Getting back to the grind: how to achieve what you want

For many of us, September is a month that represents change and new beginnings. As we head back from our vacation slumber to a calendar filled with responsibilities, events, and deadlines, how do we find the drive to achieve what we want?

The first step is actually identifying what you want to achieve. Set aside your family or friends’ expectations of you and focus on what you want. And don’t just focus on what you want to be but WHO you want to be. Deep down all of us know the answer.

The second step is understanding your purpose, your drive, your motivation, your why. Whatever you want to call it, it’s the reason that makes you jump out of bed in the morning, pushes you out of your comfort zone, and ignites that fire in you. Sometimes this drive subsides when you undergo setbacks, failure or unexpected life events. But don’t let that purpose go. It’s still there.

Having a purpose enables you to live life with intention. So ask yourself, what drives you? What sets your soul on fire? Follow it. It will lead you to your life purpose.

What drives me is my hunger to do better. I think this determination to constantly push myself, and challenge myself comes from being an immigrant. I came to Canada with my parents, as a young girl. I was immediately enrolled in first grade without knowing the language or culture. I remember feeling scared and alone. I learned to adapt quickly and thrived. But I had to work hard for everything I earned. My parents left their life in Venezuela to work 2-3 different jobs a week in Canada throughout my childhood so I can have a better future. Their sacrifice, work ethic, and discipline left a lasting impression. They taught me that you have to work hard for what you want.

That’s what drives me.

My ambition and drive have nothing to do with anyone else. I’m not competing against anyone else. I’m competing against myself. Every day I ask myself how I can do better. Every night I ask myself how I could have done better. Trust me – some days, some weeks and even some months it is hard to continually push and ask myself to put in more effort. But it’s the only way to truly discover your true potential and develop a sense of fulfillment and achievement.

So what drives you to achieve your most important goals?