Compel Events to Conform to Plan

 That’s what my mentor, Lee Evans, always told his followers. Make things happen by having a plan and then compelling events to conform to that plan. Not bad advice to remember during times of change, change, change. 

Most of us have a plan, but do we have the personal components in place to help us achieve it? If not, perhaps a review of my eight factors to help you get motivated and stay the course will help. 

Self Efficacy – Personal belief that you can achieve your goals. Do you really believe 100%, that you have what it takes to achieve your goals? Remember, all success begins internally. 

The Right Friends and Team Members – Having a strong support system makes the journey all the more palatable and enjoyable. When your schedule gets overloaded, do you have unilateral support to help smooth out the ripples? Help your friends and team members think big picture – your success is their success. 

Positive Attitude – This is the most important element in any plan. Are you excited about the challenges ahead, or are you cowering in the corner of inevitable defeat? What you think becomes your reality.

Defined Plan of Action – If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll end up nowhere. Your plan must be detailed, written, memorized, monitored and shared with everyone on your team. Be sure to chart your beginning points, interim journey, and definition of destination. 

Organizational Skills – Your ability to organize your time and daily activities is critically important to achieving any goals. Remember: compel events to conform to plan. 

Motivation – both internally and externally. Do you really want it badly enough to do whatever it takes to makes it happen? Are you willing to forego that social hour after work to stay in and make a few more follow-through calls? Are you willing to call that client you haven’t talked with in 30 or more days? Are you willing to get on that treadmill after a stressful day instead of watching some useless television program?

 Get a Coach -- Hire a personal coach to help you refine and monitor your plan. Invest in your own success.& It’s amazing what an outside professional can do to compel your success. 

 Celebrate Often -- Don’t wait until the checks start rolling in. Reward yourself with small celebrations along the way. Nothing motivates us to stay the course like small rewards along the way. 

And finally, remember: Life is for laughing, loving and living. Not for whining, worrying and working. Enjoy your journey.