Win before you begin.
Successful people:
~Step out of their comfort zone
~Ask for and accept help
~Make lots of mistakes
~Keep going
~Eliminate distractions and excuses
~Exercise their greatest power—choice
~They also put fail measures in place.
What are fail measures?
Successful people anticipate the ways they may fail and put systems in place prior to taking an action. This reduces their probability of failing.
The Story of Mary
Mary looks away from the chair and desk at the end of the hallway. She passes it every time she walks to her bedroom. On top of the desk – a new pen and blank pad of paper. Her stomach clenches. Why bother. Get rid of it, she says to herself.
Mary dreams of being an author. She set up her writing space months earlier. Every time she sits to write, she distracts herself with chores.
How to put fail measures in place.
For each new habit or new behavior, you need to decide, “How am I going to keep this going?”
- Decide when you are going to do this (for example, Monday through Friday)
- Decide where you’re going to do this (for example, every time you sit down to have lunch)
- Start small and build up. The number one mistake people make is not going small enough.
- Get an accountability partner—contact them and commit to the tasks you will complete for the next week.
How did it work out for Mary?
Mary joined a writer’s club. She identified mornings as the best time of day to write. She committed to another club member that she will write on Saturdays from 8:00 – 9:30 a.m.
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Create your success plan before you start a project, learn a new skill, or change a habit.
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