The "S" in succeed stands for setting a goal.

The first step in succeeding at anything is to have a target to aim for. If you have a definite, clearly defined goal and you know why you want that particular goal and how it is going to enhance your life then you have already started on your journey to a successful life.

The "U" in succeed stands for unshakable belief.

In order to achieve your goal you have to believe, at the emotional level, that you will get that goal no matter what obstacles stand in your way. If that belief is total and unwavering then it activates your subconscious mind to work with you in making your goal a reality.

The first "C" in succeed stands for commitment.

If you want to be certain of achieving your goal then it is important that you commit to doing whatever it takes to get there. Most people are half hearted when it comes to commitment. Then when they hit an obstacle or setback they have no fuel to push them through. The people who get their goals have a level of commitment that simply will not take no for an answer and therefore they have enough emotional fuel to blast through any obstacle or setback that comes their way.

The second "C" in succeed stands for creating an action plan.

Even if you don't have any idea how you are going to get your goal you should brainstorm an action plan. Be confident in the knowledge that if your belief and commitment are strong enough then your subconscious mind will help you in creating your action plan.

Your action plan won't be set in concrete. It is simply a starting point to get you moving. As you will see below you are able to modify this plan as necessary along the way.

The first "E" in succeed stands for executing your action plan.

Until you take action your success is just a theory. It is action that turns dreams into reality. Your action should be full on, totally committed, goal directed, daily action. Throw out all your excuses and procrastinations and get yourself into gear and moving.

The second "E" in succeed stands for evaluate.

Once you take action you will get some sort of outcome resulting from that action. The next step is to evaluate that outcome to see if it is taking you closer to your goal or not. Remember that the more action you have taken the more reliable your evaluation will be.

The "D" in succeed stand for decision.

Once you have evaluated your outcomes it is time to make a decision whether to continue taking action according to your current action plan or whether you need to modify your action plan. When I say modify your plan I don't mean for you to suspend your action and go back to the drawing board. You still need to be taking goal directed action each and every day. The modifications I am talking about are done on the go while you are moving. It is just like steering a car; you have to be moving in order for the steering to produce any worthwhile result.

Concluding Remarks.

So if you want to succeed in life remember that the seven step formula is contained within the word succeed.

Set a clearly defined goal.

Unshakable belief.

Commit to doing what ever it will take to achieve your goal.

Create an action plan.

Execute your action plan.

Evaluate your outcomes.

Decide whether to continue with or modify your action plan.

Today is a great day to start putting this formula into practice.

Others have a vague idea of becoming successful in the future, but that’s about it. I’ve heard many people say that they want a house of their own. While such goals are inspiring to achieve, they’re too broad and are more likely to remain dreams than reality. What use is a goal when you‘re far likely from reaching it?

That is where effective tips for goal setting come in. These tips spell the difference between dreams and reality. If you’re ready to start checking off items from your goals list, read on!

1. Set achievable goals.

One of the most important tips for goal setting is to set achievable goals. Do not set a goal of earning a hundred thousand dollars by the end of the month if you’re barely making a thousand dollars monthly. Those kinds of “big jump” goals are bordering on wishful thinking and are a lot more difficult to realize.

Yes, it’s important to dream big and never let go of the ultimate prize; but you should do it gradually - to make it more believable and attainable.

Using the same example above, you could set up a goal of earning two thousand dollars by the end of the month. After you have achieved that aim, your next goal is to make three thousand dollars, and so on. Ultimately, you could reach the point where you could set a goal of earning a hundred thousand dollars by month end… but not until you’ve passed through several levels of escalating goals.

2. It’s all in the details.

The more detailed your goal is, the more effective it becomes. By being very specific and putting a lot of effort into creating a goal, you are already halfway done with the job. Your mind has already mapped out the outcome of your goal. That alone helps you a lot.

For example, instead of writing down that you want to have a nice job after graduation, write down that you want to become a member of your favorite magazine’s editorial team. It instructs your subconscious mind to focus on something more concrete, gives you something more to hope for, and energizes you to achieve your goal.

3. Allow for flexibility.

If there is really no way you can meet your goal, don’t stop yourself from tweaking it a bit.

If your goal is to move out of your parents’ home in two years, and you still haven’t been able to do it after all your efforts, you can always stretch that deadline for a few days, weeks, or months.

This allows you some leeway and still keeps you dedicated to moving into your own home one day. Don’t keep changing the deadline though, because then you’ll never be able to cross that item off your list.

Here’s the point I’m trying to emphasize: You should be dedicated to achieve any goal within a certain period, but you should never give up in case something went wrong. The important thing is that you did your best to achieve it, and that you’re flexible enough to know when you should alter your original plans.

4. Treat yourself after achieving every goal.

It’s important that you reward yourself for a job well done. If your goal is to finish writing that article, you can promise yourself a nice bowl of ice cream after as a treat.

This motivates you to do your best to achieve your goal. This reward system works quite well for goals that are a little less fun to fulfill.

5. Keep things positive.

When writing down your goals, try to keep your words as positive as possible. In fact, you can do this with tip number four. You can write down, “Pass the exam and go celebrate at the best restaurant in town.”

That’s definitely more effective than writing down, “Pass the exam or else mom will take the laptop away.”

6. Stay committed to your goals.

Don’t go about setting goals and then dropping them to the side once the going gets tough. Goals aren’t always easy to achieve. They may require time, hard work and even sacrifice.

If you’re scared of a little hard work, then you’ll only be setting yourself up for failure. Giving up on one goal too quickly also weakens your chance of completing even one goal on your list. Stay committed to your goal unless it’s more practical to change course.

7. Make sure your goals all agree.

Don’t set goals that might pose a conflict for another goal. A lot of people don’t really notice how contradicting some of their goals can be. Look at your goals list, read it more carefully, and take note of any goals that might hinder another goal’s success.

For example, your dream of becoming a champion sumo wrestler would offset a goal of having 6-pack abs. (Ok, this is extreme, but you get the drift.)

Goal setting need not be a waste of time. As long as you stay realistic, committed and positive, I see no reason why you can’t achieve your goals. So do things the right way and you won’t have to worry about setting yourself up for failure.

Faith – our belief or trust in what cannot be seen. For one to bring change to their situation, faith is the first component in the process. One must believe, without a doubt, they are able to impact and improve their situation. Even if your life situation feels unbearable and hopeless, having faith in a new type of life is the first step. Should doubt creep back into your mind, it will slow or stop the process, and you will remain in your current situation permanently or for a longer period of time. Daily affirmations, encouragement from others, and reading or listening to positive and uplifting materials assist in supporting the faith necessary to make a change.

Choice – the act of making a selection. We always have choices as we experience any opportunity or challenge. A positive approach to change will lead us to look for ways to make the most of the opportunity, or how to meet and surpass the challenge. We also can take the other approach and willingly let the opportunity slip away, or allow our challenges to overwhelm us. We can choose to make no choice and continue to do the same things we currently have being doing. This tends to generate results more closely to making the negative choice.

To make positive changes in one’s life, one must clearly identify and define what the desired change will mean to you – what it will look like and how you will feel experiencing the change. Once you have clearly defined the change in your mind, the next step is to choose to take the necessary actions to make the change. In doing so, one must embrace the process of making those changes and recognize the results most likely will not be immediate. Yet with consistent activity the small daily steps and actions we take over time will compound and create a different result in the future. As we encounter obstacles in attempting to create success, we understand they are just part of the journey on our way to success.

Desire – to deeply wish or long for. I added the word “deeply” to the definition of desire as a normal level of “desire” will not achieve success in the change process. One must have the level of desire that “at all costs and no matter the obstacles” this change will be accomplished. This persistence towards the desired outcome is the final step in making the changes and creating the desired success in your life.

Embracing change will lead us towards success in our ventures, achievement of our goals, and the ability to live a more purposeful life. But we must do something different - we must focus our thoughts, and take the necessary actions on a consistent basis until we have achieved the desired results. In our heart and mind, we must believe without a doubt we can change our situation. We agree to make the necessary choices to approach these changes, and to let nothing stand in our way. By embracing change we are on our way to creating a desired success or more purpose in our lives.