Prepare

It took me over a year to get my act in gear and commit to the challenges I promised to undertake one month ago. Proof that not only does change not happen overnight, preparing to make that change can be even more time consuming. I’m sure you’ve all heard the 5 Ps: Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance…and that goes for pretty much anything in the world. Thus, I had to prepare to change.

Change – How

There isn’t one technique for executing an alteration in your life. Personal goals can be fulfilled through various paths. However, one aspect does remain consistent across the board; it’s a mind game. Expect your head to mess with you. Our brains are incredibly powerful and our ability to think beyond the scope of basic necessities is how we are different from the remainder of the animal kingdom. This is the main hurdle to overcome and was my “step 1”.

So what did I do?

The oceans in Maine range from 50-65 degrees Fahrenheit (10-18 degrees Celsius). The only way to get into the ocean is to take action. Turning around won’t help, nor will standing there complaining. Do it quickly or do it slowly, but you must ACT. You want to make a difference? Make the first move, forward, towards your goal.

Make a decision to move

Get out of bed, get to the gym, write the first word of a book, make the first cold call, don’t be stagnant. I once heard the great Jocko Willink say that every second you sit and contemplate what your next move is, the battle field (be it war itself, the stock markets, a possible sale) is constantly changing. The information you first had to make a move is now different. You’re now behind.

For you

Do yourself a favour. Chose a goal you wished to accomplish for 2018 and make one move towards it. Follow that up by putting a second move in your calendar. Set reminders. Tell your friends your goal and be accountable. Example, and I’ll make this quick – amongst other goals, I had a fitness goal:

1. I told a friend of mine who’s a trainer (Thanks Elly!). I explained what I wanted to do in a clear message. I wanted accountability, so I made the motion towards possible embarrassment if I didn’t show up. I also paid for her and the gym’s time up front…now if I don’t act, I waste money. Nobody likes wasting money.
2. I told my best friend my goal. We set a date, some rules, and put $100 on the line. Accountability was in full effect.
3. I put my neck out there and started a blog (Exhibit A). I told my friends what I was doing. Pretty easy to talk about yourself to someone, and that’s one hell of an easy first step.

Conclusion

Make the first move. Overcome the mind game and act. Add in a dose of accountability and before you know it, you’ll be on your way to crushing your next goal.

Thanks for reading, now go #getsome