Today, we’ll discuss how to reach your goals, step-by-step. We toyed with calling this blog the “Stairway to Heaven”, but we’re Bigg Success, not Bigg Heaven!
On the show, Mary-Lynn told an amusing story from her radio dj days about locking herself out of her building while “Stairway to Heaven” was playing. Listen to the show to hear it! Click on the play button above (just click the arrow), or, if you are viewing this in a reader, just click the mp3 button or link.
Picture this … you’re in a 100-story building. You’re at the bottom of a stairway, but you can see all the way to the top.
Can you jump to the top?
Superman could leap over tall buildings in a single bound, but that’s a cartoon!
Could you jump up even one flight of stairs?
Even Michael Jordan couldn’t do that, not even with a running start!
Could you take one step?
You can handle that!
Now how about a second?
Of course.
Your success is like this stairwell. You can’t jump to it – you get there step-by-step. Let’s look at three mistakes people make when setting their goals and then we’ll offer three tips to get to the top of your stairway to success.
3 mistakes people make when setting their goals
Mistake #1: Trying to jump to the top.
People want instant success. Get rich quick. It’s nearly impossible. Ask almost any successful person. They started at the bottom and worked their way up.
Mistake #2: More than one building.
You see people who climb a stairway in this building. Then they climb a stairway in another building. They climb a lot of stairs, but they never get past the second floor of any building!
Mistake #3: Never stopping to rest.
You need to refresh yourself – give yourself a little treat. Don’t be so eager to get to the top that you never reward yourself for the progress that you’ve made. If you don’t rest occasionally, you’ll wear yourself out.
3 tips to get to the top of your stairwell
Tip #1: Find your building and the stairway in it that leads to the top.
The building is your dream … your passion. The stairway is your action plan – all the steps it will take. You need long-term goals. That’s why it’s important to have one building and one stairway. Everything you’re doing should lead to the top.
Tip #2: Set medium-term and short-term goals.
Medium-term goals are represented by a flight of stairs. Short-term goals are each step.
By focusing on these achievable goals, you aren’t intimidated by the long-term goals. They keep you from giving up and going to another building, because you’re seeing progress toward your long-term goals.
Long-term goals give you direction. Medium-
and short-term goals show your progress.
Tip #3: Give yourself a treat.
You may or may not do this with each step, but you better do it with each flight of stairs! Enjoy your accomplishment! Give yourself a reward … something you really want …like an extra day off, a weekend away, or a cool new gadget.
So you’re climbing YOUR stairway to success … to YOUR bigg dream. That motivates you, BUT you also reward yourself for your progress. That keeps you motivated!
The Bigg Goal-Setters Workbook is a great tool to help you define your long-term goals. Step 2 is what we’re talking about here in this blog. The Workbook is FREE when you subscribe to our FREE newsletter.
Our Bigg Quote today is by Mabel Newcomber.
“It is more important to know where you are going than to get there quickly.”
So climb your stairway to success step-by-step to your bigg dream. What may seem impossible now … becomes probable with every step you take.
How do you reward yourself when you achieve a goal? Share with us by leaving a comment.
Next time, we’ll discuss some recent research on customer trust and how you can capitalize on it. Until then, here’s to your bigg success!
Related posts:
Your Personal SWOT Analysis (Part 1)
Live Your Dream With Purpose (Part 1)
Success Came Slowly For This Fast Food Legend
Massage! I like to reward myself with an hour of relaxation. There’s nothing like it!
For achievements I award myself more time with the Karen and the Children and If I am away, a new album when I have the dough!
so far, for me, I find myself being rewarded for my successes by feeling more confident and more capable of trying to do something else that scares me to death – I have fewer things that I am certain I can not do – more that I think might be possible – but far too many things that I still don’t think I can achieve – but – progress is being made.
always take one step at a time
never rush
Great point, Jacob! Thanks for your comment.
The stairway to success is an illusion. Success is relative in this collapsing world. Although making money, a college degree, owning stuff, or having the power to boss people around at your job might get you ahead in the short run, what defines success in the bigger picture? As a species, as a planet, and in general. To me “success” isn’t about squabbling for control, being disconnected from our basic needs thanks to modern convenience, and making money.
Bill, we think success is whatever you define it to be. That’s life on your own terms. Whatever your definition, take those important steps on your path, and take time to celebrate along the way. Thanks for your comment.