Have you ever given thought to the fact that the key to success is based on the decisions you make?
The problem is, most people don’t achieve success is because they haven’t decided exactly ‘what’ it is they want!
Can you believe it? Well… believe it or not… it is the truth!!
If I had a nickel for the number of people who have told me they want more out of life and wish to make some changes for the better… yet don’t know ‘what’ they they want specifically… I’d be fully retired and writing this post from the Caribbean. No wait… I wouldn’t be writing this post at all. 🙂
The first key to success… is always deciding what you want.
… after all, how can you aim for something… if you’re not sure what the target is??
You really do need to get very clear:
Do you want to earn more money? A happier relationship? Do you want more confidence? Do you want to be an entrepreneur? Do you want more time to travel? A new house? etc., etc., etc….
What is it? If you feel you want something… you have to identify to the letter what the heck it is and whilst I realize it might take some time to get focused and iron out all the fine details… it’ll be well worth your time in the long run.
Spend some time here and focus on what your ideal life would look like…and what it will take to make it happen and then write it down in detail… then let us know!
After you have decided ‘what’ you want in life you’ll automatically feel more serious about success… (whatever that might mean to you). The second step is to spend some time determining what you will need to do to make it happen.
Will you need to work longer hours? Do you need a coach? Do you need to find another job? Do you need to step on the wild side and start your own business?
Then decide on the “how “
Will you ask the boss for more hours? Plan some strategies with a life coach… or by yourself? Quit your job to go on interviews? Learn new skills to start your own business? Get a second job to buy that house?
Decide exactly what it will take!
Once you have determined the necessary steps, the third decision you will have to make is to get off your backside and do something about it! You will have to be determined that come hell or high water, you will do whatever you need to do to get through that list of steps no matter what!!
Thinking about making life changes or ‘wondering’ what the key to success is… isn’t going to do a blasted thing except cause you to focus on what you don’t have and keep you wishing for the vision you have in your minds eye. (Which by the way should be crystal clear now because you’ve spent the time hammering it down and mapping it out!) 🙂
If you don’t make these critical decisions you’ll be doing the same thing as you always have, yet expecting different results. The reality is you’ll just be stuck in the same boat throughout your life …and we all know you can do much better than that! Right?? 😉
You know, I have a saying… that I picked up from my high school teacher … and it’s something that has stayed with me. That saying is: “we all come into the world the same way, we’re all going out the same way… while were here, we need to make the best of it…. and we all have the option”.
If you’re looking to achieve anything, it’s has to start with making the right decisions to change your current circumstances… and finding ways to make dreams come to fruition. After all, one decision can change your life.
After you’ve become clear on your goals and planned the necessary steps to achieve them, don’t forget that nothing happens if you don’t take action. After all action is an integral key to success… regardless of what ‘success’ means to you!
Is there anything you’ve been wanted to change for the better yet haven’t taken the time to properly pin it down? If so I hope this short and simple post struck a cord… after all it’s the same for everyone no matter who you are.
If you need help ‘deciding’ on the changes you want to make and need help mapping out the necessary steps…contact me at any time. It’s one of the things in life I love the help with.
Just remember the key to success… no matter what it means to you … really is all based on making decisions. That key by the way fits every door on the planet!
Please share your thoughts and any experiences below.
{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
Hello Jayne,
I am happy with that Quote, But In making a Decision,
we must always Acknowledge God and he shall direct your path..
Provebs 3:6
Right decision at right time is a gateway for the success. Because of timely decision one can rule over the world.
Hi Maja, yes a decision can certainly make a huge difference.
Thanks for the comment!
Jayne
Hey Jayne,
I really loved your post. An eye-opener and motivational! 🙂
It all boils down to the decisions we make. If we know what we want and love in life, then make a decision towards it. Enough wasting time being scared waiting for a sign and hoping for a miracle. Let’s man up and make the decision. 🙂
Thanks for sharing!
HI PJ, hey sorry I took a bit to get back to you. I agree, we have to ‘man’ up sometimes to make things happen.
It isn’t always easy, but it’s easier than being stuck just thinking about it.
Lovely to see you!
Thanks for taking timeout to comment!
Hi Jayne,
Well said and well written. What, How, and Take Action! Simple, but really it isn’t when a person has not done so. This was one of the things my mentor Pam Hendrickson taught me. I created my plan and vision, using mind42.com, along with my goals and other things for the business too. It is crucial to have it mapped out. Maps take you where you want to go they give us direction.
Huge points made!
Thanks for sharing,
Joe
Hi Joe, yes I hear what you are saying. It’s not always ‘simple’… at least if we have not gotten ourselves to the state of open-mindedness”
Planning or mapping is hugely important, otherwise you’re just ‘stabbing’… and believe me… I speak from experience. 🙂 Did I say that with my ‘outside voice”?
Lovely to see you Joe.
Jayne
Hi Jayne,
I enjoyed reading your inspiring post.
For some reason your post reminded me of one my all time favourite heroes – Walt Disney. If anybody knew how to be successful he did.
These two quotes from him seem to tie in very nicely with the theme of your post:
“If you can dream it you can do it.” however… “The way to get started is to quit talking and start doing.”
~Marcus
Jane… I have no idea how the words in the quote above “get started” became a link for something since I typed them myself. There was no copying and paste. I can’t unlink it but you will be able to and then you can delete this second comment. Sorry…I’m baffled by that. M
Hi Marcus!! How is my fave Aussie today? It’s just lovely to see you. Haven’t seen you much lately. We’ll have to change that.
Love those quotes Marcus. Walt Disney sure lead by example. What an empire he created … just from an ‘orange grove’.
As far as the ‘phantom’ link… I don’t see it. It must have been one of those things sent to drive you crazy.
Ha ha… technology… can’t live with it or live without it.
Lovely to see you Marcus. Will pop over to have a look at you later.
Jayne
Hi Jayne,
This is the second post on this exact same topic that I’ve come across today. It looks like I need write out a clear plan of what I desire and then plan out the how. Today would be a great day for this exercise! 🙂
Thanks!
Stacy
HI Stacy, perhaps that’s a sign!! Oh you know, I think we can all spend a little more quiet time on this aspect… but at least we did make the initial decision. We just need a few ‘wee’ ones along the way!
Let me know how you make out 🙂
Jayne
Hello Jayne,
One powerful message there.
As Tony Robbins says: ” In the moment of “decision” when our destiny is shaped.”
Making our own decision is sooooooo powerful. We can’t control the circumstances but we are in full control of how we respond to it.
best
Akos
Amen Akos! We can all control how we respond to lifes circumstances. I love Tony Robbins, he’s the best. My favorite quote of his is “if you do what you’ve always done.. you’ll get what you’ve always gotten”… SO true!
Lovely to see you.
Thanks for taking time to add to this conversation.
Jayne
Thanks for the inspiration you have shared us here…I am sure this can be a big help to me and to all the readers too…Thank you!
Thanks so much MarryAnnh for the kind words. lovely to see you.
Jayne
Jayne,
I really enjoyed this post, it was packed, had a great flow, keyed in on the point.
One great way I’ve practiced organizing my goals and getting specific is by constructing a vision board. And since my mind works best in simplicity and alliteration, I would sum up your advice into: decide, determine, and do. I personally would add dream as the first step:)
May all our dreams be actualized!
~Becca
HI Becca, yes vision boards are definitely a tool that some feel are a bit daft! With that said… I, like you feel they are so powerful. They are a great way to put you in the “zone” and really rev up personal belief to open our eyes to all the wonderful opportunities there for the taking.
Thanks Becca. Lovely to see you.
Oh… and yes… dreaming is great… but then we have to turn it into a goal. As you already know, a goal is a dream with a deadline!
Jayne
Hi Jayne,
Another fantastic post!
This post reminds me of the experience Jim Rohn shared in a recent interview of his that I watched.
He was penniless at the time and was barely surviving. One day a young girl from the girls’ scout knocked on his door to sell cookies and started a fantastic pitch about why supporting the organisation by buying the cookie for $2 is a noble cause that he should support.
He enjoyed the sales pitch and wanted to buy, but thing is he had no money and he didnt want to tell the little girl that he had no money.
So he did the next best thing he thought at the time, he lied to her that he’s got enough cookie in the house and was not looking to buy more.
The girl thanked him for the time and went away.
Jim said he made up his mind after that time to improve his financial situation.
Talk about a life-changing decision. Everything indeed starts with a decision.
Thanks
Tosin
HI Tosin, what a great story. I love Jim Rohn, I have not heard that story before.
You see, sometimes, that is just what it takes. A solid, split second decision… and look what happened to him!
Thanks for the great comment!
Jayne
Hi Jayne,
Fantastic post! We are where we are today because of the decisions we made yesterday (or five years ago.) Can’t really remember who said that, but it is so very true. We make decisions every day that may affect the rest of our lives.
Once we figured out what we want, the how falls into place. A lot of people have the hardest time to figure out what they really want though.
Thank you so much for sharing your awesome insights!
Ilka
Hi Ilka, thanks for taking the time to comment. So true, the things that happen based on some of our decisions is incredible.
The part that is quite baffling is that so many people don’t pin it down. Enough to drive me nuts to be honest. Especially if t hey are chronic complainers. 🙁
Lovely to see you and thanks for taking the time to visit me!
Jayne
Hi Jayne,
I think writing down goals can help people define what “it” is that they want. There’s something about writing things down as opposed to just keeping the thoughts in your mind, that makes them seem more real. After writing down the goals, thought has to be given to how to achieve those goals, and that should be written down as well. I am just finishing a book by Jim Rohn, that has a chapter with very specific exercises for defining our short and long term goals. The name of the book is 7 Strategies for Wealth & Happiness. I highly recommend this book for anyone struggling to define their goals.
Hey Jamella, thanks so much for the book suggestion. I LOVE anything to do with Jim Rohn.
I agree “writing” is definitely a way to get things down on paper. I’m not talking ‘typing’ either. It is proven that the physical act of writing has a greater affect on fruitition.
Then, as you say, drawing the ‘map’ so to speak is equally important.
Thanks Jamella for your awesome input as usual.
best
Jayne
This is so basic but so few are actually living according to this rule. I can’t blame them: I was exactly like that only a few years ago. I actually think that it takes a lot of courage to express what you really want, since we are told so many times when we grow about the things that we cannot do.
Yet, if you don’t say what you want, you are like a ship with no target port, so most chances are you will never get anywhere.
HI Hezi, I agree, we all have a lot of baggage in the way of internal programming that can seriously affect our actions.
I think however that we are smarter these days and all recognize more possibilities.
The bottom line is, if we don’t know what we want, we’ll never be able to make a plan how to get ‘there’… as we won’t know where ‘there’ is.
Thanks for adding to this conversation.
Jayne
The “decision” is the most important and powerful step in the process of getting what you want. Everything else flows from there. So simple, yet we struggle and hmm and haww about things we say we want. Just make the decision and the rest will follow.
Hi Jayne,
fantastic post. Reminds me of Jim Rohn’s quote that success comes from a series of good decisions and failure from a series of poor decisions. Isn’t that interesting ?
Of course, as you note, first of all, we need to know what we want and also what we don’t want. It’s called clarity.
Then we need to decide consciously what price we are willing to pay. Failure to do so will inevitably result in a price much higher and very different from the price we would have to pay if we decided consciously.
It’s already about the how…isn’t it ? And the how not.
Thanks for sharing your insights.
Be blessed
Oliver
This post hit home with me. I will need to take time to pin point what I want instead of flipping about dis satisfied. Thanks for the push.
Hi Jayne,
Absolutely agree. To start out to think about what you want then figure the how. Lots of people never really delve into that but keep searching the “how”! When you have a strong desire, the “how” will come a lot easier, or at least to motivate you and propel you to take serious action.
Cheers,
Ming
Hello Jayne,
Great post! Thanks for sharing. Yes you are right about knowing what you really want and when you know what it is, its up to you to make it happen. How that happens is learning and taking action and staying focused and being consistent until you get there. Thanks again Jayne. Looking forward to your next post. You are awesome 🙂
$onny