We have control of only three things in our life: the thoughts we think, the images we can visualize and the action we can take. Using these three, we can make our journey of life from being an ordinary one to an EXTRAORDINARY one.
“Our thoughts are precious resources worth Millions and Billions, and if we don’t convert them into tangible products or services through our efforts, they will evaporate into thin air.” – Happiness Coach CK Arora
If you have a dream, but you are not 100% committed to it, and you are complacent with whatever results you get, your journey will be ordinary like the journey for 99% of people in the world.
When you have a dream, you have a burning desire to convert that dream into reality. If you desire to show that dream the light of the day you won’t be able to sleep, because you are waiting for the morning to happen so that you can take action. Over time, you will work hard and overcome all the obstacles to achieve that goal.
Can you relate it to your life? Take any one tangible instance from your life, where the stakes were high. Let’s go back in time to the days or weeks before you achieved that success. If you are able to see yourself.
When the stakes are high, the obstacles are large, and your journey automatically becomes extraordinary, when there are lots of people who get benefit from your efforts. When you persist and have a never-say-die approach, you don't give up or get discouraged easily, nobody in the world can stop you from succeeding.
Here are the SEVEN steps to convert your life's journey from being an ordinary one to being an Extraordinary one. This is also the process to lead a happy, purposeful and productive life.
STEP 1: Convert your thoughts into "Written Words":
The quality of our thoughts creates the quality of our life. It all begins with your thoughts. Our life experiences germinate from the thoughts we actively engage in: “We are what we think about all day long.”
If you don't pen your thoughts, you will forget about them. Thoughts are fleeting and transitory, they evaporate like camphor. Our mind is a manufacturing plant. We manufacture approximately 65,000 thoughts every day. It's impossible for any of us to remember all those thoughts. If we can't even remember, how will we ever convert them into reality? It's therefore, a good idea to keep a diary or a notebook close to your desk or bed. In fact, you must take that notebook wherever you go - as you do with your mobile phone.
STEP 2: Convert your goal into a BHAG:
BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) is a concept that I teach my MBA students. This term was coined by Jim Collins and Jerry Porras in their book, "Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies". Generally, the concept is used for making strategies in large corporates. It's used for creating long-term Visions, Missions and 10 to 25-year goals, guided by the company's core values and purpose.
But when I use this concept in my coaching practice, I explain it to my 1-2-1 coaching clients like this: "If you want to make extraordinary progress in your life, your life's goal must be very BIG, as per the existing standards in your industry- so BIG that people think that you are crazy to even think about it".
On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy urged the people of the USA to work together toward, "achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth. It looked like a pipe dream until Neil Armstrong actually walked on the Moon in reality in 1969.
Secondly, the goal must be HAIRY, which means it must have all the minutest details so that there is no ambiguity and confusion about any aspect of the goal. More about this in Step 3 below.
Thirdly, the goal must be AUDACIOUS which means risky and adventurous. Like climbing Mount Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay in 1953.
STEP 3: Convert the HAIRY part of the BHAG to a detailed implementation plan:
Let's now bring clarity to all the hairs of the goal that you have in mind.
Step 3A: Identity WHAT EXACTLY you want to achieve as part of your Goal.
Step 3B: Identity by what specific DATE you want to achieve that Goal.
Step 3C: Identify WHY you want to achieve that Goal.
Step 3D: Identify HOW you want to achieve that goal.
Step 3E: Identify the BEHAVIOURS you need to adopt to make your goals see the light of day.
Step 3F: Identify the RITUALS you need to practice on a DAILY BASIS which will be conducive to your goals.
Step 3G: Identify the PEOPLE who can help you to achieve that goal. For example team, parents, children, friends, siblings, spouse, teachers, trainers, coaches or mentors.
Step 3H: Identify the Things you need to Sacrifice in order for you to achieve that goal.
STEP 4: Visualize
Visualization is one of the most powerful tools to achieve our goals. Everything that was ever created or achieved first started as a visualization of an image in someone's mind. The key to success in any venture is creating an image of what you want. Most of the successful people that we see around, first visualized their success before they could do it in the real world.
If you can imagine something and you visualize it in your mind’s eyes, you can definitely create it. Visualization is nothing but daydreaming with a specific purpose. First, we visualize, and then we materialize.
In fact, you visualize even when you worry. All of us imagine our fears and even those come true. You can take that mental ability to visualize the worst-case scenario and transform it into a powerful image. Once you learn to put the power of visualization to work, you are able to create whatever you desire.
STEP 5: Appoint a Coach or Mentor:
I strongly believe that we create our own issues and challenges. If that's true, we also have the solutions also within us. But then why we don't implement those solutions? The answer is very simple.
The issues and challenges reside in our conscious mind, the solutions remain in our subconscious mind. A trained coach (aka “Executive Coach”, “Life Coach”, “CEO Coach”, “Students Coach” or “Happiness Coach”, depending upon the context) is professionally trained to navigate your subconscious mind by asking you some powerful questions.
When you answer those questions, you get new insights about your challenges and their solution. So having a mentor is absolutely mandatory for your success, irrespective of the stage of life you are in or the industry you belong to. You need a Coach irrespective of whether you are doing studies, working as an employee or having a business of your own. A Mentor on the other hand someone who has relevant experience and has been there and done what you are trying to do.
A Mentor-Mentee and Coach-Coachee relationship can last for years and has a powerful as well as a positive impact on your dreams to become a reality. Coaches and Mentors who are trained and experienced have a vested interest in making sure you succeed in your goals. So it's a no-brainer to appoint at least a Coach if you want to make consistent progress in your journey. Appointing a Mentor can be optional but appointing a Coach is an absolute necessity for your success in every step of your life.
STEP 6: Appoint an accountability partner:
Like a mentor and coach, appointing an accountability partner is also a must. Some Coaches and Mentors also serve the purpose of accountability partners. You can make one or more Accountability partners and their role in your life is to hold you accountable for your actions. The main purpose to appoint an accountability partner is to make sure that you actually do what you needed to do in order to achieve something. There is a greater chance that your accountability partner will actually run behind you and you will do the work to avoid embarrassment for yourself, your Coach and your Accountability Partner.
STEP 7: Walk the Talk:
Action is the only thing that really matters in the long run. All the steps discussed before this step were the preparation for this step only. When we remove all uncertainties, doubts or fears as to what can or what may stop us or what will help us to take our very first step, we ensure that we take action.
It's time for us to plunge into action. Avoid distractions and inertia. Devote all the resources, mental faculties, motivation, confidence, time, and energies, to one step at a time. Consistently. Slowly, we shall see steady progress that will take us closer to our goals. I would feel happy to help you with any further information.
Feel free to contact me on WhatsApp Number (the fastest way to connect with me) using this link: https://wa.me/919810608500, https://LaughLines.org/ck, https://www.laughlines.org/links
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