When my friend Lance Armstrong announced he was returning to professional cycling next year, I was thrilled, but hardly surprised.
Lance’s determination to keep going is legendary. He’s met the cynics and understands why they think he’s shooting for the impossible, but he just chooses to whiz past them on the way to getting what he wants out of life.
As he trains to ride—oh, and win—the notoriously grueling Tour de France for the eighth time, I’m reminded of how essential it is to persevere in order to achieve your dreams. It’s always worked for me. Here’s how it can work for you:
Have a long-term goal. Deciding exactly what you want to accomplish is infinitely more effective than simply hoping something good will eventually happen. For instance, if you feel you’d like to be healthier, pinpoint precisely what that means. Perhaps it’s losing 20 pounds or running a marathon. If you want to be a success at work, decide whether that means earning a promotion or winning a new client. Being decisive about what you want sharpens your focus.
Pave the way with short-term goals. Long-term goals can be daunting, so set achievable mini-goals along the way to help keep you motivated. For example, when I arrived in Manhattan as a freelance makeup artist, I knew one thing: I wanted to see my work on the cover of Vogue. However, it was short-term goals like building a good portfolio and making important contacts that landed my dream gig seven years later.
Ask for help. If you’re unsure of what steps you need to take in order to achieve your goal, get advice. If you want to get in shape but feel out of your element at the gym, hook up with a trainer or check out one of my favorite fitness books. Or, if you dream of starting your own company, reach out to someone whose business acumen you admire. I’ve found that surrounding myself with smart, successful people who’ve already achieved what I hope to is completely inspiring.
Don’t take ‘no’ for an answer. If someone slams a door in your face—don’t quit. Look for a side door or back door. When a photographer who shot for a particular magazine I wanted to work with told me I should just pack up and go home—the business was too hard, he said—I could have given up. Good thing I didn’t. I contacted the person who booked the magazine’s talent and got a gig with them that way. And here’s a nice little addendum: I ended up on that photographer’s doorstep in the end—we both worked the same shoot. Ever so politely, he ate his words.
Member Comments