Don't Pace Yourself: 4 Steps to Your Goal

Too often I see people hide behind the excuse of "pacing" themselves to justify a fear of success. Sometimes, we know what we need to do to improve our life in some way, but we're too afraid to take that big first step. There are lots of ways of overcoming this fear, but "pacing" yourself isn't one of them. That's just putting something off to an imaginary date or set of circumstances that you know, deep down, will never happen. It's time to stop waiting. They say that for big life changes there is never a good time. I like to think it's ALWAYS a  good time to do what you think is right for you. Get off the couch, push yourself to the limit on a regular basis, hold yourself accountable (or have someone hold you accountable) and create an action plan. You deserve to experience the best life has to offer, but you've got to get out there and take it!

Putting the "Pro" in "Procrastination"
Procrastination is not just something you do, it's not just a bad habit, it's a lifestyle. One you want no part of. When you start to put off doing things that will make your life better, it's more than just being lazy. You've decided to tell yourself that you're not worth the effort. Quitting smoking after your last exam is saying that you don't deserve to be healthy right now, but maybe later. When you start to compromise your worth just once, it only gets worse. As your personal worth diminishes as priority, it becomes easier and easier to compromise. It will absolutely take on a life of its own and that's what I mean by being a "pro". Don't wait until after the holidays to get back to the gym, go as soon as the thought crosses your mind. Don't wait until your "busy time of year" at work is over to take that vacation, go as soon as you feel stressed. The difference between someone who's living their dream and someone who's not: one got off their ass and started to put in work, the other is dreaming of something better on the couch. You owe it to yourself to take action.

Go All-In
Real life is not like poker; you can go all-in on every hand. In fact, you should. When someone is "pacing themselves", it's usually a result of fear. Push yourself to the limit every time, recover and then do it again. You'll go further every time and, before long, you'll be breaking your own records.
Don't be reckless of course. Respect your limits at all times, but know that they can be negotiable. Too often, people close to me in my life feel the need to make fake promises to themselves. Just go and do it. Don't tell me that you hate your job every day when you haven't even looked at who else is hiring or updated your resume. Changing jobs requires a major change and people can be scared of the unknown. Just because that is most often a safe response doesn't mean that it should also be a crutch. Go for the gold. Every time you go for it, it will become your new standard. That's how you get in the habit of always improving your life, never settling or staying stagnant.


Accountability and Specifics
Next comes owning up to these goals. You're your own boss in life, but you can't always be trusted. Not yet, at least. Tell a friend or loved one what you're thinking. Tell them how you feel and what it is that you want to change. Just by doing that, you can be held accountable. That alone is often enough of a motivator to keep you on track. When you say it out loud to someone, it becomes real.
If they care enough, add specifics. This one is not as important to say to the other person. Once you've told them about your plan, you'll have to come up with specific details on how to reach your goal. It's the natural next step, regardless of you including them or not. The point is to tell someone and then think to yourself: "Oh man, now I've committed. Where do I start?"

Goals and Deadlines
Now it just becomes a matter of working out the logistics. No small task, but at least you've come this far and you're not sitting at home hating yourself and frustrated.
"I'll be living my dream before I'm 40 years old"
That's an example of a too-vague guideline that will ensure that you never reach your goal. Too broad. You can get away with too much so make sure you don't give yourself any slack. Your "bug goal" has to be broken down into smaller, reasonable steps and tasks. Separate everything into tasks that you can finish within the week. No later. 2 to 3 days would be better. You now have an action plan and can enjoy how great it feels to always be moving toward something you love.

So there it is. Taking an idea you love and breaking it down into 4 steps. It might feel like you're over-simplifying your goals, but that could also be because life changes can often seem daunting. It's starts with action. Somehow, this is the hardest step. Once you've taken initiative, everything after comes easier and feels like the natural next step. Sometimes these 4 steps can take a few weeks and sometimes a few years. The important thing is that you'll always be heading in the right direction. Even heading in the wrong direction is better than staying still if you're not happy! Get off the couch, go all-in and kick some ass.

Jordan Bill
Fight or Die

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