cycle of acheivement

I mentioned in my previous post(s) the leadership seminar that I went to yesterday evening.  Although the topic was nowhere near weightloss, many of the same the principles apply.  The speaker discussed the concept of the "cycle of acheivement".  It is a process that we must go through in order to be successful at anything we do.

The first step in this cycle is vision.  Without a vision of where we want to go, we'll never get there.  Much like the saying, "He who aims at nothing will hit it every time."

After a solid vision is developed, we can move on to goal setting.  Goals should not be willy-nilly.  They must be specific.  They must be written.  They must be measurable, realistic, and provide motivation.  Goals must also have a time set in which to be met. 

With our goals before us, we can then move on to game planning.  In weight loss, this is where we pick our eating plan, choose our exercise routine.  As opposed to goals which are set in stone, the game plan is set in sand.  Your plan must be rigid enough to hold up, but fluid enough to change when necessary.  Your game plan will also prioritize your process.  It will help you decide what is the most important aspect at any particular moment.

Now that we have a vision, goals, and plan, it is time to set out working.  This is where many of us falter and give up.  I've learned that there is no shortcut to success.  I have to take responsibility for myself, my actions, and my decisions.  Working my program means being consistent and keeping my focus on the goals. 

The last part of the cycle of acheivement is seeking counsel.  Your own experience is not the best teacher!  Other people's experience is the best teacher.  We must seek out and learn from those who have been in our shoes with visions similar to our own.  EP is a great resource for counsel.  There are people from all over the world...of all ages...from all walks of life...on oh, so many different weight loss programs.  You might seek councel for a number of reasons: 

• to gain a bit of perspective.
• to make mid-course corrections on your way to success.
• feedback on your current work 
• to be held accountable for your results
• to grow personally

Whatever your vision, this cycle of achievement is a good resource for staying on track.  The more often we go through the cycle, the better we become.