In our last post we looked at how you can change the game to achieve your success. The 3 important components were self-assessment, forward planning and taking massive action. Today I want to dig a little deeper into the personal qualities you’re going to need as you move forward in your plan.

Planning isn’t just about knowing where you’re going; it’s about being the kind of person who can stick to a plan, no matter what. That takes some specific skills and attitudes, and the good news is they can all be learnt or perfected.

Let’s look at the most important skills and attitudes which will help you take the next step towards success.

Motivation

You’re at the start of your journey, and nobody knows how long it will be. “Are we there yet? Are we there yet?” You are going to need to stay motivated if you want to stay on track. That can be easier said than done, but there are a few things you can do to sustain your motivation when it begins to flag.

• First, remember why you’re taking this journey. Revisit your goals, refresh your memory about what you want your future to look like.
• Reward the small successes. Each step you take gets you closer, and if it’s a failure, you’ve learnt something new. Just daring to take action is worthy of reward and recognition. Celebrate the steps along the way.
• Get help if you need it. Whether it’s an ear to listen, a teacher to share skills or a friend to talk to, don’t just sit and wish. Go and get the help you need. That’s the healthy and positive thing to do.

Persistence

If you’ve ever watched nature shows on TV, you’ve probably seen how persistent an animal can be when hunting another. It’s amazing how strong a motivator hunger is. If you’re hungry for your goal, you’ll fight for it. Persistence needs discipline, and discipline is a habit. Set up routines to remind you to keep your eyes on your goal or track your progress. Persistence is about not quitting. Those habits will help you keep going.

Adaptability

Nothing goes 100% to plan no matter how carefully you prepare. It’s important to be adaptable so you can change tack when you need to. People who can’t adapt will be left stranded with nowhere to go. There are many roads to your goal. Be prepared to take a different route if circumstances change.

Energy

Take advantage of your natural energy cycles to help you reach peak performance. Pay attention to the way your body and mind performs during the day. There will be peaks and troughs in your energy levels.

For example, are you a morning person? Then plan your important tasks for early in the day. When you identify your best times, you can take maximum advantage of your energy levels. Working ‘in the flow’ is much easier than fighting it.

Resilience

Successful people have the capacity to bounce back after a setback. They know it’s a temporary thing and won’t have lasting consequences. No matter how bad they feel at the time, they understand the feeling will pass. Instead, they look for the learning they can pull from the situation and give it a positive result.

You may need to remind yourself to look for the positive in your setbacks, but the more you do it, the stronger your resilience will become.

Are you ready to take the next step towards success? Get these attitudes and behaviours in place and off you go.

If you need some help with your planning, contact us at Athena Coaching or take advantage of our free online coaching program to Set Yourself up For Success.