Podcaster Spells Out Some Steps for Success

On a recent Mindset Mentor podcast, personal development coach Rob Dial listed six keys to success.  There's definitely overlap here as I've heard all of them. Maybe this is a recycled message and possibly even an unwittingly recycled blog article.  But since it makes sense to me, I'm going to tackle it...here are his steps in a nutshell.  By the way, Dial strongly suggests taking a pen and paper as a worksheet for this...

1-Define what success in a particular area means to you personally. Since we're all different, then different things motivate us.  Dial says that he's had discussions with many people who express dissatisfaction that they aren't meeting their standards of success, but when pressed can't precisely express what they are.

2-Make a plan, as specifically as possible, to realistically meet those standards for success.  From my perspective, I tend to make plans in order to deal with problems that arise, but not so much as with fulfilling my own dreams or bettering myself.

3-Plan out your pitfalls.  What are the obstacles that tend to arise, both inner and external, standing in your way to interfere with your success in an area?  Again, Dial suggests pen and paper...and patience to figure them out.

4-Have accountability relationships.  Dial says these can come in many forms, but the main goal is to make the endeavor more of a commitment by sharing it and your progress (or lack thereof) with another.  If the area is sensitive, the accountability partner should be a trustworthy person.  Regardless, there should be someone to be answerable to, according to the podcaster.  I tend to flinch at this step...then again, I often make public statements on this blog about my own goals...although the reins of accountability here are admittedly very loose.

5 Take action, despite how you feel.  Feelings follow action, not the reverse as most people practice.  But I think we all know this deep down inside whenever we do perform an obligation like going to work (or jury duty, etc.) when we sure as hell don't want to.

6-Do a weekly review of your own progress toward success in your area(s).  Dial cited a famous hip-hop star's "stop-start-continue" method whereby you write down things you feel you should stop doing, those that you want to stop...and those that are "just right" and should continue.  

Of course, all these steps are easier said than done. That accountability Step #4 is my own sticking point...