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With the end of the year approaching, Kelvin Lim, founder of Executive Coach International, shares how you can make the best of the remaining time to achieve what you set out to for the year, if you have yet to do so.
Having a whole bunch of goals looming over you can create anxiety and divert your cognitive resources so you end up accomplishing little or nothing. So first, make a list all the big goals you’d set at the beginning of the year. Then, rank them according to priority. The top of the list is the one you should achieve by the end of the year. Focus on this designated goal.
Redefine the goal you’ve chosen. For instance, instead of simply telling yourself you have to “lose weight”, be more specific – how much weight and through what means? Plan in detail the approach are you going to use.
Break the goal down into short-term, smaller goals to make it clearer, such as aiming to swim for an hour, three times per week.
Identify the strongest motivator for you in achieving to your goal, then use it as a source of energy to get you there. For example, many people quit smoking when they discover that a baby is on the way, because of its adverse effects on young children’s health – they are able to channel their love for the baby towards their efforts in quitting. Find similiar motivators for yourself.
These may be psychological or physical.
Many a time, fear and self-doubt are the biggest barriers to overcome. Take a goal like kick-starting your home business. The potential for failure can paralyse you and prevent you from moving forward with your plans.
Other times, the barriers are physiological. Let’s say your goal is to complete a full marathon. The initial training may be extremely trying for your body.
There are usually a combination of obstacles you must be aware of. So single each of them out so the challenge is less daunting. This prevents emotions like frustration from taking over. Then think of ways to solve one at a time.
Dedicate 90 minutes of each day solely to working on these goals.
Think you don’t have time? Jot down the entire day’s activities and how much time you allocate to each of them. You’ll realise that by cutting other activities a few minutes short – for example, watching one less episode of the latest Korean drama or taking a 10-minute shower instead of one that lasts half an hour – you’ll find extra time for something much more fulfilling.
Attend a free 15-minute coaching session with Kelvin. From October 1 to 31, he will be providing one-to-one sessions at various public venues to help you identify internal barriers to your success and empower you to achieve your aspirations. For more information, visit http://dreamsingapore.wordpress.com/.