Dare to live without limits Week of 11/4/19

Match your goals with the right resources

It’s impossible to personally know everything you need to succeed. You visit a doctor for health advice. You consult a lawyer for legal guidance. You don’t have to become an aeronautical engineer in order to fly on an airline. Yet when faced with other matters outside of your expertise you may claim, “I can’t do that because I don’t know how.”
Your education doesn’t start with inventing the wheel, and learning how to start a fire with two sticks. Your education is built on an extensive base of established knowledge. There is invariably someone who is an expert in any area you need help with.
Utilizing external resources is essential for your success. Mentors, role models, teachers, and experts are sources of invaluable information, which saves you time and effort. Although experience is a good teacher, learning from someone else’s experience is much more efficient.
In order to connect with the most appropriate resources, you must first determine what you are trying to accomplish. This means accurately identifying one or more goals. You wouldn’t hire a carpenter without first knowing exactly what you want to build.
Each goal should be SMART. Your goal needs to be Specific and well defined. Being happy and successful are desirable outcomes, not goals. Determine exactly what makes you happy. Figure out specifically which activities you want to be successful in doing.
A goal has to be Measurable. There must be a way to quantitatively measure your progress. In school, this is accomplished by monitoring your transcript. You know in advance how many credits are required to graduate.
Every goal needs to be Achievable. You must be willing to put in the necessary time and effort required. It’s possible for a person to improve their physical conditioning. In order to do so, they need to devote time to regular exercise.
Goals have to be Realistic. Ample time must be available for a goal’s attainment. Completing a college degree is achievable given enough time. Expecting to earn a diploma in two weeks is unrealistic.
Time-bound is the last requirement. A deadline provides motivation. Having a targeted date of completion provides incentive along with a mechanism to determine how much progress you are making.
Only when you know exactly what you want to accomplish, are you in a position to identify all of the available resources. First, compile a list of as many people as possible who have already succeeded at achieving the same goal as yours.
Research exactly which strategies they used, the problems encountered, and how they were overcome. Learning from their experience, instead of figuring out everything yourself, will greatly accelerate your progress.
Seek out a mentor who is where you want to be. Working for them, if possible, provides an invaluable education. Learning from successful people is a winning strategy. When working with your mentor, go above and beyond what is expected of you. This approach demonstrates your enthusiasm and willingness to learn.
If you can’t find a mentor to work for, offer to volunteer. Although you won’t be paid, you will be getting an invaluable education for free. People spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to attend top universities. You can learn more about success as an unpaid apprentice than many people acquire from years at college.
Even if you spend a lifetime acquiring knowledge and skills, there is so much more you don’t know. Tap into the knowledge of experts for advice and guidance. There are top professionals in every field available for hire.
Although their expertise might seem expensive, it is far cheaper than repeatedly correcting expensive mistakes. Identify, and utilize all of the resources available to you on your journey of success.

NOW AVAILABLE: "Dare to Live Without Limits," the book. Visit www.BryanGolden.com or your bookstore. Bryan is a management consultant, motivational speaker, author, and adjunct professor. E-mail Bryan at bryan@columnist.com or write him c/o this paper.  2019 Bryan Golden