The steps to achieve visions or goals are simple. If that is so, then why does it seem that achieving success takes so much longer than anticipated?

The application, consistency and persistency of the following four steps are what it takes to achieve success. The lack of any one or more of these items at any given time, may slow down, stifle or bring to a dead stop – your desired success.

4 steps to achieve success.
1. Ask specifically for what you want and write it down.
2. Eliminate the conditions.
3. Focus on plan A.
4. Just do it!

Step one. Declare specifically your vision or goals and better yet; write them down. Understand the difference between vision and goal setting. Look at your Vision as your road map and your goals as the sign posts along the way. By taking the time to write out and declare verbally your intentions; increased clarity is developed, inspiration and motivation is deepened. Be certain your vision is supported by your values and your personal strengths. For the most well-rounded results, develop goals around your vision in the 5 most important roles in your life; faith, family, friends, financial and personal. This will prevent you from forging ahead in one role in your life while leaving the other roles behind.

Step Two. Eliminate the conditions. There is never enough time in the day. There is never enough money. There is always a holiday or some sensational event coming around the corner. Conditions are a set up for failure, a reason to procrastinate and conditions can often be limiting beliefs or fear based. It seems here in Minnesota, our summers are too short. Work weeks are shortened; weekends are packed with vacations and other fun activities. Holidays, especially during the late fall and winter months are often used as an excuse for why we don’t accomplish what we need to accomplish. Allowing conditions to get in the way of moving forward is the perfect recipe for limiting success. BIG MISTAKE. Forging ahead with a plan in-spite of the “conditions” is a much better approach to staying in front of the curve ball and offering less chance for losing momentum. Expect conditions and plan in advance a strategy to overcome the delays.

Step Three. Do away with Plan B! Focus. Focus. Focus. Do not become an expert in distraction. Having a fall-back Plan B automatically suggests failure to your primary focus or Plan A. You can’t have one foot in the door and one foot out the door. That lacks focus. You can’t take your eye off the ball without getting smacked in the head. You must have focus. Unless you have a proven record of success, you must remain focused on a primary Plan A. Don’t get this confused with a second stream of income. Focus may not be compromised as long as the second stream of income compliments or supports your Plan A. Plan in advance for those days where a lack of motivation or inspiration is not readily available. Know where to turn, what to do or who to talk too in an effort to regain your focus on Plan A.

Step Four. This step seems the most simple, yet is often the most difficult. Step four – Just do it! Roll up your sleeves and get it done. Take action every day. Accomplish at least 3 action items per day. Small steps, large steps, large and small steps. Just implement. Don’t let what you don’t know, prevent you from just doing. There is truth in the saying, doing something is better than doing nothing. When you are overwhelmed, remind yourself that you can only eat an elephant one bite at a time. Just do it. One action at a time. Be grateful for what you have. Be grateful for the mistakes you make. The more grateful you are, the more you will be allowed. Think with a creative spirit as opposed to a competitive spirit. No one can do the job the way you can. There is only one YOU to do YOUR job! Just do it!

Those days where success seems impossible these 4 simple steps when practiced consistently and persistently, will turn your thinking to I’m possible!