It’s 2008. Will it be another year of Success? Whichever one will we choose? It’s all in our own hands. Here’s a little thought from me that could make a massive difference to the year ahead for anyone who wants it:
When you write a check to anyone, you’re signaling that this check is for a certain purpose or a certain person. Just the act of writing down what the check is for gives that piece of paper power. So, why not take this power of the written word and use it for your own goals? To activate your success, you should be writing down not only your goals, but also the steps you have taken along the way. Much like a diary, you will be creating a chronicle that will provide motivation and validation for the work you are doing.
Setting Up a Success Diary
The first step toward making a journal of your success is to find a notebook that suits you. This is going to be an important reference tool for your actions, so it should not only be big enough to hold the thoughts you wish to write down, but it should also be visually appealing. You can choose to decorate a plain notebook or you can buy an already decorated book. Find something that makes you happy and that accentuates the goals you have – for example, if you are looking to achieve a dream of living on a beach, find a notebook with a beach design or paste on a picture of a beach.
When to Write, What to Write
In this journal, you will want to write down a few lines (or more) each day that are related to your current goals. This allows you to maintain a steady dose of motivation as you will need to come up with something new each day when you write. You can write about concerns you have as well as solutions for those concerns. You can write about successes that you have achieved in addition to mistakes you have made. As long as your journal is careful to come up with positive ways to address the negative things in your progress, you will continue to assemble a useful book for your dreams.
If you write in the morning hours, you still have a chance to address any concerns you might have, so this tends to be a better time for this journal of success and motivation. Of course, if the only time you have to write is at night, that will work fine too.
Have a Most Outstanding Year in 2008
Sean Rasmussen
Success Communicator
SeanRasmussen.com © 2004 – 2008
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Modern life is busy. It is easy for goals to get put on the backburner or de-prioritised as any number of crises arise or other demands get put on our time. As such, it is important to regularly remind myself of the goals I have made. This helps to not only analyse how close (or far away) the goal is, but also is a great prompt for action.
For example, one of my main goals is to develop my blog and knowledge of internet marketing. Whenever I start up my computer and load up my web-browser, my blog loads up as a homepage. This is not just to check that my blog has slept alright and that there are no technical hitches. It also gets me focussed on the last thing I did, the next thing I need to do and the practical steps on how to get there.
Even when I have other things I need to take care of which means I can’t work on the blog just then (eg a 9-5 job), it still gets my subconscious working on the task. Frequently inspiration will strike, either immediately or over the next hour or so and I’ll be madly scribbling various ideas for new posts on post-it notes. So the process certainly seems to work as far as my blog is concerned, plus I get to relive my blog successes to date every single morning.
Tom McEwin´s last blog ..Getting Targeted Internet Traffic and a Hungry Crowd
Tom, I really like your idea of having your blog as your homepage – kinda gives you that tap on the shoulder to say “hey work on me”
I have recently started to carry a notepad to write down any ideas no matter how obscure. I have to thank Witty Sam for this. When I first met her, she pulled out several (no joke) notepads which made me think I should at least have one.
Cemil´s last blog ..Following a Entrepreneurs Mindset
I keep a pile of A3 artist books to journal in. I find the size gives me more freedom to express myself. I use 6B pencils again for freedom of movement.
Wal Heinrich´s last blog ..Internet Marketing Why? How?
Hi Sean,
The practice of actually writing down my goals increases the chances that I will make them a reality. I think writing down my experiences as I progress will help me to learn as I go.
I’ll see when I’ve had good days and achieved a lot or bad days when I haven’t. Hopefully, I’ll get to see a pattern of what works for me and what I need to change.
This is a really great idea that I’m going to start working on. Maybe I’ll be able to see some things that aren’t apparent if I just do it.
An excellent idea Sean
I write down my goals but didn’t think of writing down the obstacles and solutions to them as well
It will be great to look back once dream is an reality to see the journey we have taken
Gee´s last blog ..Why You Should Just Ignore Fad Diets (Part 2)
Now this one has been a challenge for me. Spending one’s life responding to events that occur, and filling the days to overflowing for years on end, calls for a real decision to take time for planning. Doing for others is easy. Doing for self is new.
Jo Carey-Bradshaw´s last blog ..Empowering Mindset – Mindfulness
Hi Sean
I have changed the way I do so many things I know I have to write things with more detail, I had better go and get a pad specifically to record my progress in more detail,
thank you for that advice.
“Rich people are bigger than their problems”
Hey Sean,
Whether you call it a Journal or a Diary, whether you use it to follow your goals or the march of Time, it’s important to make a record of your life. I realised the importance of this when in High School and we had to do a Family Tree/Geneology assignment. Talking to my Grandparents, I realised that when they passed, all this information and anecdotes would be lost forever. I can’t remember if it was by coincidence, or what spurred me on (because I didn’t write it down! *grin*), but one of my Grandmothers gave me a Diary and I started writing in that. When that ran out, I decided to go for notebooks, as I didn’t necessarily have anything of note to write on a daily basis. The notebooks got larger as I filled them up. I don’t write as much as I should, these days, but will push myself to write more.
Another good reason for journaling, regardless of the reason and motivation, can actually be found in one of your previous blog entries (I can’t track it down just at the moment) where a lot of your readers had examples of not know people who had passed until afterwards when they learnt of what they had been doing with their lives. Imagine what they would have been able to discover if they had been able to stumble upon a cupboard full of journals from over the years!
Cheers,
Pete
Pete´s last blog ..peteboyr: @bullhunter Thanks, Sean. Just reviewing the webinar, and will get to your blogs after that. Big night ahead, pizza on the way!
Some great words of wisdom there Pete. Thanks mate
Hi Pete,
I think this a very special gift you have created for your family. It’s something that can be added to and passed from generation to generation.
Imagine if our grandchildren read our diaries about how this crazy competition changed our lives and all the things that we have learned. Imagine if we could pass this knowledge onto the next generation. It would definitely improve the quality of their lives.
Thanks for such a great idea.
Jazz Salinger´s last blog ..Finding Your Passion
Hi Sean
I never considered having a success diary before, now that is very creative. After reading your article about writing down the reasons why I can succeed, I am willing to try this method and the results will make for a good post on my blog…… to be continued.
Elly´s last blog ..
Would my iphone note pad be good enough to use and then I can do it anytime I have got a few spare minutes. It has a pretty phone case does that count???
I am sure the pretty phone case will make all the difference Leigh
Hi Sean,
I remember being introduced to writing in a diary or journal back when I was at school but thought that this was only for girls… Boy was I wrong! Thanks for the tips here for creating a success diary as I now see it as a great idea & will be acquiring one ASAP!
jeremy´s last blog ..jlagatule- RT @tonyrobbins For you night owls still upCome be the first to have a sneak peak of R Breakthrough insiders site http-bitly-caSRxw