The Goal Hack
Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a simple recipe - hack - to achieve worthwhile goals. I think most people miss out on the awesomeness of setting and making a goal. I have never been physically and intellectually gifted so significantly that it made achieving any goal an easy task. To be honest, I think there are a lot of folks like me that go through life with a moderate amount of “God Given” talent. But that should not prevent one from achieving all the success one desires in life. What I have learned over time - in order to achieve lofty goals, first one has to surround oneself with good people. Secondly, learn to see yourself in a way that you like the person in the mirror. And last, and I have heard this from so many people, learn that one can make up for a lack of natural talent with a persistent and positive attitude. I hope you appreciate and enjoy the “Goal Hack.”
Most of us were lucky to have a parent or both parents interested in who we spent time with as youths. They organized playdates with other families that they believe had “good” children to play with and would help us develop their own children in a positive way. As we became teens, they asked questions about our friends and made an effort meet them to make sure we were hanging out with the right crowd. And when they spotted that friend that had some undesirable qualities, they pressured us to quantify why we needed to spend our free time with this person or group. Thank you, Mom, Dad, PopPop and MiMi for caring and helping us as youths to consider the value of surrounding oneself with “good” people.
The powerful and inspiring speaker Tony Robbins has made this point a hallmark of one of him most successful principles, "If we surround ourselves with people who are successful, who are forward-moving, who are positive, who are focused on producing results, who support us, it will challenge us to be more and do more and share more. If you can surround yourself with people who will never let you settle for less than you can be, you have the greatest gift that anyone can hope for.” – Tony Robbins. And Tony is not alone, countless others endorse this philosophy. Here are a few additional quotes that round-out the value of the company we keep.
“Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher.” - Oprah Winfrey
“Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority, and don't interfere.” - Ronald Reagan
“Always surround yourself with people who are even more talented and competent than you.” - Stephen Covey
“If you have great people around you, they will take you higher than your dream will. Leaders are never self-made. Those closest to you determine your level of success, so choosing the right companions as partners in pursuit of your vision is an important decision. My advice is to surround yourself with talented people who will challenge you, help you grow and inspire you to maximize your potential.” ~ John C. Maxwell
It is interesting this principal - this hack - is so endorsed by so many successful people. I find it interesting the Stephen Covey and John Maxwell who have made a living helping people become more successful choose this as an important principle for success. Of course, it is easy to share this principle and a lot harder to implement when one has negative people (not good) in their lives as bosses, poor friends, family members and poor leaders in their lives. The solution to segregate from these negative people is an entirely different article; however, we left a few references for those that need support to free themselves from these poor influences in their lives.
To summarize this first principle to achieving goals, “Surround oneself with Good People.” Take a moment to reflect on Warren Buffett's (Perhaps the most successful investor in our generation) and Karl Marx (Author of the “Communist Manifesto” and German philosopher credited with inspiring Russian Vladimir Ilyich Lenin Communism) thoughts on the subject.
“Surround yourself with people that push you to do and be better. No drama or negativity. Just higher goals and higher motivation. Good times and positive energy. No jealousy or hate. Simply bringing out the absolute best in each other.” - Warren Buffet
“Surround yourself with people who make you happy. People who make you laugh, who help you when you’re in need. People who genuinely care. They are the ones worth keeping in your life. Everyone else is just passing through.” - Karl Marx
Buffett touts the principle’s ability to lift one to achieve a better self and goals while Marx’s quote is about how surrounding oneself with good people transforms how we feel about ourselves, and value good people play in our happiness. Both are exactly the point and principle - surrounding yourself with good people is required to achieve your goals and to have a happy and prosperous life.
As I thought about this article - I thought the first principle could be the entire article. Yet, I remember some dark times in my own life and thought about how powerful it is to achieve our goals and to see ourselves in a positive life. It is too easy to be hype-critical and cynical towards oneself.
Whether it is the lyrics from the “Man in the Mirror" song by the American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson or similar lyrics from Pink,
“You're so mean (you're so mean); When you talk (when you talk).
About yourself, you were wrong.
Change the voices (change the voices); In your head (in your head). Make them like you instead.”
Until we like the person we see in the mirror - we create our own barriers and restrict our ability to achieve goals. The first principle is an enabler, but this second is key. I have written many articles about struggling with pain, depression and finding relief in challenging myself to complete ultramarathons as part of giving back to my community and freeing myself from these barriers. Liking oneself is much harder than surrounding oneself with good people. But here are a few suggestions that help. First, understand as it states in the bible - that if God takes care of the sparrow daily (Matthew 6:26) - are you not much more valuable than they. Secondly, learn to be honest with yourself and start with small goals that improve how one feels about the person in the mirror. I find improving one’s health and helping others will quickly move one into the right direction. For those demons that are too hard to take on alone - reach out. There are family, friends, social services and many more avenues to change how you feel about yourself. What is there to lose - Just wake up and give it a try.
The last principle or hack is to understand greatness (achieving lofty goals) is not a sprint. Sure, there are overnight success stories. For the rest of us, achieving loft goals require an ultramarathoner’s view. And surprisingly enough - the journey to achieving a difficult goal is often more rewarding than the finish line. The grind, the failures, the rebounds, and the small goals achieved along the way are powerful motivators to the next goal. I learned this at the ripe age of 59 when I finally completed 2022 miles and my first 100-mile ultramarathon on the way of raising over $22,000 for EODWF to raise awareness for Veteran Suicide. Failing multiple times, inured multiple times, recovered, and then eventually I finished both goals March of 2022 at the Blackbeard’s Revenge 100 miles race along the outer banks of North Carolina. I am not a runner, I failed twice because I timed out (Too Slow), but the goal was important- the cause lofty. The final principal - ordinary people can achieve awesome goals when they surround themselves with good people (Crew), see themselves in a positive way, and accept that regardless of our own limitations, we can achieve great goals with a persistent and positive attitude.
Thank you for reading - best of luck - and leverage the “Goal Hack” as one travels through a successful and positive life.
References:
How to surround yourself with good people in your life | tonyrobbins.com
Surround Yourself Sayings and Surround Yourself Quotes | Wise Sayings
65 Surround Yourself Quotes On Success In Life – Overall Motivation
10 Ways to Deal with Negative or Difficult People
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Operations and Finance Leadership | US Army Veteran | Author
2 年Great article and always appreciate what you do in support of EOD!
Producer-Director-Writer-Lecturer at Sweet Springs Productions
2 年Enjoyed it, Jim! Thanks!??????