I’ve come a long way in my life, from a child raised by a single mother going through financial difficulties to now owning a highly successful digital marketing agency that has allowed me to achieve my dreams and create a life for myself and my family that I truly enjoy and wake up grateful for every day. And I’m not done yet—I’m determined to continue making the most of my life and improving the world around me in any way I can.
What got me to where I am? Action.
In my office, I have a framed quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson that reads, “The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” Every day, it reminds me what I need to do and that I am the only one in control of my life. The only way to shape what that life looks like is through action.
Getting up and taking action daily can be difficult. These are some lessons I’ve learned to help me stick with it, whether life is going smoothly or I’m running into setbacks.
1. Don’t rely on motivation
Where do I find the motivation to get up and take action every day? The answer is that I don’t, and neither does any highly successful person. Motivation comes and goes. It’s unreliable. Ultimately, motivation is an emotion, and you can’t sustain an emotion forever.
So when motivation fails, what do you fall back on? Habits formed through discipline will get you much further. Identify what actions you need to take on a daily basis and make habits of them. Then you won’t need motivation to keep you going—you’ll do it automatically.
2. Consider your values and write them down
Ask yourself these questions:
- What do you want?
- Why do you want it?
The first question helps you identify your dreams and goals, which are important to identify because they give you a target to shoot toward. But the second question is even more critical.
Why do you do what you do? If you’re anything like me, it’s to create a better world for yourself, your family, your community, and everyone you serve. For me, that includes my employees and clients as well. Whatever your answer is, it will help you identify your values.
Your values aren’t just your goals. Having a vision of the future is important, but inevitably, that vision will change with time, while your values will likely not change as much. They’re what matters most to you, giving you a foundation upon which you can make important decisions and anchor your life.
3. Check in regularly
Once you’ve identified your goals and values, write them down somewhere they won’t be forgotten or lost and come back to them every once in a while. Put a time on your calendar to remind yourself to check in, whether that’s every week or once a year. I find the end of the year to be a wonderful time to reflect on my goals and values and measure my progress since this is a naturally reflective time for many people.
Have your goals changed? What about your values? Have your actions aligned with what’s most important to you? Do your goals still fit with your values? Questions like these help establish a mindset conducive to creating a meaningful and fulfilling life.
4. Craft your routine with intention
Whether you realize it or not, you currently operate on a set of habits that drive much of your action throughout the day. Your routine is a powerful force in your life. Crafting it with intention will help you get where you want to go much more quickly and keep you happy and healthy.
Remember your values and goals as you develop or adjust your routine. Personally, my routine includes significant time dedicated to creativity as well as family time because these are both important aspects of my values and goals.
5. Don’t neglect your mental health
Choosing the actions you want to take can be significantly more difficult if you’re struggling with your mental health. Action takes both energy and discipline. Willpower is finite and can be easily drained when you’re burned out, depressed, or anxious. Make your mental and physical health a priority in your routine by including regular exercise, social time, and mindful practices, whether journaling, setting intentions, or even meditating.
Ultimately, taking action every day toward creating a meaningful and fulfilling life that reflects your goals and values requires a great deal of focus. These tools can help you maintain focus by building strong, positive habits that will get you where you want to go.
