Set Yourself Up to Win

As a professional coach, I help people get what they want. Working together, my clients and I set goals, and chart a course for achieving them. Throughout this process, I’ve experienced many stumbling blocks along with my clients. The two obstacles most people need help with have to do with anticipating obstacles and creating support systems.

Anticipating Obstacles

Have you ever committed to a goal or project only to “fall off the wagon” within a few short weeks of getting started? What caused you to fail?

Did you have trouble making the time to act on your goal? Did you try to do too much at once? Were you talking to yourself in a disempowering way, saying things such as “I never finish what I start” or “It won’t matter anyway”?

Invest a few moments to identify the one or two things that have stopped you from reaching your goals in the past. Once you’ve determined what they are, decide how you could handle these obstacles before you launch yourself into action.

For example, if you’ve failed in the past because you didn’t have time to work your action plan, sit down with your calendar and make appointments with yourself. If you didn’t know what action to take because you didn’t have a plan, sit down and draft one! If you don’t feel confident about doing this by yourself, hire a coach or purchase a book that will walk you through the planning process.

If you’ve discovered that you talk to yourself in a self-defeating manner, decide you’re going to stop it. It’s really that simple. Instead of telling yourself “I never finish what I start,” change that phrase to “I may not have finished things in the past, but I’m not living in the past. I’m living in the present, and right now I’m committed to make _____ happen.”

If, in the past, you’ve bitten off more than you could chew and that caused you to feel overwhelmed and quit, allow yourself twice the amount of time you ordinarily would to go for your goal. Remember, you’re looking to create results. It’s better to set an achievable timeline, which encourages you to follow through, than to create so much pressure for yourself that you quit before you reach the finish line.

Securing a Support System

Goals are simple to set, but they’re not easy to reach. Long-held habits and behaviors can be difficult to change. Altering them requires consistency and focus. Your ability to show up for yourself each day will be crucial to your success. The support of another person can help you celebrate your wins and push you through the rough spots. You can secure support in different ways.

• Hire a Coach. If you can make the financial investment, I highly recommend hiring a personal coach. The structure and support a great coach provides can be invaluable.

• Use the Buddy System. Enlist the support of a close friend or family member. This person should be someone you trust and know will follow through. Agree on the approach you’ll take to check in with one another, and let this person know how you’d like them to effectively support you.

• Start a Group. Form a group of like-minded individuals who are committed to a common goal. Keep the group small, with no more than five or six members. Make sure all members are both trustworthy and able to maintain their commitment to your mutual objectives. Decide what structure your support system will take, and let each other know how you are most effectively supported.

Regardless of the form your support system takes, please put one in place. We all need a shoulder to lean on every once in a while. Make sure you have some strong ones available to support you as you embark on your journey!

A final word: you always have a choice. You’ve created your present reality, and you’re capable of manifesting a new one. You’re not a victim of circumstance. On the contrary, you’re a powerful being, and you can make your wildest dreams come true. Take the driver’s seat in your life, and enjoy the ride!