Benito wants to get an A+ in honors chemistry.  Kendra wants to quit smoking.  These sound like fantastic goals!  What is the first step each should take?  The first step is crucial—as the old proverb reminds us, the journey of 1000 miles begins with the first step.

Earning an A+ in a class and letting go of an unhealthy habit are not merely goals—they are visions.  Turning a vision into a reality instead of a mirage requires patience and persistence.  Hundreds or thousands of decisions are made to modify current behaviors and maintain new practices.   

But what is the first step?

The first step is to set a practical, measurable, short-term goal based on an accurate assessment of reality.  Once action is taken to meet that goal, your vision will slowly materialize.  Without naming a specific goal and actively working towards it, the vision might as well just float away. 

If Benito's vision is to earn an A+, he must first create an actionable, logical goal based on his reality.  His current grade in honors chemistry is a C, and he has not submitted three of the last five assignments.  An A+ isn't going to fall into his teacher's gradebook without action on his part.  Perhaps a logical goal is to complete his next three homework assignments and submit each on time.  This specific goal is realistic, actionable, and measurable; if he accomplishes this, he will move closer to earning an A+. 

Kendra wants to quit smoking, but she smokes two packs of cigarettes a day.  She cannot remember the last time she drank a full glass of water.  Maybe her goal should be to decrease her cigarette consumption to 1 ½ packs per day over the next 10 days and drink one full glass of water with each meal.  By monitoring her success and setting a new goal in 10 days, Kendra will become a former smoker one goal at a time.

Time to grab your sneakers (or buy some), and let’s start walking together!  Contact me today--it could be the first step on a successful 1000 mile journey.