Seven Steps to Success

There is a powerful seven step formula that you can use to set and
achieve your goals for the rest of your life. Every successful
person uses this formula or some variation of it to achieve
vastly more than the average person. And so can you. Here it is:

Decide What You Want
Step number one, decide exactly what it is you want in each part of your
life.  Become a "meaningful specific" rather than a "wandering
generality." If you don’t know where you’re going, you might get there. And that’s unfortunate.

Connect with your inner mission. God put you here for a purpose. We all have special ways we can contribute to make the world better, more spiritual. Pray and search and ask, “What is my unique contribution? “

Write It Down
Second, write it down, clearly and in detail. Always think on paper. A
goal that is not in writing is not a goal at all. It is merely a wish
and it has no energy behind it. Sound strange? It’s absolutely true.

Next, take it one stage further. Form your goals into prayers. Now it’s not just about you; it’s about you and God.

Set A Deadline
Third, set a deadline for your goal. A deadline acts as a "forcing
system" in your subconscious mind. It motivates you to do the things
necessary to make your goal come true. If it is a big enough goal, set
sub-deadlines as well. Don't leave this to chance.

Make A List
Fourth, make a list of everything that you can think of that you are
going to have to do to achieve your goal. When you think of new tasks
and activities, write them on your list until your list is complete.

Most of us do this anyway. Just do it for your new goals also. Make your new goals a part of your life, not just a wish. Make it happen. If you don’t, no one else will.

Organize Your List
Fifth, organize your list into a plan. Decide what you will have to do
first and what you will have to do second. Decide what is more important
and what is less important. And then write out your plan on paper, the
same way you would develop a blueprint to build your house.

Take Action
The sixth step is for you to take action on your plan. Do something. Do
anything. But get busy. Get going.

Do something every single day that moves you in the direction of your
most important goal at the moment. Develop the discipline of doing
something 365 days each year that is moving you forward. You will be
absolutely astonished at how much you accomplish when you utilize this
formula in your life every single day.

Most people don’t work on their goals because they seem so big, distant, or difficult to achieve. Forget all that. Just take little steps. Ask yourself at the end of the day, “Did I do anything to get closer to my goals?” If not, do some little thing. Even just tell somebody your goal and that you are going to do it. Doing something builds momentum.

You need to fight the inertia that is holding you back.

Action Plan
First, decide exactly what you want, write it down with a deadline, make
a plan and take action - on at least one goal - today!

Second, determine the price you will have to pay to achieve this goal
and then get busy paying that price - whatever it is.

The only other alternative to this is to keep you goal in your head and just to wish you reach your goal without doing anything. And of course you could also go around and tell people why you can’t reach it. That might make you feel better for awhile. But I don’t think you don’t want to go to the grave with your life mission still in your head.

And let me ask you a question. What story are you going to tell yourself if you don’t follow through? I bet that story comes up a lot, doesn’t it. Want some good advice? Throw that story as far away as you can. The sooner you do, the sooner things will happen.