“Begin with the end in mind.”
— Stephen Covey

According to Bain & Company Consultants, only about 10% of firms that set 2x revenue goals and 4x profit goals over a three-year period actually achieve them.  When questioned about the failure to meet these goals, 85% of the reasons given are attributed to "internal" issues such as unclear goals, lack of clarity around primary roles and responsibilities, confusion with priorities, no sense of urgency, scattered focus, and so on.
Here are some suggestions individuals and firms can use to overcome some of these internal obstacles.
1.  Crystalize your thinking about your really important growth goals and write five reasons each goal is important to you.  These powerful "reasons" will help you get through difficult times.
2.  Clarify where you are right now.  What are the driving forces propelling you towards your goals and what are the restraining forces hindering your forward movement?  
3.  Construct a blueprint for continued success.  Prioritize the actions you want to take to enhance your driving forces and to reduce or eliminate the restraining forces.  Then execute on your plan.
4.  Commit to getting help in your journey.  Consider retaining a coach, mentor or accountability partner to walk with you on your success journey.  Sometimes a second set of eyes can "see" opportunities and obstacles before we do.
Using these simple but effective steps will help avoid common internal obstacles that sabotage goals and limit growth.  Crystalize, Clarify, Construct, and Commit and success is not only achievable, but inevitable.

Wake Up, Get Up, Dress Up, Show Up, Never Give Up.

Want to jump start your day?  Your career?  Your life?  Try these simple steps.

Wake up.  Get Up.

Early birds seem to have a slight advantage over night owls.  Study after study indicate that early risers are more productive. They tend to be more organized, focused, and goal-oriented, often incorporating planning and preparation time for the day into their morning routine.  Getting an early start to the day can even have an impact on mood; many early risers report feeling a greater sense of optimism, attentiveness, and general sense of well-being.

Wake up and get moving.  It will not only have a greater impact on your daily routine, your mood, and productivity level, but it begins to cultivate an increased level of self-discipline, which translates into other areas of life.

Dress Up.

It’s important to “Dress for Success”; how you dress literally reflects how you feel about yourself and others. Your clothes visually communicate a lot to the world, and while the standards for “professional attire” evolve and change with the times, it is always important to dress with appropriate respect to the situation.

But are you “wearing” the right attitude?  Your worldview is often just as visible as the clothes you put on for the day.  Make sure you’re “dressing for success” by donning a confident, enthusiastic perspective.  It will have an enormously positive impact on your life, as well as those around you.

Show Up.

You can’t expect to do well in any pursuit – personal or professional- if you don’t show up.  It is only when you are fully present and actively engaged that you can be successful, and more importantly, find meaning and purpose in your life.  

Never Give Up.

Be persistent in your work, in your goals, in your life.  Be determined to achieve your desired results and do not quit until you have succeeded.  You will experience setbacks.  You will experience difficulties.  At times, you may need to take a detour.  But keep going.  Keep moving forward.

Wake up, get up, dress up, show up, and never give up . . . and watch your life transform.