Three Steps You Need to Take to Succeed

If you’re an athlete, no one has to convince you of the value of a good coach. You know you need the feedback, direction and inspiration that an effective coach can provide. But can you learn to be your own coach? Yes, and here are three tips to get you started:

Know what you want: One of the first things a great coach is going to ask you is, “What do you want?” It seems like a simple question but that doesn’t mean it’s an easy one. What we want often is found buried beneath our fears and our “should’s” and “have to’s.” Be courageous -- dig deeply enough to get past your fears and discover what you really want.

Coaching Assignment: Start a master list of the major areas of your life and write down everything you want in each area. Later, go back and rate how important each item is, giving them from one to five stars, with five being, “I really, really want this.”

Build your confidence: Think about a goal or a dream you would love to achieve and experience but haven’t been taking action on. What’s stopping you?  Some would tell you, “If you really wanted it, you’d find a way to get it.” Not true. What’s more likely is you’re afraid you don’t have what it takes to succeed so you procrastinate.

Coaching Assignment: Share your goal with a trusted friend and ask them if they think you have the ability to achieve your goal or dream. If they say yes, ask them to help you identify the strengths and skills they see in you that are necessary for reaching your goal -- that will build your confidence. Also ask them if there are some gaps in what you need to succeed and what strengths and skills you already have -- then determine if you can close that gap.

Take action: One of the surest ways to get past our fears is to take action despite them.  What steps can you take to get more of what you want? Start with something small that you have the confidence to tackle. For instance, if you have been dreaming of writing a book, begin with creating the title or crafting a simple outline with just the chapter titles. If you dream of being an actor, sign up for an acting class or get involved with a community theater -- just get started. Once you get moving, you’ll have the positive energy to take another step and then another.

Coaching Assignment:  Write down a stretch goal on a piece of paper or type it on your computer. Then come up with the first ten things you can do that will move you closer towards your dream. Next, pick the easiest step to implement and do it. Once that’s done, choose the next easiest step to take and so forth—you’ll be amazed at how far you can go and how much fun it will be.
 
-Alan Allard, Career Coach