Deciding Your Future
Climbing any mountain is not an easy task. The famous Chinese philosopher and politician, Confucius aptly said that “Men do not stumble over mountains but over molehills.” Climbing up a mountain takes deliberate actions and discipline.
In March 2011, Dr. Joshua Awesome became the first Nigerian to plant his country’s flag at the peak of Africa’s highest mountain – The Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, which is about 19,340 meters above sea level . Though aware of the danger involved, Joshua was clear about his goal; he kept seeing himself as Nigeria’s flag bearer at the top of Kilimanjaro. Sure about his intentions, Joshua had begun announcing his ambitious expedition on various platforms including his personal blog, a newspaper where he wrote as a columnist and on television. To achieve his goal, he had to secure endorsements with various brands, commit to a strict diet and at least 60 days of exercise – putting his body under real pressure every day for approximately six hours!
You see, Joshua understood that to successfully summit the highest mountain in Africa, he had to be deliberate. I met Dr. Joshua Awesome in 2018 during the ReadySetWork programme of the Lagos State Ministry of Education. He was one of our volunteer facilitators and I couldn’t help but notice his determination, passion and drive.
Friend, the first month of the new year and in fact a new decade is almost wrapping up and I know you have aspirations for your life. They may not be as ambitious as climbing Kilimanjaro but they are “mountains” to be surmounted. In previous articles, I have written about Looking Back – learning from your experiences as well as Looking Around You for inspiration; it’s about time you start doing the most important part, Looking Ahead. Now, you need to take decisive steps towards becoming the best version of yourself and making this year a First-Class year.
Here are 3 things you need to ensure that this year is a value-adding year.
- Write Down Your Goals
Yes, I know you have those goals in your head; you’ve thought about them, you have talked about them but you need to go a step further, Discipline Yourself to Write Them Down. It has been discovered that writing down your goals boosts your motivation, improves your focus and helps to track your progress which fuels your drive to achieve even more. In fact, you’re 42 per cent more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down on a regular basis. So, take the time to write out your goals for 2020 and start the journey to achieving them.
- Get Accountability Partners
An accountability partner is a stakeholder in your life. S/he is someone who is committed to ensuring you achieve the goals and objectives you have defined for yourself. This partner could be your spouse, a friend, your parents or even your pastor. They will hold you to your words and help keep your goals in focus in order to achieve them. Research has shown that having an accountability partner increases our chances of reaching our goals.
- Start Now!
It is said that the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now! If you haven’t started to take actions towards your goals for the year, the next best time to do so is Now. Keep your goals in focus and start doing something to achieve them. Do not allow excuses, distractions or challenges stop you from taking action.
You see my friend, nothing is impossible, we just need to take the right steps towards achieving them.
Remember, You Have Only One Life to Live, Make It Count!
