Success starts in the mind first. No matter what your grind is, 80% of it will happen in your mind. So before you go into the new year with a list of goals and resolutions, you may want to try these 5 ways to help prepare you for your upcoming grind season ahead of time.
- Realize that it’s temporary
The first thing you need to do is realize that this will be a season and not a life sentence. It won’t be pleasant or easy, but if you live like no one else now you can live like no one else later. The grind season was never meant to last forever. It may be necessary to get the ball rolling but it’s your job to create a system that will keep it rolling with less effort.
- Know your “why” and keep it in front of you
We have a tendency to give ourselves a pass when things get tough or when we get tired. But when we come to the realization that our success is bigger than us, then our failure to execute becomes a danger to those we will impact. It may be hard to get up at 5 A.M. or make it to the gym, or push to that second job for ourselves, but it becomes necessary when we know our parents, kids, or community is depending on it. Think about what your success means, not only to yourself, but to those around you. Create some type of reminder of that and keep it in a place where you can see it daily.
- Prepare your family and friends
This may seem a little strange, but it’s necessary to talk with your family and friends about the changes that this grind season will present for you so that they know what to expect. Our relationships have an enormous effect on our level of success. The more support and accountability you have, the better your chances are. If they really care about and support you, they will understand and even ask how they can help. They may even become inspired by your new-found drive. But even if you have to go it alone, at least they weren’t blindsided by the extreme changes in your habits due to your goals.
- Get S.M.A.R.T
Goals that are broad or vague will not get accomplished. It’s critical to be very specific when making your goals and break them down into do-able steps that can be measured. Use the S.M.A.R.T. acronym when creating your goals.
Specific-Your goal should answer the “w” questions: who, what, when, where, why.
Measureable– How will you measure your progress? Pounds, money, time, etc?
Achievable– Your goal should be hard enough to challenge you, but realistic enough for you to actually accomplish.
Relevant– Does this one goal align with the bigger, broader vision you have for your life?
Time-bound- Set a target date for when you want to accomplish the goal
- Create a daily schedule
This is probably the most important step of them all. You can prepare all you want, but if you don’t change your daily routine to include tasks and habits that relate to your goals, nothing will change. Schedule everything- even time that you plan to spend with friends and family. Your success is the result of what you do daily. So turn your daily routine into a machine of success!
Be Encouraged & Stay Blessed!
Constance
