The Secret of Success - in Four Simple Steps

Many high-achievers are naturally goal-oriented. They know what they want and work towards it without any conscious deliberation - they just get on with things. But most of us mere mortals need a little time to work out where we want our lives to go. We need a little more time to decide which milestone we're going to reach next, and how we're going to get there. If you're looking for the secret of success - if you're not a natural goal-setter, unsure of where your life is taking you right now - I'd encourage you to spend a couple of minutes considering the following success-oriented four step process:

1. Allow yourself a quiet few minutes to relax. You're going to let your mind wander, just briefly. Simply daydream about your hopes and desires for the future. Create a mental picture - as vivid as possible - of the possession or achievement you want. Define your "success article". It might be a specific amount of money saved, a particular thing that you want to own, your ideal bodyweight, a work accolade or a feat of endurance - whatever it is, you have to picture it in detail. Write down a clear definition of the number one thing you most desire to have, be or do.

2. Write an outline plan of action which will achieve this goal. Include all the major intermediate steps along the way. This is the point when you will begin to get a feel for what achieving this goal will cost you. This is the time to state how much effort, time, money or other resources you are prepared to devote to your successs in this project. You will see how pursuing this goal has to fit in with everything else that's going on in your life - something might have to give!

3. Set a deadline. Not just for the accomplishment of the final goal, but for each of the principal intermediate steps outlined in your plan of action. And once the deadlines are set - make sure you keep to them. Missing one deadline makes it too easy to let the next deadline slip - or even give up altogether. So don't set deadlines you know are impossible. Push yourself, certainly - but make sure there is a little slack in the system for the odd hiccup.

4. This part might seem unnecessary - but don't skip it! This might just be the most effective part of the system. Memorize the goal, the outline plan and the deadline. Every morning, as soon as you wake up, repeat your goal and the upcoming milestone, with its deadline. Say it out loud if at all possible. Repeat the process at least once during the day and then again just before you fall asleep.

Don't be fooled by the simplicity of this four-step success process! It can be the difference between hitting a major goal within the next few months - or finding yourself in the same position as you are now - this time next year.