You have to stop thinking about our goals as a finish line.
We often work towards goals and then slack off once achieved. You work on getting a new job, then relax. You work towards a promotion, then become complacent. You work on losing weight, then go back to unhealthy eating.
This can even happen in relationships. You work on getting someone to fall in love with you, then stop trying because you believe you've "arrived."
We all suffer from this in different areas of life. Shifting our mindset is key to breaking this habit.
First, change the finish line concept.
A lot of this starts in school or with parents who use the "do now, get rewarded later" approach. While intended to motivate, it can sabotage us if we believe it's the only system.
Therefore, we need to change our perspective. Think of goals as a journey, not a finish line. Celebrate milestones – they're important for breaking goals into smaller steps. However, reaching a goal is often just the beginning.
We hear about the "perfect life": go to school, get a good education and job, get married, buy a house with a picket fence, get a dog named Bob and a goldfish named Dorothy. Then you win at life, right?
What does this have to do with branding? Everything. I often see people get excited about an idea, get a logo, start an Instagram page, post a few times, and then disappear.
They've only scratched the surface, stuck in the "awareness stage" of marketing. They made people aware, but then what? This likely means they skipped the crucial strategy work.
Think of your actions as completing laps, not finishing. Life is a process, not a one-time event. Some laps will feel harder than others, but those are often the most important for growth.
The other danger of a "finish line" mindset? Everything becomes a race with others, which can be damaging to mental health. The "lap" approach focuses on your own pace, your own race. You compete against yourself, trying to beat your own record each lap.
Gratitude is important, but don't celebrate too early.
It's not a sprint, so pace yourself to avoid burnout and fatigue.
In my coaching, I empower my clients to prioritize creating systems over setting goals, as it delivers superior results without leading to burnout. Send me a note if you need help with this. email@fewwture.com
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