Keys To Success

As I am developing my side-business as an Independent Consultant for Rodan + Fields, I have really spent a lot of time reflecting on my personal goals as well as integrating my business goals in with my busy, crazy life.  What I stumbled across these last few weeks have really made me stop and ask myself some really hard questions and praying even more often. One question that I find myself pondering more of lately is the question of "what does success mean to me?"

I begin to think that more often most will agree that the definition of "success" is widely defined depending on what each individual believes makes them successful.  What I have found is that even my own definition has changed throughout the years and as I have grown as an individual, entrepreneur, mother, wife, executive, etc., it continues to change even more often. However, the more I really reflect on what contributed to those changes I find that my 'definition' of success did not change; because at the end of the day Webster's definition still remains the same: "the accomplishment of an aim or purpose." So, therefore, the reality is that my 'aim' and 'purpose' have changed.

I realize that as one grows and develops as an individual they too will see these changes.  If you do not, then you really need to take a step back and ask yourself a few questions:

1) Am I stagnant?
2) Am I resistant to change?
3) What is my aim or purpose?

That's exactly what I've been doing of late; alongside developing a 3-5 year strategy and plan to achieve the goals I have set forth for myself and family. I love a quote I found, "Goals are dreams with deadlines" (by: Diana Scharf Hunt).  Twenty years ago my dreams of success looked much different than what my dreams of success look like today!

If you want to be successful in achieving your goals, you must first start by doing these few simple things:

1. Write them down! If they are not in writing, odds are you will not achieve them.
2. Keep them in front of you at all times. Seeing is believing and believing is seeing.
3. Identify short term, long term and then primary goals. Just saying you have a goal is not enough.
4. Reward yourself! Achieving goals is a big deal & you should celebrate each success (big or small).
5. Be realistic! If you KNOW you are not going to be able to realistically lose 100 lbs in a month - why on earth would you waste your time writing it down and taking up space for a valuable goal? (Yes, that was a little sarcasm! And, You're welcome!)
6. Find an accountability partner! Enlist the help of someone you love and trust that you know will HELP you reach your goals! They can also keep you motivated!
7. Do NOT quit if you miss a deadline! I cannot stress this enough - it is not the end of the world if you have to 'reset' your goal deadlines. However, if you find yourself constantly resetting your deadline then you may want to reconsider the goal as a whole.

I leave you with this final thought... "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." (Winston  Churchill)

Be sure to check back...you never know what I'll write on next...

Have a blessed day....

Candye
"G18 Mommy"
(candyed.blogspot.com)