By: D. A. Slinkard
If I could tell you how to achieve everything in life that you wanted to achieve, would I have your attention? Obviously I do, as you’re on to sentence number two, and this article is going to be about getting the things in life you want. Sometimes we get what we didn’t want because we weren’t clear enough on what our actions should be to obtain our heart’s desire.
Too often in life we have bad things happen to good people all because of their inability to act fast enough. Businesses go under because they cannot sell products fast enough in quantities great enough to keep the creditors at bay. Success in life is all about taking the right action to achieve that which is important to us.
I’m going to ask you, “What is it that you are wanting to achieve with your life?” Go ahead and think about this one question and really dig deep for your answer. Now with the answer firmly within your mind, I want to ask you, “What has been holding you back from achieving your desired outcome?”
Studies from the Napoleon Hill Institute suggest that 95% of the world population is comprised of people walking around life with no purpose. I was taken aback by this number, but then it made sense why the richest 1% of the world holds as much wealth as the rest of the world combined.
This is not an article bashing the 1%, because honestly who wouldn’t want to be in that category for financial wealth? Regardless though, the secret to separating yourself from the 95% walking around without a purpose is to learn how to find your purpose through this article. I want you to think about your life and the energy it takes to make it through each day.
Now I want you to picture a rudder on a boat, and if that rudder becomes lost while out in the Tennessee River, the boat begins circling around. Eventually you’re going to run out of fuel. But keep in mind you had enough energy (fuel) to get back to shore; however, because your rudder (purpose) was lost, you didn’t obtain success. Your boat and your life were just going in circles.
What you need to do to find your “definite purpose” in life begins by answering the following four questions. Your answers should be deliberate and with a purpose because otherwise you’re doing the same thing you’ve always done, and you’re gonna get the same results you’ve always gotten. Here we go:
1.) Decide your definite purpose in life.
2.) Write out a clear statement of this purpose.
3.) Write a plan for how you will obtain the object of your purpose.
4.) Create an accountability group of like-minded individuals, which is also known as a “mastermind” group, to help you achieve your goals.
You have two options when it comes to answering these questions: You can fly through them and see how quickly you complete the assignment, which will have you walking away feeling much the same way you did prior to the exercise. You’ll rush through it and miss the entire purpose, seeing no benefit. The alternative way to handle this is to take some time to really reflect upon the questions, and be sincere in answering the questions listed.
I say sincere because after all, this is your future self you are writing this for. This exercise is for who you will become, not for who you are in this very moment. The hardest part is truly finding what that definite purpose in life is, because we have too many external factors that dictate what we think we should be going after. Your definite purpose in life only holds meaning for you. It holds no weight for your parents, for your spouse, for your brother or sister, just you. Be honest with yourself when you write out the answers to these questions.
You want to write the answer to the first question and keep it in a place you can see it every day. You will need daily affirmation of what your purpose is to help achieve it. You will want to utilize your mastermind group to help you stay on course. You want to allow them to be your rudder when yours gets lost along the journey. You will find your true self when you find your definite purpose and in doing so will separate yourself from the other 95%.
By: D. A. Slinkard
D.A. Slinkard is the manager of the Athens Staples store
