A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. – Lao-tzu
Do you have a dream embedded deep inside your heart that you want to pursue? If you do, then I have one question for you.
Have you taken the first step necessary to achieve it?
Taking the first step is perhaps the most difficult thing to do when setting off to conquer a dream. Taking the first steps requires one to overcome mental obstacles, which in most cases will usually determine those who are serious about chasing and actualizing their dreams, or if they are simply just dreamers and only that.
Here are some DONT’s to help you solve the mental obstacles:
- Don’t wait until the situation is perfect.
- Don’t wait until other people agree with you.
- Don’t wait until your skill is good.
Here are some DO’s to successfully take the first step:
- Believe in your dream.
- Visualize your dream.
- Expect a hard way ahead.
- Take one bite at a time.
#ASKYOURSELF: Are you struggling to identify how to get to your dream?
1. Take a blank sheet of paper and write your current problem or goal at the top of the paper in the form of a question.
The question should be as specific as possible. The more specific the question, the better the quality of the answers. A specific question allows your mind to focus clearly.
Instead of the general question “How can I improve my skills?”, write “What can I do to reach my dream by the next 5 years?”.
2. Think of 20 answers to this question. Force yourself to write down 20 different things you can think of doing, either now or in the future, that will help you reach your goal.
Some of the things you might come up with:
- Complete a Degree
- Improve XYZ skills
- Start a blog
- Write a more compelling posts
- Develop a better headline for my ads
- Cold call 5 potential investors
- Work fewer hours
The first 5 answers will be easy, the second 5 will be harder and coming up with the last few answers may seem impossible. But don’t stop until you have created at least 20 different answers. If the ideas are flowing, keep writing them down until you can’t come up with any more.
3. Go back over the ideas and select at least one to be acted on immediately.
This is absolutely critical to the success of this method. It is the willingness to take action on your ideas that will keep your creativity flowing. Great ideas will not help you unless you act on them!
4. This is an optional step that can help you progress even faster. Once you’ve selected the idea you want to act upon immediately, perform the 20-Idea method on that point, creating 20 ways you can take action and make that point happen.