Positioning Yourself for Success
Your achievement is up to you. Position yourself wisely.
Introduction
Think about two Sumu wrestlers getting ready to start a match. A football team is at first down and 10. Tennis players, pickleball players, and volleyball players are setting up on the court. Think about trying to get ahead at work or approaching the checkout at the grocery store and surveying how long each line is. Think of approaching a redlight with multiple lanes of traffic. Do you try to pick the shortest line? C’mon! Just admit it, of course you do! We all do!
All of these examples have something in common…The participants are trying to position themselves to succeed and achieve the best possible outcome. Now that we have all our life goals and achievement plans written down in one place and we’ve decided to proceed, we want to ensure we achieve the best possible outcome. Just like picking the shortest grocery store line. Let’s see what we need to do
Now that you have started
Find a way to stay determined, motivated, AND dedicated! Own it! Think about this one for a minute. For me, I always wanted to provide for my family and secure my future. I never wanted to be out of work; I wanted to save some money, enjoy some leisure time, and provide for my retirement. I was very self-motivated, so I did not need much of a push. Click on the link in Note 1 to see a very good article that may help you if you need it. There are also some pretty good videos if you want to Google “How can I stay motivated to succeed in life?”
Schedule periodic times to review YOUR progress (as in, put them on YOUR calendar; do it TODAY). I recommend twice a year, but some people may want to do it quarterly until YOUR plan is on track.
Don’t make changes too hastily! Markets change, people change, things change, and life happens. Only make a change after careful consideration. Have you added these reviews to your calendar yet? I cannot overemphasize how important this part of the process is. Every year, I plan to spend some time on January 1 and July 4 to review my plans and assess how I am doing.
Be accountable to YOURSELF AND your family. Be committed, not interested! I just mentioned that I review my goals twice a year. Looking back over 40 years, it’s amazing to me how little I’ve changed my original goals. Except to add to them! Writing down your goals is almost a guarantee of success. Why? Because once you’ve written them down, you become accountable to yourself to do them. You don’t want to disappoint yourself, do you? What an even better chance of success? Share them with your mentor, spouse, or family member. Now you are really accountable! Then, when you are reviewing your goals, you can make any adjustments you need and perhaps add to the things you want to do!
Consider visibly posting YOUR goals, so YOU see them often. I mentioned in a previous post that I started out with higher educational goals written on a large poster board taped to the wall. Each class was listed and the date I anticipated taking it, and at the bottom was a graduation ceremony. It is a wonderful feeling to check off steps on your path to getting what you want; does it seem a little hokey? Maybe, but I will tell you it’s effective! And here’s another thing to think about. This is a great visible example for your children. Yes, get them involved in your goals and help them set their own! Do it together!
Remember that how you think is everything. Only think positive thoughts. Use your daily self-talk to discuss with yourself: “When I meet this goal,” “When I achieve this milestone.” Never, IF I will, it’s WHEN I WILL, always in the positive. This is a critical step winners employ.
Summary
Positioning ourselves for success is part of the process. Let me give you one final example that I used during my working life.
The night before work, I would set out the clothes I would wear the next day and make my lunch. I set the alarm, even though I rarely needed it. I already planned what I would eat for breakfast, and sometimes I got that ready the night before. I set up the coffee pot, and for a period of time, I had a coffee pot that had an auto start feature, so my coffee was ready for me when I came into the kitchen.
The last thing I did at work in the evening before I went home was to review my schedule for the following day to see if there were any early meetings or tasks that needed to be done.
In short, I had a routine I followed in the evening and the morning, and it just worked for me. For 42 years in the professional work world.
Does this seem a bit anal-retentive to you? Maybe a tinge of OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder)? We all have our little tics, I guess, but I can tell you it worked for me. Not only did I position myself for success, but I was successful! Literally in every goal category, I was able to exceed my goals for myself. I hope you can do the same, using whichever method you choose. Find what works for you. Then, get after it!
I’d like you to take a few minutes to view the videos in Notes 2, 3, and 4. I think you will find them enjoyable and a bit helpful. I often used things like this to keep me motivated to position myself for success.
The time is now.
That’s all for this week!
Let’s help our friends and loved ones, shall we?
If you find the information in this post useful or enjoyable, please forward it to those you care about.
Then, simply say, “Search the internet for Afterburner Success Partners
to learn how to achieve your dreams and live your best life!”
Position Yourself for Success
Afterburner Success Partners
http://absuccesspartners.com/
What’s in it for me?
If you want to get ahead in life, if you want to achieve your dreams and live your best life, you must take meaningful, deliberate action that follows a proven path. Getting ahead is about learning what to do and then doing it over time.
Call to Action
Just. Do. Something. Make a decision on what you want or need to do, define the path, and get after it. Do it today.
Recommended Resources
See notes below for either of my books.
Up Next
No pain, no gain.
Notes
Please note that as an Amazon Affiliate, I may earn a small commission on the sale of any of these recommended resources.
Motivation Matters: Unlocking Your Potential for Great Success, SSIM: https://ssiministries.org/motivation-matters-unlocking-your-potential-for-great-success/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23263875801&gbraid=0AAAABANeOrExdXoQWx2w1K-1ZG8a3EvU7&gclid=Cj0KCQjwgr_NBhDFARIsAHiUWr41QsqfM9-ElR2prmDxEaSPE-x5-n9dQWhsNMIGU3aEaWG2bQMoO_IaAqTAEALw_wcB
Get after it: https://youtu.be/uRT5IWIG6ds
Get up and fight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZn7rS4Vkt4
Prove them wrong: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeiYLF-JaY0
Achieve Your Dreams: A Complete Guide to Live Your Best Life, by David Giustozzi: https://amzn.to/3IxEFgy
Everyday Cooking for Everyday People Like Us, by David Giustozzi: https://amzn.to/437OhVQ