By Keith Abraham

Most people spend most of their lives earning a living instead of designing a life. Which is it for you? In the next few paragraphs my goal is to prompt you in asking yourself how much time do you plan for your life. In actual fact you may have more questions than answers when you finish reading this article. Do you have a passion or a love for life? You see not everyone leads their life, they just get by, not ahead. Here are 8 steps to consider if you want to achieve your potential and be continually fulfilled in the process.

DARE TO BE DIFFERENT
Statistics tell us that only 3% people sit down and write out their goals. So if you want to be different write out your life plan. Where do you want to be in 10 years? Before you say, “That is years away!” Think about your age, and then take off 10 years. Was that, so long ago?

DESIRE TO CHANGE
Nothing happens until someone changes something. What do you need to change to tap into your current opportunities and your true potential? I believe that if you want to master change, then all you have to do is make a small change this week that will effect next week. If you continue to do these small changes then you will perfect whatever you are trying to change or improve upon.

DISCOVER YOUR PASSION
What is your passion? What do you love to do? I think we all have passions, but as we go through our lives they become stifled and die. The one thing I know about people who pursue their passion, they have an energy and enthusiasm for life. Your passion could be a hobby, a sport or an activity you loved to do as a child. Pursuing your passion fuels your fire which motivates and inspires you to go on.

DESTINATION TO PURSUE
What is your current destination? You would not get on a flight, not knowing where your final destination was going to be! But, how many people go through life with no flight plan. Where are you going in the next 12 months, 2 years, 5 years or the next 10 years? Have you mapped out your flight plan?

DESIGN YOUR PLAN
Once you know your destination, then you need to have a month-by-month plan to follow. What are you doing this month to pursue your goals? Every task or goal broken down into small steps becomes easier to achieve over time. If you remember to put these small steps in place it will make a huge difference to your level of focus.

DISCIPLINE TO DO IT
Good intentions won’t make it happen for you. Sooner or later you need to take action. You need to be disciplined to follow through with your plan of action. The great by-product of being disciplined is that our self-esteem is enhanced. What action steps are you going to take today?

DEVELOP YOURSELF
If you don’t spend time, energy and money developing yourself, then you are a poor judge of a good investment. What have you done in the last 12 months to develop your skills and enhance your knowledge? Jim Rohn has a great quote, “Formal education will make you a living, but self education will make you a fortune”.

DETERMINATION TO ACHIEVE
Whenever you set a goal, you will be challenged by life. Roadblocks will be put in front of you to test you, to see if you are really serious about the goals you want to achieve. This is when you need to be determined to achieve what you have set out to accomplish. Remember it is OK is stop and rest and celebrate where you have come from. You determine whether the roadblock will be a setback or simply a stepping-stone!

I grew up as a young man with no goals, no direction and no desire. I am glad that I have implemented these 8 “D’s” into my life over the past 16 years. As adults we don’t stop enough and think about where we are going because we sometimes are too busy thinking about our family, our team and our businesses. I hope these 8 points have made you think about where you are in your life now and where you want to be in the future? Give something back to yourself, so you can reap the rewards for years to come.