When it comes to reaching a goal - we have to expend the effort, but first and foremost, we have to set aside/create the time.

Think of your time as an investment.  Is it worth investing in your future?  Of course.  So invest a little bit of time the way you do a little bit of money towards a financial goal.

Also, remember that while the steps you need to take to reach your goal may not always be the most pleasant - they will be things you are proud of in the long run.

A particular quote comes to mind:


Think of really difficult challenges you’ve faced in the past.  For most people, there are a number of things that will come to mind.  Now, think of times where you had no major challenges and just dealt with the day to day....

Most likely, that second though is more of a gray blur of weeks, months and years.  You could describe days like this but there are few that specifically stand out.

As for the challenges though, you can remember them clearly.  You can remember the work environment, or classroom or where ever you were when you faced these challenges.  You remember the ‘players’ involved in these challenges and the steps you took to overcome these challenges.

Want to know another common theme?  Even though you may have no desire to ever go back and face those same challenges again, even if you would cringe at being put back in that situation again...you are likely proud of the outcome, or have learned something important from that experience.  You are likely proud that you made it through that tough time and above all - you learned a great deal about yourself that you may not have learned otherwise.

Those days where you face adversity are as memorable as they are important.  Make each day memorable in some way.  Don’t let another group of weeks go by in a blur of routine.  Make sure to do something each day, no matter how small toward reaching your goals - even if it’s something you dread, something you’d rather do when you are ‘less busy’.  Just get started - and see what great memories, lessons and accomplishments you’ll have to look back on a few weeks from now.