeling like your goal is unattainable, hearing that progress is being made is relieving. That push could be just what you need to get you through to the finish line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Set a Schedule, Not a Deadline<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nSchedules don\u2019t have that same pressing, sometimes paralyzing nature that deadlines have. Even if you necessarily stick by the schedule, it\u2019s the same as marking your progress. It keeps you motivated, aware of your performance, and able to pick yourself up when needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This way, if you didn\u2019t catch up to accomplish a certain goal by a specific deadline, then you won\u2019t feel like the whole thing is doomed if you don\u2019t achieve it. Set a schedule to work towards your goal consistently. It may not seem like this is making a dramatic difference, but you\u2019ll notice the shift in both your progress and your mentality towards it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Have an Action Plan<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWant to run a marathon? Direct a movie? Build a gazebo in your backyard? You have accepted that this is an ambitious goal. You\u2019re proud of it. Everything is set, but nothing will actually get achieved if you don\u2019t have a solid action plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We become so fixated on the outcome and what we\u2019re going to do with our reward that we forget to plan all the steps we need to cross along the way. This step requires physically writing down what you believe is the action plan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As you complete each individual small part of the goal, cross it off. If your goal is a particularly demanding one or one that requires long-term focus, then this advice will benefit you like no other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n