Hands up if you have ever started something with a clear goal of what you wanted to achieve, but then you’ve given up because it all got a bit too hard or the prospect of reaching your goal seemed too far away?
What if success was just one step beyond the point in which you chose to give up?
How could you know success wasn’t possible? How will ever you ever know what you missed out on? The problem is you will never know. Each time you choose to give up on something, you will never know what is beyond that next step. You will never know what you are potentially missing out on. That’s what potential means… It’s the promise of something, the prospect of achieving more. But unless you choose to keep trying, to never give up, to persevere, you will never know.
Personally, I believe success is found within the effort to achieve something as much as, sometimes more so than the end result. What is your definition of success when embarking on a goal? Is success in only achieving the ultimate end result or could success mean growing and learning new skills along the way?
Is success a destination or a journey?
These are some critical things to think about when you set yourself your next goal. How will you measure how you’re going? How will you decide if and when you are no longer successful? Will you rely on your own judgment or will you take advice from others?
I am purposefully asking questions and not giving you answers because frankly I can’t answer these questions for you. You may not know it yet, but you actually have these answers already. My job is to ask you the hard questions so that you can find the answers within yourself. Each person is different and every situation and every opportunity for growth for each person will require a different assessment.
The next time you set yourself a goal, no matter how big or small and if you reach a point where you feel like giving up, ask yourself “What if success is just one step further away?”
Here are some words I encourage you to get familiar with – Persistence, momentum, determination, courage.
I’d love to hear your stories of when you’ve achieved success after persisting through a challenge even though you felt like you wanted to give up.