Persistence: A Key to Meeting Your Goals
Do you ever feel like giving up on a goal? We all do! With any big goal you set, there are probably times when you doubt yourself, want to quit or wonder how you ever thought this was a good idea!
But what if you just kept going anyway and persistently took action, no matter how small?
Persistence can make a big difference in moving forward, even if we take very small steps.
What is persistence?
Defined, it is firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.
Check out this Zig Ziglar quote to see how persistence can lead to motivation, which then leads to success:
“Persistence is the ability to maintain actions regardless of your feelings. You press on even when you feel like quitting.
When you work on any big goal your motivation will wax and wane like the waves hitting the shore.
Sometimes you’ll feel motivated, sometimes you won’t. But it’s not your motivation that creates results – it’s your action.
Persistence allows you to keep taking action even when you don’t feel motivated to do so, and therefore you keep accumulating results.
Persistence will ultimately provide its own motivation. If you simply keep taking action, you’ll eventually get results, and results can be very motivating.”
– Zig Ziglar
This part is especially key:
“But it’s not your motivation that creates results – it’s your action.”
And another vital piece:
“If you simply keep taking action, you’ll eventually get results, and results can be very motivating.”
So how can you make sure you continue to take action towards your goal?
Here are a few tips:
1. List specific action steps for each phase of a big goal.
Maybe you’re launching a new product or writing a book? There are definite steps to take for the smaller parts of these big goals.
Document them all so that you stay on track and see your success along the way.
2. Find your motivation for reaching the goal.
This is your Why? for creating the goal, the reason you want to reach it.
Maybe you have several reasons, so again, document them all and keep the motivation front and center when you get discouraged.
3. Create habits that work for you.
Everyone has a different amount of energy at different times of the day. Whether you’re an early-riser or a night-owl, work on some of your more challenging action steps during the time of day when you’re at your best.
Many self-help resources suggest creating a Power Hour: one hour when you focus on your most important goal (or specific task related to that goal) and nothing else.
If you can get into the habit of a daily Power Hour, you’ll be amazed at how much more you get done each week!
4. Build a supportive network.
Who is supporting you while you work towards your goal?
Maybe your family is your main support group. Or a group of friends is doing similar work. Or you may want to get involved in a Mastermind Group related to your business pursuits.
A supportive network can look very different for each of us, but one thing’s for sure – if you are surrounded only by people who don’t believe you can reach your goal, that negativity will have a damaging effect on your success!
So take Zig Ziglar’s quote plus a few of my tips and work on your goal today!
Let me know if you have any questions or additional goal-setting tips 🙂
