Once you have your goal described and laid down, you think of the steps you will take to successfully achieve your goal.
The key to success is having a strategy for getting to where you want to be and how you will get things done to get there.
The dictionary defined strategy as "a plan of action intended to accomplish a specific goal."
Having a strategic plan allows you to look at and identify your plans for the future.
Nine Strategies for Success
1. Be Specific. You need to have a specific goal. Having something to aim for will help you move forward. A success that is not defined is very hard to achieve. Setting S.M.A.R.T. goals can be a helpful tool in your planning process. A goal that is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Bound.
2. Write it down: making a plan and writing it down brings it to life. It makes it tangible and achievable. Putting your plan on paper helps you to know in advance what you will do, and when and where you will do it. It gives you a sense of direction as well as provides a reference point as you work through the plan. It also helps you to take notes, monitor and checkmark your progress, and make updates and corrections where and when necessary. In outlining the step you will take to achieve what you want;. make sure to tie it to a timeframe; create a timeline to follow when pursuing your goal.
3. Challenge yourself. Pursuing a goal that is achievable is a great way to increase your drive for success. Challenges can keep you interested in a task, build your willpower muscle, improve your self-esteem, and offer feedback on areas you will need to improve on as you strive forward.
4. Be competitive. Don't fear competition. There are other people trying to achieve the same goal as you, but this doesn't mean you should give up. Having competitors gives you a base to compare your efforts to others, as well as spur you to keep doing better. You need to be competitive and combative in a healthy and positive way to be above your competitors to achieve success.
5. Mental toughness. If you don’t have it already, you have to develop it. It is the resilience you need to forge ahead even in the face of challenges. People who possess mental strength don’t buckle in the face of challenges. Rather, they see them as opportunities to learn and gain experience. One of the key habits of successful people is that they always look at setbacks or failures as learning opportunities.
6. Believe in yourself. Stay positive and be self-encouraging. have control over your vision, be confident of your abilities to succeed, and be committed and focused on getting to the finishing line. Even in the face of impossibilities or setbacks, don’t allow them to hold you back or weigh you down. Focus on ways to overcome them.
7. Network. The world is now about who you know, not what you know. Make use of social media. Network online and offline. Networking increases your sphere of influence. Build beneficial relationships with successful people. It will open doors of opportunity you probably will not encounter if you go it all alone. Look for people who will tell you where your flaws are and what you can do about them, not sycophants who will sing your praise and make you feel infallible.
Doing things alone can be difficult, but having a backup makes things easier. Your network includes friends, co-workers, and family members. They are your powerful support team, especially when things get tough. They can offer advice and assistance that can help you improve your chances of success.
8. Find a Mentor(s). find people who have already achieved what you want to achieve and make them your mentors. One reason you need a mentor is to make sure you will not make the same mistakes as those who came before you. Learn from what others have done and how they did it. It will help skip a lot of setbacks and speed up your path to success.
9. Prayer. Above every other thing, you need to be prayerful. Commit everything into God’s hand if God is with you and, for you, your success is assured.
