Some people look forward to the new year as a time to evaluate their goals and map out a strategy for achieving them.
They set aside a time to list their personal and professional priorities and plan a course of action. Others don’t bother with New Year’s resolutions because they know that they will fail. They explain that drafting goals for the new year is just a big waste of time.
Most people are somewhere in between the goal-setter and the slacker. They have some idea about what they want and how to achieve it. They rattle off a few general resolutions such as making more money, spending more time with family and losing the extra pounds. But those who realize their dreams set financial goals with a specific dollar figure. Their personal goals are equally clear. High achievers see the “pot of goal” at the end of the rainbow, and know they will have a lot of climbing to do before reaching it.
In my work as an executive coach and effectiveness trainer, I have seen business people who are at the pinnacle of success, those who are simply doing well and people in crisis. Many assume the most successful business people are either geniuses or workaholics.
Not so. The reality is that what separates the good from the excellent are two simple success principles , purpose and focus.
Purpose: A deep-seated sense of purpose is the driving force behind the achievement of any vision. Knowing that even the most mundane tasks play a role in accomplishing a greater goal helps keep people motivated. This attitude works well in both our professional and personal lives.
An administrative assistant can approach a task in one of two ways. She can complain that making photocopies is dreadfully dull. Or she can realize that without the copies she is producing, orders cannot be processed, products cannot be shipped and clients cannot be invoiced.
Without the copies, the entire business comes to a screeching halt. This example may seem a bit far-fetched, but the reality is that every project contributes to the greater good of the organization.
Some may ask why they should care about increasing the profitability of a company. After all, what’s in it for them? First and foremost, giving your best effort to a job is the right thing to do. And second, it’s the smart thing to do.
We all remember the days of mass layoffs and “restructuring.” Helping our employer stay competitive in the marketplace ensures we will have jobs next year.
Even if we are on someone else’s payroll, we are all in business for ourselves. When business people take an attitude that their job is at “Me, Inc.” they achieve greater heights. You may be working for someone else’s company, but your job is your private business. The goals you achieve translate into pay increases. The skills you acquire earn you promotions.
The income you generate pays for your children’s college tuition, your mortgage payments and your vacations. It’s true that money can’t buy happiness, but it makes a hell of a nice down payment.
Focus: Some people ask, what is the difference between purpose and focus. If your life was a car, purpose would be the fuel; focus would be the steering wheel. You need both to get where you want to go, but each plays a distinct role.
Have you ever noticed when you’re driving that if you look to the right for too long, your car starts drifting off in that direction? It’s the same with our professional and personal goals. Wherever we focus our attention is where we move toward. If we dwell in negative thinking, we attract negative people and situations.
Knowing this, successful people choose to focus on possibilities rather than limits. If we focus on achieving our goals, we undoubtedly will. But it’s not enough to just direct our attention in a positive direction. We must take positive action and turn the wheel in the direction of our dreams.
When someone gives us directions to a meeting, the instructions are pretty simple. Drive north for three miles, turn right at Main Street, make a left turn at the first light. Life comes with the same directions, but most people do not realize this.
They simply drive along and believe they’ll figure out how to get there as they go down the road. Now, this works well when you’re driving home after work, but when you’re headed to a new place , limitless opportunity , you need directions.
Who has those directions? You do. You already know everything you need to achieve your goals.
It’s just a matter of sitting down, deciding where you want to go and mapping out a plan. Does that mean you know it all? Of course not. There are always new things we need to learn, but those are just pit stops on the road to success.
As we reflect on the year that has passed and the one that lies ahead, we must realize we are exactly where we have chosen to be , so far. Where we end up in 12 months from now is also a choice we make.
Loraine is an executive coach and effectiveness trainer based in San Diego.
