Seven Steps To Getting What You Want

By: Joe Simmons

In my most recent columns we’ve covered issues about improving your business and marketing, but today let’s talk about your hopes and desires. What is it that you have perhaps buried deep in your heart? What is your passion?

You’re really getting tired of the 9 to 5 “rat race” and are thinking about chucking it for your own business, otherwise you probably wouldn’t be reading a blog with this type of theme…

All your friends keep telling you that you could do for yourself just what you’re doing now for your boss. Why shouldn’t you profit from your ideas instead of him?

You keep thinking about it because you know that you’ll never be financially where you want to be with a weekly paycheck, but what business would you start?

Before you pack in that weekly paycheck, this would be a good time to evaluate yourself and your future. And let me tell you, evaluating yourself takes some real, down to earth honesty. You want to change your life for the better, so where do you start?

Did you know that you have the potential to do and be anything you want? People have different perceptions of the ideal life, and it ranges from obtaining financial freedom to as simple as owning a new pair of sneakers. Unfortunately, many fail to reach their aspirations because they can’t get a solid, clear picture in their mind of what they want. It’s not as easy as it was when you were little and grown-ups asked you “what do you want to be when you grow up”…

The Internet has opened a Whole New set of attainable goals and if you let your mind lead the way, you can easily end up jumping from one seemingly good opportunity to the next. This can be a really costly path! You need longevity.

Take the next few days and embark on a fact-finding journey that will lead you to a life-changing experience. Get a pad and pencil and start with this first step:

STEP 1 - KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT –

Be specific in your passions, then focus all your efforts on that particular desire.

Those who always change their minds and those who give up easily when the going gets tough will never get anywhere. If you’re a bit confused and aren’t sure what you really want in life, you are NOT alone. So armed with your pad and pencil, answer each these questions:
1.What makes your heart beat with excitement?
2.What makes you happy?
3.What are you constantly thinking of day and night?
4.What do you want to do with the rest of your life?
5.What do you enjoy doing?
6.What are your obsessions?
7.What things make you jump for joy?

Write down all your possible answers to the above questions. Write down everything, no matter how silly or unimportant it seems. Put all your desires on paper that answers any of the above questions. Follow your heart’s passion and it will correctly set your mind’s determination.

MOST Importantly… Be honest with yourself!

When that’s done, go back and circle five to seven items that interest you the most. Then evaluate and choose with your heart, not your mind, the one and only thing worthy to spend all your time and resources on and that brings out the best in you.

Now you may wind up with something like, “I want to play quarterback for the RAMS.” If you’re over 20 and you’ve never played football, I’d say that isn’t too viable a choice, but you could do something related to football or sports. How about starting a sports publication? Or perhaps a sporting goods retail business, sports memorabilia business, or even a gym could be the answer. You can always read books and surf the net to help you in your search. You’ll have to dig deeper and deeper to find your rewards.

The most important thing to remember, no matter how “pie in the sky” it seems, is to USE YOUR HEART. Others may disagree with you, but you should be firm with what you really want. Others may offer comments or advice, but the final decision is always yours to make. You should concentrate on what YOU want, not what others want for you…

Remember you only get one shot at living your life. There are no replays and you don’t get a do over. You may not do it right at first, but at least you’re doing it. It doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be…

We all tend to be a little too hard on ourselves. Try looking at yourself as though you are your best friend. I have done much soul searching these last couple of years. And I’ve found and compiled quite a library of excellent books on the various topics that some call ’self-improvement’. There are Many resources out there that can help you better understand how to develop you own Emotional Freedom Technique. But of the many I’ve seen there’s only a handful worth the time you invest.

Too many lives have been lived in quiet desperation waiting until – until they had saved a nest egg, until the children are out of school, until I retire, and they depart this life before “until” ever arrives.

Don’t go to sleep tonight without thinking about making a decision on WHAT YOU REALLY WANT IN LIFE MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE. Then spend a few days evaluating how to make it possible and make a living at it. Begin living every day as if it were the last day you had – never leaving anything to be done next week, next month, or next year.

No More Waiting Until…

There will always be bills, things will always break down eventually and need replacing, there may be storms and earthquakes and repairs – but there will only be one life for you to live. It can’t be put on “hold”!

The final outcome of your efforts may be in the future, but you’re living each day by taking steps toward that outcome. More often than you may think, this in itself can be very rewarding.

It’s Never Too Late To Be What You Might Have Been!