I'm not crying; I'm just leaking like Niagara Falls, no biggie!

Over the last few weeks, I've been re-watching Brian Tracy's videos on YouTube about setting goals. Brian is a well-known motivational speaker and author whose method for goal setting includes:

1. Start with a clear vision
2. Write down your goals
3. Ask yourself questions.
4. Review and revise.

Easy peasy, right 

Jackson 5 song is playing in my head. 

"ABC, Easy as - One, two, three

Or simple as - Do re mi

ABC, one, two, three, baby, you and me, girl!"

But NOOOOOOOO, why is writing a flippin' business and a life plan trying to kill me? So dang complicated! Do you know what's even crazier? When working for others, I popped out plans like a Pez dispenser. 1-year annual plan, 3 - 5 year strat-plans, tactile plans, event plans, and new product launch plans with an 83 to 91% success rate on all my strategies. ALL OF THEM, it's been tracked. I've been dropping gems for years left, right and centre, yet I'm batta - batta-ing (Jamaican for struggling) to get my personal plan out on paper. So WHAT the cracker-jack box and Kindle surprise is happening? 

Last Wednesday, I was up at 3 AM working on my financial projections, and I was so flabbergasted that my eyes were leaking fluid. (I'm not crying, just leaking like Niagara Falls). Fudge-buckets, for 15 years, I've been building budgets for my employers, hunting numbers, forecasting and cash-flow projecting, and dollar-bill tracking like I'm the embodiment of Plutus, TYKHE Juno Moneta, Lakshmi, and Tsai Shen Yen rolled into one - Cash Money baby. Yet I'm staring at an Excel spreadsheet, tempted to throw my Mac out my 10th-story window, to hear it crash on the concrete—the sweet sound of defeat. 

So instead, thanks to cognitive restructuring tricks, I jump into CHATGPT and type in this prompt "From the perspective of a life or success coach like Brian Tracey, what should a woman consider when creating an ideal dream life or lifestyle? Include 20 recommendations for how to succeed in life and career. Also, include the top 10 obstacles that hinder success with two mitigation strategies to overcome the obstacles."

The ANSWER

Leaning into your dream life requires a holistic approach and considering all areas of your life. Here's a list of some critical areas to consider:

1. Career: Think about what kind of work you enjoy and what kind of career path you want to pursue. Consider your skills, interests, values, and income goals.
2. Finances: Consider your current financial situation and your long-term financial goals. Consider saving money, investing wisely, and creating a budget supporting your lifestyle and goals.
3. Relationships: Think about the people in your life and the kind of relationships you want to have. Consider your friendships, romantic relationships, and family relationships.
4. Health and wellness: Consider your physical, mental, and overall well-being. Think about improving your diet, exercise routine, and self-care habits.
5. Personal growth: Consider the areas where you want to improve or develop new skills, such as learning a new language, taking up a hobby, or developing your emotional intelligence.
6. Spirituality: Consider your spiritual beliefs and practices. Think about how you can deepen your spiritual connection and live in alignment with your values.
7. Environment: Consider the physical environment where you live and work. Think about creating a space supporting your goals and making you happy and productive.
8. Fun and leisure: Consider the activities that bring you joy and relaxation. Consider making time for these activities and incorporating them into your daily or weekly routine.

By considering all these areas of your life, you can create a comprehensive vision for your dream life and identify the specific goals to help you get there. Remember to use the SMART criteria when setting your goals and to regularly review and revise them as needed to ensure that you stay on track.

Here are 20 recommendations that successful women use to create success and their ideal lifestyle:

1. Set clear goals: Successful women are intentional about their goals and work to achieve them.
2. Focus on strengths: They focus on what they do well and build on their strengths.
3. Prioritize self-care: They prioritize their physical and mental health.
4. Network effectively: They build relationships and network with people who can help them achieve their goals.
5. Learn continuously: They invest in their education and skill development.
6. Take calculated risks: They take calculated risks and embrace uncertainty.
7. Practice resilience: They bounce back from setbacks and learn from their failures.
8. Manage time effectively: They prioritize their time and focus on what's important.
9. Cultivate a positive mindset: They have a positive outlook and focus on solutions rather than problems.
10. Embrace change: They are adaptable and embrace change as an opportunity for growth.
11. Stay organized: They use tools and systems to stay organized and manage their responsibilities.
12. Take action: They take action and avoid procrastination.
13. Practice good communication: They communicate effectively and build strong relationships.
14. Set boundaries: They set boundaries and protect their time and energy.
15. Take ownership: They take ownership of their life and career and don't rely on others to make things happen.
16. Embrace diversity: They appreciate diversity and are open to learning from others with different perspectives and experiences.
17. Balance work and life: They prioritize work-life balance and make time for the most important people and activities.
18. Emphasize financial planning: They take charge of their financial situation and plan for their future.
19. Pursue their passions: They pursue them and find ways to integrate them into their work and personal life.
20. Give back: They give back to their community and find ways to impact the world positively.

Here are the top 10 obstacles that can hinder reaching goals, along with two mitigation strategies for each:

1. Fear of failure: Mitigation strategies: Embrace the possibility of failure as an opportunity to learn, and focus on small wins and incremental progress.
2. Lack of motivation: Mitigation strategies: Break down goals into smaller, more manageable tasks, and set rewards for achieving milestones.
3. Procrastination: Mitigation strategies: Set clear deadlines, hold yourself accountable, and break down tasks into smaller, more manageable steps.
4. Lack of focus: Mitigation strategies: Eliminate distractions, focus on one task at a time, and use visualization techniques to stay motivated and focused.
5. Lack of resources: Mitigation strategies: Look for creative solutions to overcome resource constraints and seek help from others who can provide support and resources.
6. Negative self-talk: Mitigation strategies: Practice positive self-talk and affirmations, and focus on your strengths and successes.
7. Perfectionism: Mitigation strategies: Embrace imperfection and focus on progress, not perfection, and set realistic goals and expectations.
8. Lack of time: Mitigation strategies: Prioritize your time, eliminate low-value activities, and delegate or outsource tasks when possible.
9. Lack of support: Mitigation strategies: Build a support network of friends, family, and colleagues, and seek out mentors and advisors who can provide guidance and support.
10. Burnout: Mitigation strategies: Prioritize self-care, take breaks when needed, set boundaries, and learn to say no to avoid over-committing yourself.

So, my takeaways from the learning experience

1. It's easier to do the hard things for someone else than yourself.
2. Your biggest obstacle is you. 
3. You have more skills than you realize; you must apply them.
4. It is easier to dish out advice than to take it.
5. Watery eyes need Kleenex.
6. You are not alone.
7. There are solutions. But you need to ask for help.

The irony.

After reading the obstacle answers, I felt violated, like CHATGPT reached into my soul and pulled out all my secrets. I dusted off my coach/therapist's number the next day and called for an appointment. Unfortunately, they are unavailable because of a nervous breakdown due to the reasons outlined in hindrances.

Second, I'm publishing articles every two weeks instead of weekly because I'm writing content for a training program on strategic planning, business planning and setting long-term financial goals for organizations.

LOL.

So, if you are struggling like me to get your dreams captured on paper, remember, you have it in you to do it. This adulting thing takes work and grit, but we can do it together!

From a flawed girl philosopher, see you in two weeks if these plans and numbers don't kill me first!

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