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When I first selected my company’s name, Creating At Will, I thought of “will” as initiating by intention, rather than force. I wanted clients who could realize the value of intrinsic, not just extrinsic motivation, so they weren’t impatiently driving themselves towards their goals. I continue to encourage a balance of both of these inner and outer focuses to achieve one’s goals with less effort.
“Ann” is one client who has been with me through career and personal changes. She has moved through each step below, met career objectives and used them to prepare for a life partner.
1. Set downtime to do self-assessment work and consider pros and cons before making changes.
2. Accept where you now and trust that the preparation you’re doing will guide your future.
3. Reinforce your patience to stick to the proven pattern of reflect and prepare before action.
4. Select your top 10 most important values and interests personally and professionally.
5. Imagine your realized goal and then truthfully assess your willingness to achieve it.
6. Imagine your future without that change - the dream lost. Does the desire burn stronger?
7. Assess your strengths, weaknesses and skills for the task. What will you need help with?
8. Determine the other events of your life and whether this is the right time for this goal.
9. Let go of anything negative that captures the energy you will need to make room for the change.
10. Commit to your goal and discuss it with anyone else it directly impacts. Gain support.
11. Choose a coach to build momentum and for accountability, and a mentor for project how to’s.
12. With your new support team, design a plan and break actions into workable time increments.
13. Do any narrow, targeted research necessary and bring in team reinforcements as needed.
14. If your time management system does not work for you, find one that does and stick to it.
15. Along the way and at the finish, reward yourself for small and big accomplishments.
It’s not always easy to self-motivate, but it is simple. What steps do you tend to miss that if you used would make your next change more simple? If you continue to approach goals with this intrinsic and extrinsic motivation balance, your initial steps as well as your final result will be satisfying.
Laurie A. Sheppard is a master certified Life Coach and Career Strategist to mid-level professional women and women entrepreneurs who want to make quality career and personal changes.
Ready to change your life? Contact Laurie at info@creatingatwill.com or call her at 310-645-2874. Sign up to receive monthly career tips
c. 2006 This article is free to publish in its entirety, with a courtesy email to info@creatingatwill.com
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