The Answer

1. Harness the power of your Reticular Activating System (RAS) to achieve your goals

"Your RAS functions like a sorting office, evaluating the incoming information and prioritising that information in the form of messages that need your attention."

The RAS is your brain's command center. It filters incoming information and focuses your attention on what's important to you. This system is responsible for bringing relevant opportunities and resources to your awareness, making it crucial for achieving your goals.

Programming your RAS is key to success. By consciously choosing what to focus on, you can train your RAS to seek out information and opportunities aligned with your goals. This process works similarly to how you suddenly notice a specific car model everywhere after deciding to buy it – your RAS is now attuned to that information.

The RAS doesn't distinguish between reality and imagination. This means that visualizing your goals and repeatedly affirming them can be as powerful as real experiences in programming your RAS. By consistently feeding your mind with positive images and thoughts related to your goals, you increase the likelihood of achieving them.

2. Set clearly defined goals and write them down to activate your RAS

"When you write down your goals, you crystallise your thinking and pinpoint the destinations that you want to move toward."

Clarity is crucial for goal-setting. Vague aspirations like "I want to be rich" won't engage your RAS effectively. Instead, set specific, measurable goals such as "By July 1, 2024, I will have $1 million in net assets." This level of detail gives your RAS a clear target to work towards.

Writing amplifies the power of goal-setting. Handwriting your goals creates stronger neural connections than typing, making you 42% more likely to achieve them. This process helps you clarify your thoughts and creates a stronger emotional connection to your objectives.

Regularly review and update your goals. Keep your written goals visible and revisit them often. This constant exposure helps maintain your focus and allows you to adjust your goals as needed. Consider creating a goals book with images and affirmations related to your objectives to further engage your RAS.

3. Create a plan with deadlines and take immediate action

"A deadline is to your goals what the trigger is on a gun."

Deadlines create urgency and focus. Setting a specific timeframe for your goals activates your RAS to seek out opportunities and resources more aggressively. This sense of urgency can significantly boost your motivation and productivity.

Break large goals into manageable steps. Use the "elephant-eating" technique: divide your goals into smaller, actionable tasks. This approach makes even the most daunting objectives feel achievable and helps maintain momentum.

• Set annual, monthly, weekly, and daily targets
• Work backwards from your end goal to create a logical sequence of steps
• Regularly assess and adjust your plan as needed

Start immediately, regardless of circumstances. Don't wait for perfect conditions or more information. Taking action, even small steps, builds momentum and provides valuable feedback for refining your approach. Remember, you don't need to see the entire staircase to take the first step.

4. Follow through on your goals despite external opinions or obstacles

"Be careful who you open up to. Only tell your dreams to a few people who really care. The rest are just curious."

Expect resistance from others. When pursuing ambitious goals, you may encounter skepticism or discouragement from friends, family, or colleagues. Understand that their reactions often stem from their own fears, limitations, or concerns for your well-being.

Develop strategies to handle criticism constructively:

• Agree with the truth in their statements while maintaining your position
• Acknowledge their right to an opinion without changing your course
• Thank them for their input and reaffirm your commitment to your goals

Stay focused on your vision. Remember that most people who try to dissuade you from your goals have never attempted what you're pursuing. Seek advice and support from those who have achieved similar objectives or who genuinely believe in your potential.

5. Take full responsibility for your life and circumstances

"If you want to see who the actual person is behind your own circumstances, your current financial condition, your career, your health and your relationship successes or failures, you just need to stand in front of a mirror."

Embrace personal accountability. Recognize that you are responsible for your current situation, whether positive or negative. This mindset empowers you to take control of your life and make necessary changes.

Stop making excuses and blaming external factors. Instead of attributing your circumstances to luck, fate, or others' actions, focus on how your choices and responses have shaped your reality. This shift in perspective allows you to identify areas for improvement and take corrective action.

Analyze outcomes objectively. When faced with challenges or setbacks, ask yourself:

• "What did I do to get this outcome?"
• "What was I thinking to attract these circumstances?"
• "What can I do now to get a different outcome?"
  By taking this approach, you position yourself to learn from experiences and make better decisions moving forward.

6. Use visualization and affirmations to program your mind for success

"If you can imagine it, you have it in you to do it."

Harness the power of mental rehearsal. Visualization activates the same neural pathways as physical practice. By vividly imagining yourself succeeding in your goals, you're training your brain and body to perform in reality.

Create detailed mental images:

• Engage all five senses in your visualizations
• Imagine overcoming obstacles and challenges
• Feel the emotions associated with achieving your goals

Use positive affirmations to reinforce your goals. Repeat statements that align with your objectives, always phrasing them in the present tense and positive form. For example, instead of saying "I won't be overweight," affirm "I am becoming a person who weighs 70 kilos."

Practice visualization and affirmations regularly. Dedicate time each day, particularly in the morning or before sleep, to reinforce your goals through these mental exercises. Consistency is key to reprogramming your subconscious mind and RAS.

7. Develop positive habits and surround yourself with supportive people

"You are confined only by the walls you build yourself."

Identify and replace negative habits. Recognize patterns that hinder your progress and consciously replace them with positive behaviors. Use the displacement principle: consistently practice new habits to push out old ones.

Cultivate success-oriented habits:

• Regular exercise and healthy eating
• Time management and goal-setting
• Continuous learning and skill development
• Positive self-talk and gratitude

Choose your inner circle wisely. You become the average of the five people you spend the most time with. Surround yourself with individuals who inspire, support, and challenge you to grow.

Seek out mentors and like-minded individuals. Join groups, attend events, or volunteer in areas related to your goals to connect with people who share your aspirations and can provide guidance and support.

8. Understand and apply the 80/20 principle to maximize your efforts

"If you are spending 80 percent of your time doing something you don't like, quit."

Focus on high-impact activities. The 80/20 principle states that 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. Identify the tasks and relationships that yield the most significant outcomes and prioritize them.

Analyze your daily habits and routines:

• Which activities produce the most valuable results?
• What tasks or relationships drain your energy without providing substantial benefits?
• How can you reallocate your time and resources to focus on high-yield activities?

Apply the 80/20 principle to goal-setting. Concentrate on the 20% of your goals that will have the most significant impact on your life. This focused approach allows you to make substantial progress without spreading yourself too thin.

9. Cultivate a sense of humor to manage stress and overcome challenges

"There's a positive, humorous side to every negative thing that can happen in life – you just have to look for it."

Laughter as medicine. Humor releases endorphins, reduces stress hormones, and boosts the immune system. Cultivating a sense of humor can significantly improve your resilience and overall well-being.

Find humor in difficult situations. Train yourself to look for the amusing aspects of challenges. This perspective shift can help you maintain a positive outlook and reduce the emotional impact of setbacks.

Use humor to build relationships and diffuse tension. A well-timed joke or light-hearted comment can ease difficult conversations and create a more positive atmosphere in both personal and professional settings.

10. Overcome fear and worry by facing them head-on

"Courage is the mastery of fear, not the avoidance of it."

Understand the nature of fear. Recognize that most fears are based on False Evidence Appearing Real (FEAR). Many of the things we worry about never happen or are beyond our control.

Strategies for managing fear and worry:

• Take time out to calm down physically when feeling overwhelmed
• Challenge negative thoughts with realistic assessments
• Focus on what you can control and take action
• Use visualization to imagine positive outcomes

Embrace failure as a learning opportunity. Remember that failure is a necessary part of growth and success. Each setback provides valuable lessons and strengthens your resilience.

11. Persist in pursuing your goals, even in the face of rejection or failure

"Winners are not people who never fail, but people who never quit."

Expect and embrace rejection. Understand that rejection is a natural part of any ambitious pursuit. It often provides valuable feedback and opportunities for improvement.

Learn from successful people's experiences:

• J.K. Rowling faced numerous rejections before Harry Potter was published
• Walt Disney's theme park idea was rejected over 300 times
• Many successful entrepreneurs failed multiple times before achieving their breakthroughs

Develop a "never give up" mindset. Treat obstacles as challenges to overcome rather than reasons to quit. Continuously ask for what you want and need, understanding that persistence often leads to eventual success.

Seek advice from those who have achieved similar goals. Don't be discouraged by naysayers who have never attempted what you're pursuing. Instead, learn from those who have walked the path you aspire to follow.

Last updated: December 4, 2024