We live in an “I want it now” culture. Yes, even as adults, we all have a little of that 4 year old mentality within us.
It’s hard not to feel impatient these days. We live in a time when the world is at our finger tips like never before. Drive thru’s, prescriptions, texting, downloads – the concept of instant gratification is continuously reinforced.
This is, in part, why it becomes harder each year to reach our substantial goals. The achievements that truly matter often take time, discipline, and dedication. There is no pill that will inspire us to write a book or start a new career tomorrow and no download that will cause us to miraculously shed 20 pounds or run a marathon by this weekend.
At a time when many are making resolutions for the new year, it’s helpful to remember that the key to fulfilling our lofty goals goes even deeper than creating SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound) goals. SMART goals are a vital ingredient, but to be truly successful, we need one more step – SCHEDULING.
Setting a SMART goal to lose 1 pound each week with the objective of losing 25 pounds by Memorial Day is specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-bound. However, without scheduling workouts and blocking out time to prepare healthy meals, our goal will never materialize. In the words of Forleo, “If it isn’t scheduled, it isn’t real.”
Finding a new career as a Project Manager in a local Pharmaceutical company by April is also a SMART goal. However, without making networking and active searching a regular occurrence, we leave our future up to luck.
While fitting more into our schedule is often a challenge, consider how important the goal is and what might be worth sacrificing for it. This is where the “pill” mentality can trip us up. Everyone would achieve their goals if it came in a capsule. The difference between those who succeed and those who do not is the DAILY and CONSISTENT action over time. This is a lesson that is easy to forget in a world of one-touch access.
So, whatever your dreams hold for 2014, go beyond SMART goals – schedule actions daily that will bring you closer to your goal. Even 10 minutes done consistently can make a huge difference. Is your goal worth 10 minutes today?