We all have goals. Not only do we all have goals, but we all want to accomplish them. This is basic information.
And then beyond that, the enigma dwells.
“I have big goals but how do I accomplish them? I never feel like I have enough time!”
Sound familiar? I have heard many excuses and admittedly made excuses myself (I don’t anymore, but I used to). The most common excuse is a lack of time.
A few months ago, I gave myself a goal that seemed like it wouldn’t happen. The goal was to find some time in my busy schedule to play the piano every day and get really good at it.
When I first gave myself this goal, it seemed impossible. I am a high school student, daily runner (unless I am resting), and entrepreneur all wrapped into one.
I would have to open up some time in my schedule to play the piano.
I knew goal achievement from a business perspective, but this was something completely different. I had to take a big leap out of my comfort zone.
This goal found its way into my head last July. I started playing in August. Now I play every day. I was attentive to my journey through the whole process.
How did I accomplish this goal? How could I use this knowledge to make it easier for me to accomplish my other goals?
How could I communicate this with my readers? This blog post is the answer to that final question. It turns out that goal achievement is EASY, but only if you know what you are doing.
Goal achievement can be broken down into three steps.
#1: Identify The Goal
The first way to solve a problem is by identifying that problem in the first place. The first way to accomplish a goal is by identifying that goal in the first place.
Chances are you have already identified a particular goal that you are heading after. One step down. Two to go.
#2: Put In The Work Every Day
In life, this tip alone is the closest thing you will find to the silver bullet. Want to become a successful blogger? Want to become a singer? Want to do something new?
Put in the work every day. You won’t get any closer to a silver bullet.
The more work you put towards something, the more committed you become to that work or idea.
If you put in the work every day, the work eventually becomes a habit. Habits eventually become a part of your life.
Working on my business and playing the piano are two daily habits that I hold dearly. If I don’t do both of them, I roll around in my sleep.
Okay, I don’t know if I roll in my sleep. I don’t have a security camera in my room, and I wouldn’t want to see video of myself sleeping. That would be in between awkward and creepy.
The point is that if I don’t perform BOTH of those tasks, then my day is incomplete. There are few things worse than going to bed at the end of the day knowing that your day is incomplete.
It’s the reason why I sometimes write blog posts past 11 pm. No matter how challenging the workload becomes, I always find the time to do something for my blog every day.
#3: Let Nothing Stand In Your Way
When new goals get added to our lives, we must create the time to make those goals happen. Creating the time for our goals means giving up other things that may be holding us back.
When I decided I wanted to play the piano every day, I knew I had to give something up. If I gave up blogging, I would have had a meltdown. I love writing these blog posts.
I also enjoyed playing video games. But much to everyone’s surprise, it turns out I didn’t enjoy them enough. Video games got the axe and I was able to play the piano every day.
If you are a teenager reading this blog post, then you know how fun video games can be. I played Super Smash Bros and Mario Kart are often as I could.
Suddenly, I would never be playing those two video games (or any others) again. Just like that.
When I first unplugged all of the devices and put them in the basement, there were some moments of fear. However, once the job was done, I knew I made the right decision.
When you make a significant decision to take away something standing in your way (especially something that has stood in your way for a long time), you get more commitment.
I gave up video games. I was not going to let the piano collect any more dust than it already had.
What stands in your way? Maybe you watch too much TV. Maybe you find yourself surfing on YouTube too often.
Something stands in your way. You have to get to the root of it and eliminate it. Once you eliminate something that has been standing in your way, you will gain more commitment towards the goal, but more importantly, towards yourself and everything that you stand for.
In Conclusion
I play the piano every day. The same songs that I thought I could never play are the ones that I can now easily play.
The reason I accomplish goals is because I follow this three step process. In the end, goal achievement is all about putting in the work each day.
Once you willingly put in the work every day, you automatically want to learn more. Nothing I ever do will be forced upon me.
The reason I have fun writing these blog posts, running, and playing the piano is partly because I chose those paths for myself. If you choose your own path, then you are bound to have more fun with it.
It’s not forced on you. At that point, you develop the natural drive that we all have as you go after your goals.
What are your thoughts about goal achievement? Which of these tips resonated with you the most? Do you have any other tips for goal achievement? Sound off in the comments section below.
Zakiya says
Thanks for sharing Marc…
Nice said…its very superb post…
Marc Guberti says
My pleasure Zakiya. I’m happy to hear you enjoyed the post.
absoulutelyanna says
Hi Marc. This was such a lovely post! You hit the nail on the head about piano playing. My mother is a piano teacher, so I totally get what you mean. This was a really comprehensive post but so clear because you broke it down into 3 steps. Thanks for that!
Marc Guberti says
My pleasure Anna. I’m happy to hear I hit the nail on piano playing. I’m still practicing and trying to get better so thank you for the motivation there.
susan458 says
Well said Marc!
Marc Guberti says
Thanks Susan 🙂