1. Be clear about what you want to achieve and why. We each probably have a pretty good idea of something we’d like to achieve, but often we’re not so clear about why. Money gets thrown around as the reason a lot, but money is not usually the “need” behind the achievement.
• Do you want recognition (never got any as a kid)?
• Are you looking for external validation that you’re on the right path?
• Do you feel a great need to be of service to as many people as possible?
• Do you goals align with your desire to be considered an expert?
The clearer you are, the more likely your achievement will be fulfilling and satisfying.

2. Know your mission in life. Nothing is more empowering than knowing that you are fulfilling your life mission. Even if you feel clear about what you are meant to do in this life: to coach others to their potential, to organize for more efficient action in the world, to show your love through the family unit or to add beauty to the world through creativity – the clearer you get about your purpose the more empowered you will fill each step along your path. (I’ll be leading a workshop on Getting Clarity About Your Life Mission and Personal Path this fall that covers signs that tell you you’re on the right path).

3. Stay open to life lessons. Life teaches us lessons all the time. Embrace them as they come as gifts, even if they are difficult. I recently learned a great lesson about expectations at a time when I was expecting to learn about putting on workshops. I had no idea that there was a huge emotional unblocking opportunity in store for me. This reinforced the idea of divine timing for me.

4. Commit to never-ending improvement. Life Coach and author Jack Canfield says that achievers are committed to continual improvement. In his book The Success Principles, he recommends asking yourself questions like: “How can I make this better?” How can I do it more efficiently? How can I do this more profitably? Where can I learn a new skill? How can I do this with greater love?

Commit to small achievable steps you can easily master. Major improvements take time, so don’t become discouraged when things don’t happen overnight. Becoming a master takes time.

5. Identify your blocks to success. If you know you have particular thoughts or beliefs that thwart your best efforts to feel good about yourself or your life, these should be worked on with focus. It takes at least one month of concerted effort to make headway against limiting thoughts and reactions that we’ve created over a lifetime. This is really a first step that never ends. That’s the human condition. We can look at it positively though. As we take steps to progress there will be new limits to transmute which opens doors to our higher aspirations.

6. Focus positively each day through affirmations. As author Ariane de Bonvoisin explains in her book The First 30 Days, to every demon we are presented with: fear, doubt, blame, shame, impatience, guilt – there is an antidote. Affirmations that remind you of who you really are key. Affirmations can reverse our thinking. “Everything is easy.” “Everything I do has a positive impact on the world.” “I nurture myself as I deserve.” “Patience is an action.”

7. Follow clues and signposts from the Universe. This of course is my “What You Notice Matters!” mantra. Notice the people that keep showing up on your path. Notice the topic that keeps coming to your attention. Is there a book, a class, a topic of interest that more than one person mentions and recommends? If I have something come to my attention twice, I know it’s the universe talking to me.

8. Synchronize your inner focus with exterior action. This requires some kind of quiet contemplation, meditation, or mind quieting activity like a walk in nature. Intuitive dream boards do a great job of connecting our inner vision to our outer world perspective, goals and actions.

9. Keep moving forward with support from like-minded people. As Make Every Day a Friday author Marina Spence tells us fear can show up as procrastination, confusion, uncertainty, judging yourself and others, a “why bother” attitude, playing the victim, and other negativity. When you feel any of these have a go-to thought or action. Maybe it’s your affirmation. Maybe you remind yourself of the person you want to be like. Perhaps you have an accountability partner you can touch base with. Take a positive action forward despite all that you may be feeling. Even giving yourself a clear play day with friends can be just the thing you need to refresh your perspective.

10. Surrender to excellence. As Law of Attraction expert and spiritual leader, Michael Beckwith says, “Let go of control and affirm “I am available to what wants to evolve through me.” When you let go of the lesser you make room for the greater.