Six Steps to Growth

Spring is in the air! Time for cleaning out the junk, re-identifying goals, getting rid of what doesn't work and setting your feet toward what does.  I have prepared some useful ideas to re-evaluate and/or to work toward your continued growth!

1.  What do you want, where are you going - Define it
Take time to evaluate what you want.  Is it fewer hours, a new career, more business in your current career, retire in seven years.....

Many people miss this important step.  Putting your goals on paper will give you some accountability to yourself and better define what you want to accomplish.  I also recommend making yourself accountable to another person.  I'm sure if you look within your core of friends, there is someone you can trust to hold you accountable.

2.  Believe in yourself
Don't be afraid to put yourself out there, you have not taken your goal lightly, it is something you want.  Go for it, make things happen!  Do not let fear hold you back. How often are we quick to encourage others and fail to encourage ourselves?  

Look in the mirror every morning and remind yourself that you are great!  You have the ability to accomplish your goals.  Let your friends encourage you.  Instead of speaking failure in to your life, speak words of growth and encouragement!

3. Accept the struggles
Anyone who is doing something, will have set-backs.  It is nearly impossible to go through life without roadblocks, difficulty or barriers.  Do not let those struggles hold you back.  Learn from them.  Identify them. Accept them and then figure out what your next step is.  Sometimes you have to simply keep pushing to get through, other times you have to figure out a way to go around.and still others you have to put the idea to rest and reconfigure your plan.

None of this means you have failed, it only means you have ruled out one way to reach your goal (Edison's often quoted comments are true, trial and error are the road to success).  

4. Growth is a process not a destination
Just because you took the time to define your goals does not mean they will happen tomorrow or even next year.  It means you have determined a path TOWARD your goal, not that you have reached it.  Be patient it is a process!

5. Keep your network engaged
If you are only reaching out to people because you want something from them, they will soon tire of hearing from you.  Stay engaged, say hello, connect personally, share an encouraging word.  Goals, destinations, growth is less about the end result and more about those you connect with along the way!  Enjoy the relationships, the encounters, the experiences and share them with people along the way! 

6. Celebrate your Successes
It is easier to stay encouraged when you celebrate ALL of your successes, not just the final goal.  Create ways to measure your success in inches not miles and celebrate those successes along the way!  

While these six steps are separate, they work together.  If you share and celebrate your success with others, they stay engaged and can continue to encourage you. When you encourage others, they are more likely to help you with your growth process.  

Keep up the hard work and stay focused, you are on the right track!