When a challenge is ACTUALLY a Challenge
In this final blog in the Locus of Control I’m going to guide you in going BIG, just like I did with the Elephant Trail Race 200km Ultra Marathon, and more importantly the creation of Wairua Spirit the 10 year documentary series.
If you’ve tried to go BIG before and failed, chances are you were missing a crucial ingredient for success. I know because I’ve missed the train before, and that BIG train left the station. This blog will give you a well-rounded framework to follow.
THE GOAL ~
Have you ever set a goal so big you felt ill in your stomach? You feel so squishy it’s like the BIGGEST ULYSSES butterflies you’ve ever seen were in your guts doing crazy figure eights on repeat? A goal that activated goosebumps, apprehension, a laboured desire to share it with those people that “wouldn’t understand” your dream, aspiration, BIG CHALLENGE?
Because you know it’s reserved for those with the star dust wanderlust big fuck off challenge perception like yours! It’s taking the realistic goals that you may have historical set and making them UNREALISTIC!
Have you ever had big goals you long to achieve?
Have you ever promised yourself someday you’ll get started?
Someday you’ll make it happen?
Someday the time will be right?
Someday I should, would, could, maybe if I can, have to, must do “said goal”?
There’s an old Chinese proverb that says, “The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is now.”
1. GRAB A JOURNAL OR PAPER ~ Time to tackle the tangible!!!
“If you chase two rabbits, both will escape”. — Chinese Proverb.
Knowing what you want is the first step to achieving it. Skip this step and you have nowhere to go, you have an abstract shit fight! We can bring the arty farty stuff in soon.
So take the time to really ask yourself, “What do I want to accomplish?”
Make sure your GOAL is specific, and you want to feel the moment you achieve it.
Sit with that and FEEL it!
2.TACKLE THE TIMELINE ~ A goal is a dream with a deadline. — Napoleon Hill
Think about what you just identified. How long have you wanted to accomplish it?
Chances are, if it's big, you’ve been wanting it for years. You’ve had the desire but lacked a clear timeline. Pick a date that is both realistic and challenging. Too little time will tempt you to give up. Too much time will invite you to slack off.
3.MUCK IN WITH THE MILESTONES ~ Successful people are simply those with successful habits. — Brian Tracy
Even with a timeline, a mission without a plan is doomed to fail. And the only thing worse than no plan…is a complicated cluster fuck. Before you start chasing something big you should identify the key milestones you’ll need to arrive at.
For example, if your goal is to write a book, writing weekly or bi-weekly is a habit you might consider.
When you’re chasing the big stuff, the kind of success that takes months or years to accomplish, your biggest enemy will be complacency — letting days go by without any forward motion is a recipe for a steaming pile of stagnant shit.
Keep the momentum with milestones
4. MOVE OVER MOTIVATION ~ Motivation is a waste of time, and just confectionary for your mind.
Basically it’s fucked.
ACTION breeds motivation, and motivation breeds MORE ACTION.
The more you do the more you’ll want to be DOING.
Keyword DOING.
DON'T wait for the mood to shift the earth to spin under your feet or the sun to rise again
ACTION=> MOTIVATION => MORE ACTION
“Start Doing”
5. WHY ~ The secret of our success is that we never, never give up.— Wilma Mankiller
Always have more than one reason to keep going. Why are you doing this?
Ask yourself 5 whys!
And write it down
.
Why am I writing a book?
And besides that reason?
And beyond that reason?
And aside from that reason?
WHY ARE YOU GOING BIG?
When you have only one reason, you’re set up to fail.
Because there will be myriad substitutes to scratch that itch than working hard towards your dream.
You’ll find easier ways to make money than launching a business.
You’ll find easier ways to help others than founding a charity.
You’ll find easier ways to be creative than writing an entire novel.
But when you’re craving GOING BIG, driven by a unique recipe of actions your goal will have no rivals.
WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING THIS?
6. FULL SENDS ONLY with a friend
“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble […] A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer... — Ecclesiastes 4:9–10,12 NLT
Going Big is a little lonely, and the point I’m driving home is you need a team to GO FULL SEND with!
If you want to minimise your odds of success, chase your goal alone.
Trust me. I’ve tried.
You need the support, accountability, and advice of friends to persevere in pursuit of going big. Currently, if I run into trouble, I have roughly 3-5 people I can call for help and encouragement, and remind me of my commitment. I feel incredibly blessed to have so many amazing men and women supporting me, because I realise not everyone can relate to me. You need to find and help people who will help you in return. When you feel like you have enough people on your team, you are ready to really GO big, commit, and chase your wildest and most steep mountain to climb.
As you embark on the journey of chasing your goals, whatever they might be - refer to the framework above to really visualise and map out EXACTLY what you are setting out to do. If you are going to go BIG, get really clear on your why, take action, make yourself accountable and rope in some reliable people to support you on your way.
These tried and true methods have helped me achieve outcomes beyond my wildest imaginings - I hope it can do the same for you too.
To revisit our Lotus of Control Series:
Episode One - The Lotos of Control
Episode Two - The Lotus of Control Physiological Control
** Join us this Wednesday, 22nd September, invest in you by investing in your head, book tickets today. **