Nigel Risner is a regular speaker to the Footdown Leadership and Mentoring Groups across the UK. Here he tells us about his top ten steps to getting what you deserve.
Nigel says, “There is a wonderful quote from Jonathan Winters that I love – ‘I couldn’t wait for success, so I went ahead without it.’ If you want success, sooner or later you have to take action and go for it! “Too often we try to schedule success. We try to plan it for after we buy a home or get a raise or for that proverbial “someday”. Well, life doesn’t work that way. The truth is that every day is the perfect day to do the right thing, to pursue your dreams, to take action, to begin.”
- Start by clarifying the dream
Dream it big, dream it often, and always in living colour! Imagine the problems, the benefi ts, the skills you’ll need and the people you’ll meet along the way. Dream often and dream the details. - Create a plan
What will your dream cost? How will it work? How long will it take? Who will help you get there? How will you solve the challenges, over-come the obstacles and become the person you’ll need to become to reach your goal? - Reach out
We live in an amazing time. You can write, phone, fax or email just about anyone on earth! Consult with experts. Talk to people who have achieved whatever you want to achieve. Truly successful people are usually delighted to show others the way. - Tell others
There is no substitute for talking about your dreams. Saying the words makes them powerful. Talk about where you want to go, what you want to do, and who you will become. And as a benefi t, you’ll discover people who will help you along the way. - Take action!
No matter what your dream, there is a step you can take today. If you are serious, there is someone you can call or write to. There is a book you can read, or some action that will start you on the path. What action will you take today? - Buy a calendar
Deadlines can be risky because if we miss our schedule we may think we have “failed”. That’s crazy, but sometimes we tell ourselves crazy stuff. More importantly, schedules add structure and give us a map to follow. Use a calendar to challenge yourself. - Eliminate distractions
This is a tough one, and a favourite excuse of the “almost successful”. Successful people eliminate the distractions of life. Combine errands, delegate tasks, hire people to do the things you don’t want to do. Simplify your life and never waste time. - Invest wisely
Successful people understand that their dreams will require an investment of time or money or energy and they are prepared to pay the price. Whatever your dream, it will require some risk, and some investment. Make the investment. - Create room for success
All of us are doing something every moment of every day, and making your dreams come true will require some adjustments. Whether it’s adjusting your schedule, your fi nances, or your use of energy, you’ll have to make room for success. - Have a mentor
Whether you hire a professional coach or find a local expert, successful people have coaches. There are very few “self-made” successes! We all need someone to believe in us, someone to encourage, challenge and applaud us. Develop a close relationship with a coach who can show you the way to your dreams!
Nigel concludes: “Success is no accident. Success is always the result of our best efforts. It’s the result of investing time, energy, careful thought and hard work. It’s the result of taking action, getting started, making mistakes, learning from them and trying again. There is simply no better time to start than today.”
Nigel Risner is an inspirational speaker, human development specialist and peak performance coach.