Article by Wendy McCance

I was reminded of some of the roadblocks that keep a person from reaching their goals after reading some of the comments left by readers.  I felt it was important to lay out the framework of how to get through the initial fear of going after your goals.

What I am going to tell you might disappoint you or make you feel that my answers are too easy, but this is honestly what got me to where I am today.  The advice I am going to share with you is the same information I share with my kids on a daily basis.  If you can incorporate these ideas and stick with them, you will succeed too.  I guarantee it!

The 5 Keys to Success

1.  There is no such thing as being ready, preparing fully or finding the right time.

These thoughts are all stall tactics.  You are afraid to make a move, you doubt yourself or feel others will find you foolish for pursing what you dream of.  You will never find the “perfect” moment when everything is properly in place and you feel you can finally move forward.

Why do you think there are so many people who hit bottom and then miraculously find success?  It is because they had nothing more to lose.  They had felt what their worst fears feels like and had nowhere to go but up.  Many figured that if they had to push that hard to gain ground again it may as well be by doing something they loved.  There is nothing worse than struggling to get out of a hole by pursing what you hate.  Pursue what you love and it becomes easier to put the time and energy into creating something better for yourself.

Ultimately, those who succeed usually don’t have much of a safety net.  You will never have saved enough money, researched a subject well enough, gained enough experience or found enough time.  Those who wait for that ” perfect” moment where everything  finally falls in to place will wait a lifetime.  It just doesn’t work that way.

2.  You must be willing to be your own best friend and not your own worst enemy.

You will not achieve success if you beat yourself up on a daily basis.  It’s hard enough trying to tune out all of the naysayers.  Your role is to be a cheerleader.  You must be brave, confident and sure of yourself.  If you want something badly enough, you will need to be able to depend on yourself without negative thoughts battling your brain.  Squash those questionable tactics of self-doubt and realize that anything is possible if you want it badly enough.

As for naysayers, they will always be around.  The most disappointing part is that they are usually the ones you count on most, friends and family.  It’s easy to buy into their negative thoughts.  Why not? They are the people who know you best so of course if they think something is silly, they must see something you don’t.  This perception is so very wrong!  

Naysayers are the ones who aren’t brave enough to do what you are setting out to accomplish.  They don’t take those type of chances and don’t understand those that do.  They mean well, but you must block out their advice, it’s toxic to your growth.  These are the same people who are first to say they knew you could do it once you have success.  I don’t know why they do this, but I’ve seen it happen time and time again.

3.  You will have to find the salesperson within yourself.

This is what many people dread.  It’s hard enough to convince yourself that you can do it.  Now try convincing others.  You must find the most comfortable way to get your message across without stressing yourself out.  If you feel insecure, others will pick up on it and you will be sunk.

Some people feel most comfortable hiding behind a keyboard while selling their services, ideas and products to others.  Other people feel most comfortable face to face at networking events.  Still other people like to use the phone and talk with people one on one in that manner.  Find what suits you, but at some point you will have to add sales into the mix of what you are doing.

4.  Research, ask questions, gain insight.

You will never know everything, but you should try.  Make sure that you stay focused on what you still need to learn and find out your answers.  Join a mastermind group, read library books, ask experts in the area you are pursing at networking events or on the web, but search out those answers and never stop learning all you can about the subject that interests you.

5.  Look at failing differently.

At some point, you will fail.  It’s part of the process.  Maybe you finally get in front of a possible client and bomb the meeting.  You might write to 30 prospects without receiving one answer.  Failing is when you learn the most.  You get to review what went wrong and how to fix it.  The best moments come after you fix the problem and begin again.  You have learned from your mistakes and come out the other side stronger, more knowledgable and hopefully more determined to have better luck the next time around.

I have had many moments where things didn’t go as planned.  I stopped and assessed my situation, put a different plan in place and tried again.  The amount of positive moments that happened each time I took a second turn at something was always remarkable.  It still amazes me what a little tweaking can do in producing positive results.

If you want to meet your goals you must be brave, confident, accepting of failed moments and willing to move forward no matter what.  These are the keys to success.  You just have to take the leap and do it.

What have I left out?  What has worked for you?  What wisdom can you share?  Leave a comment and let me know.

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Wendy McCance

Wendy McCance is a Michigan based freelance writer and social media consultant. Wendy has gained attention as the founder of the popular blog Searching for the Happiness which can be viewed in 9 local papers online, including the Oakland Press. The combination of writing skills and social media knowledge is what makes Wendy such a powerhouse to work with. Stay tuned for opportunities to advertise, guest post and as always, have your questions answered.

To contact Wendy McCance about a writing or social media assignment, interview or speaking engagement, please email her at: [email protected]

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