Written by Ken Bernock | Follow me on Twitter.
“The world makes way for the man who knows where he is going.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emereson
The same fundamental principals are applied to every goal and hobby you partake in. You must overcome basic obstacles in order to properly begin, stay focused during the middle, and end with your desired results.
Begin - Even before you begin a project, you must start with a plan. A plan is critical; you need to know where you are going and focus on what you want to achieve. You must set attainable goals, or you will never reach your desired end results.
Nobody can force you to want results; only you can make that commitment. Three popular excuses I hear everyday are “I don’t have the time”, “I’m too tired” and “I don’t know where to start”. Overcoming the mental restraints are sometimes the hardest part of the beginning. Nevertheless, you must conquer all of your fears and hesitations, because you need to be mentally strong before you can be physically ready.
If you start out right, you have a much better chance of succeeding. However, if you are afraid to start, my advice is to set simpler goals. Once you start, the discouraging thoughts typically begin to subside; allowing you to concentrate on moving forward.
Middle - The middle is where the bumpy road begins.
The middle is going to be full of ups and downs, but you must stay on track. The biggest mistake you can make is to dwell on the long road ahead. Focus on the present, and recognize that it is not supposed to be an easy journey. If it was so easy everyone would have no problem accomplishing their goals. You are not everybody, are you?
Remind yourself about the goals you planned from Day 1. Realize how far you have come, and motivate yourself to keep moving forward. This mentality is important when accomplishing anything in life.
End - The end is where you will experience the exhilarating feeling of accomplishment.
You may have reached the end for a particular goal, but you should continue to aspire to do something that moves you forward in life. Paradoxically, an end always leads to another beginning.