As important as it is to delegate smaller tasks to your wider team, you must also possess a steely determination that allows you to achieve your goals, regardless of the obstacles or challenges that lie ahead.
When the going gets tough, it can be tempting to throw in the towel and give up on the task at hand. Obsessed with achieving instant gratification, there are a lot of people who aren’t willing to grind out the results they want, as high-profile stories of celebrities achieving overnight fame stick in the minds of many.
What these stories fail to show are the years of relentless practice and setbacks that many of today’s biggest stars have had to endure. No matter what profession, there will come a time where everyone must leave their comfort zone and push through the hard times to reach their destination. It’s very rare that anyone will complete a task to perfection at the first time of asking.
When you plan carefully and set SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and tangible) goals that you are determined to achieve because you recognise the benefits of doing so, you are on the path to success. The key is to be persistent, no matter what.
When somebody starts a new job, role or hobby there can be an immediate rush of motivation, as they throw themselves into things. However, at the first sign of a problem or criticism, there can be an immediate loss of momentum, which can lead to them losing interest altogether.
Instead of persevering with the task and completing it, they are quick to jump into the next project and start again. Productive people set goals, remain focussed and achieve what they’ve set out to accomplish.
It goes without saying, that the best way to complete a task is to get started in the first place. It may sound obvious, but there are a lot of people who waste time procrastinating and putting tasks off instead of taking the plunge and getting stuck into it.
There are two major reasons why people do not accomplish the important jobs they set themselves; they either never start or never finish. The only way to overcome the challenges that lie ahead is to get started and continue to work on it, even when you’re not feeling motivated or want to give up. A lot like going to the gym, you’ll soon find your rhythm and inspiration once you get started.
It’s important to understand that not every job is going to be enjoyable or easy, whether you tackle them straight away or leave for later. For some people, it may be better to break the task up into more manageable steps, taking motivation from each completed phase. Remember, the hard work may not be fun but finishing anything is always fulfilling.
Never lose sight of the target – keep in mind why you started the task in the first place, as this can help you stay on track. As covered in previous blogs, striving for perfection can be counter-productive, so don’t fear making mistakes and have faith in what you’ve already done.
If you’ve set a deadline for a piece of work, then give yourself enough time to stick to it. Some tasks may not deserve hours of attention, so bear in mind the value of your time and aim for ‘good enough’ rather than perfection.
Don’t throw away the progress you’ve already made – stay focussed and achieve your goals no matter what obstacles are in the way.