Tip Number 1: Do not be too proud to ask for help.
A lot of people confuse taking action as doing something that directly contributes to achieving a particular goal. What they fail to understand is that sometimes, indirect benefits also matter just as much.
Consider, for instance, the act of forgetting about your pride. Some people may say that it has nothing to do with achieving a certain type of goal, but what if it is your pride that is holding you back from getting much-needed help from an expert?
Tip Number 2: It is okay to start again.
What if there comes a point in time that you realize that the first step you took was actually the wrong one? Or what if you suddenly realize that what you are doing is not taking you toward your goal but away from it?
Do you just sit down and cry over spilt milk? If so, that is not equivalent to taking action. You may be doing something, but it is nothing that can help you achieve your goal.
If you realize that something is wrong, then clear your mind and retrace your steps until you find out that critical mistake you committed. Correct it and move on. If you have to, start from scratch – the sooner, the better!
Tip Number 3: Never stop trying!
As mentioned earlier on, the process of achieving one’s goal is never ending. Taking action also means that you have to get back to your feet if you stumble or fall. It is even okay if you have to start all over again. In the end, what is critical is that you do not let your failures keep you from continuously taking action and moving forward.
So go ahead and pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and learn from your mistakes. You will be a better and stronger person for doing this!
Tip Number 4: Have a back-up plan.
Plans – just like rules – are meant to be broken. And you need to be prepared for that eventuality right from the start by having a contingency or back-up plan ready.
Others feel that back-up plans are akin to admitting failure. It is not. Rather, back-up plans are actually a mere way of acknowledging the fact that change is the only thing that is constant in the world. There is no way for you to predict what is going to happen in the next minute, but you can try to prepare for things that could happen.
Think of it as smoothing the way to taking action toward achieving your goal.
Tip Number 5: Consider your resources.
Taking action gives you direction but that is not what it is all about. You also have to consider the resources you have on hand. How do you make the most out of it? What other resources do you need in order to make a move? Where can you get it?
Willpower and motivation as well as focus are all great things to have but these are internal resources. You also have to back up your plan with external and concrete resources like money, manpower, and skills.
Tip Number 6: Look before you leap but leap all the same if you have to!
There are two kinds of risks: manageable and unmanageable. You are lucky if all the things you have to do to reach your goal involve manageable risks. But what if it is not? Should you back out instead and let all your previous hard work go to waste?
Risks are scary, and it is a good thing that you are aware of that. Those who think that they can take on any kind of risk are simply foolhardy and reckless. They are certainly not brave or exceptionally smart.
If you come across an unmanageable risk or one where the stakes are too high, do look before you leap. Consider the ups and downs, but most importantly of all – consider what your brain and guts have to say. Then leap – and leap high – if you really need to!
Tip Number 7: Do not be too rigid or stubborn.
You have to know when to give up and change tactics. On paper, your plan may look fool proof and absolutely brilliant but a lot of things in the real world are unpredictable and can mess up with your plan.
You have to know when to stop knocking yourself against the wall and find another way toward reaching your goal. Remember: when there is a will, there is a way. If your Plan A did not work, what else is your Plan B good for if you are not willing to use it?
Tip Number 19: Do not wait for things to happen. Make it happen instead!
The most successful people in live are always those who are active participants in life rather. Instead of passively waiting, hoping, and wishing that something would happen to them – people who are go-getters do not hesitate to act proactively and make things happen.
They are not the kind to wait for a sign from the fates or a falling star to appear in the sky before they get moving. If they have a goal in sight, and they have a plan for achieving it, then they will move heaven and earth to get it.
Tip Number 8: Give yourself a reasonable deadline.
Existing commitments may be a valid reason for preventing you from taking action completely to achieving your goal, but you also have to understand that these commitments are never going to go away. They are there for life. It is therefore unreasonable to keep pushing off the need to take a proactive stand because of your “commitments”.
You have to be firm with yourself and give yourself a deadline. Sometimes, that is the only way to get things done.
Tip Number 9: Be decisive.
When you do commit yourself to a plan and take action, do be decisive about it. This will help smooth things up more and make it easier for you to achieve your goal. If you are in a leadership position, people are unlikely to have faith in your decision if they can see that you yourself do not have faith in what you are doing.
You have to show them that you know what needs to be done and you have the power to help everyone reach their goals – if they follow you.
Tip Number 10: Make a checklist.
Checklists show you where you are, how much you have progressed, and what still needs to be done in order to achieve your goal.
Even if you suddenly fall sick and have to leave the office for a week, the moment you get back your all-important checklist will be enough to bring you up to speed.
Tip Number 11: Set a schedule.
The quickest way to reaching your goal is to create a schedule for it – and stick to it. How many hours each day can you truly set aside for reaching your goal? What part of the day is the best time to work on reaching your goal?
A schedule also means having a specific place for you to do your work. Choose something that will benefit the kind of work that you are doing and the kind of person you are. Will something peaceful and quiet work more for you or do you prefer to be working outdoors and surrounded by sounds of nature?