Sometimes the hardest aspect of accomplishing your goals is in keeping going when things slow down, when hard times come. Of course, we know the first big hurdle is actually starting. As Dale Carnegie put it, “one of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that most of us put of living.” In other words, we dream about some better day, some better job, yet we never go about the task of living now.
Yet, for most of you on this email list, you already know the genius in beginning, to be the dangerous dreamers of the day, those that do. However, once we start, that does not free us from difficulties. In fact, hitting what Seth Godin calls “the dip” is perhaps the next big issue.
You know this problem—in the beginning of your dream, of your pursuit of success, you were full of hope and inspiration. But over time, the days became weeks which became months and before long, the slow slog of moving forward has begun to cloud your vision. Before long, for many, they forget exactly what they were setting out to accomplish.
A Soft Underbelly?
During World War 2, the Allies decided that if they invaded Italy, that would be the “soft underbelly” of Hitler’s Fortress Europa. The initial stages went well into Sicily and then further towards the boot of the peninsula. An innovative invasion around a strong defensive front ultimately allowed the Allies to race into Rome. Italy surrendered, but the German forces moved more quickly than the allies to defend the upper peninsula. Before long, the difficult mountainous terrain combined with the tough German troops made the goal of reaching Germany by some easy route fade from view. By the summer of 1944, bigger dreams took over with the more famous cross channel invasion. While Patton was racing across France, most people forgot that thousands of US forces were still fighting through Italy.
The initial enthusiasm for the goal became forgotten, as things got tough. If you hope to complete your goals, you must be prepared for a few things.
Three Key Thoughts
- First, you have to know that unless success comes extremely quickly (not the norm), you will face the doldrums of just getting through. Many students really struggle in their Junior year as the semesters seem to become one long torturous experience towards completing the degree.
- Second, you must keep your final goal in view. This is why it is so critical to write down your goals. Others make a strong case for putting up a clear visual reminder of what you are trying to achieve. Perhaps your goal is to save enough money to buy a car or house; print out a picture of what you plan to buy and put it up in your office as a reminder of why you are spending less.
- Third, be prepared to fight for your dream. When the tough times come, the easiest thing to do is bail, to quit, or perhaps look for someone to blame. If you enter the journey towards success knowing these tough times will come, then you’ll be better prepared to fight through the tough times.
Eventually, US and British forces pushed upwards toward Austria. Not only did they make it to their overall goal, they kept many German troops trapped in the same fight helping out the overall war effort. Before long, you will be a senior and you’ll see the light in the tunnel of completing your degree. You will ultimately reach the amount you need to save if you are tenacious enough. You can make it through these tough times and in that, you will really have achieved a significant victory. Learning to persevere will serve you well in the future ventures you will face.