Motivation Only Gets You So Far: 4 Ways To Make Goals Stick

The road to achieving our resolutions is not glamorous or thrilling. Instead, it’s sometimes dull, frustrating and tiring. And this is the point – about 1-2 months in – where most of us give up. It’s not fun anymore. It’s tough. It’s uncomfortable.

To achieve your goals, you have to go beyond the motivational quotes or videos. If you follow me on social media, you know I eat motivational quotes with a big wooden spoon, so it’s ironic coming from me. I guess that spoon is going back in the drawer.

I realized there has to be an internal shift for long-term substantial change. This is where setting high standards, practicing discipline, developing a clear vision and measuring your goals are crucial.

1. Raise the bar so high you have to get on your tiptoes to reach it. Set high standards for yourself, never accept mediocrity and never cut corners. Have pride in what you do and don’t give in!
2. Be obsessively disciplined. It’s the small things done consistently that make a big difference. Wake up an hour earlier to prepare for your day or to workout. Edit, re-edit your email before hitting send regardless of how many more emails you have. Research both sides of the issue before expressing your opinion.
3. Visualize your future. A runner before a race visualizes crossing the finish line to prepare their mind and body for the big race. Same goes for you. Visualize getting in front of an auditorium full of people waiting to hear your speech or presenting the marketing strategy to a room full of executives.
4. “If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it.”- Peter Drucker. It’s hard to know how you’re doing or how far you’ve come, if you aren’t tracking it. Measuring your progress will also help you determine if you need to adapt the approach or revise the goal.

Success is achieved through daily intentional rituals. Funny enough, I learned that from one of the most famous motivational speakers, Anthony Robbins. Yes, motivation can be your catalyst. However, ensure you’ve developed strong habits to carry you through the tough times.