3 Ideas That Will Motivate You to Conquer & Unlock Your Goals

This advice isn’t for the faint-hearted.

It’s for those who are tired of not winning and don’t know why. But, as I said, it’s a no-holds-barred style of counsel, which means it's direct, honest, and may challenge your current mindset. It’s not for everyone, and that’s okay. You do you.

If you’re looking for “feel good” instruction, click away.

But if you want to find the combination to your success lock and finally conquer your goals, read on, warrior.

Sacrifice

Idea #1: If you don’t sacrifice for your goals, the goals become the sacrifice.

This idea is a harsh truth, but true, nonetheless.

When you say “Yes” to something, you’re saying “No” to something else.

We cannot be in two places simultaneously, and humans are terrible multitaskers. Multitasking is a myth, and we’re actually task-switching.

But what often happens in society is people know their goals and aren’t willing to make any sacrifices to achieve them.

Escapism is too alluring and appealing to resist.

They say 'Yes' to parties, late nights, binge-watching Netflix, and weekend clubbing. While those activities feel good, they could have directed that time to their ultimate goals–time that is now gone forever. These are just a few examples of the sacrifices necessary to achieve your goals. It's about prioritizing your time and energy for what truly matters.

For the record, I’m not bashing escapism. It’s important. It's a necessary part of life that allows us to recharge and relax. However, when escapism becomes a habit that takes up a significant portion of our time, it can hinder our progress toward our goals.

Rest is as equally important as hard work for progress–when it’s earned, of course.

I am bashing how easily and quickly so many abandon the work and choose escapism when they “claim” how badly they desire the fulfillment of their dream.

The sad truth is this: we only get a certain amount of time here on earth. 

And every second that passes, our window of opportunity to achieve our goals closes a little more.

While those people use their time to go and party, their competition doesn’t. Those who refrain from escapism–the ones who temporarily sacrifice it–are taking steps closer to your goals and will beat you to the finish line.

That happens when you sacrifice the sacred time of working toward your goals for a night out with the guys or sleeping in.

Sacrifice for what you want now. Enjoy the rewards later.

I guarantee it’ll taste much sweeter.

“What if I fail?”

When pursuing our goals, it’s not uncommon to encounter self-doubt on the journey.

Questioning ourselves is expected, if not guaranteed. Some questions come from excitement, but most spring up from the fear of the unknown.

Our brains are naturally negative, and most of the questions that randomly spring out of us are of a negative bias.

The most popular question usually is:

“What if I fail?”

I’m sure you’ve probably asked that to yourself a time or two.

I get it. That’s a valid question. Since you’ve never done what you seek to achieve, it’s understandable you’d ask that.

However, it’s important to remember that victory is achieved in the mind first.

Numerous studies have shown the positive effects of visualization. Mental imagery is powerful. So, it’s critical to guide and aim your mental vision at the fulfillment of your goals.

Idea #2: Questions are how we shift our focus. 

Questions are not to be feared. Questions are a gift from the gods for us to solve problems.

When you ask a question, you send your brain on a quest to find the answer. “Quest” makes up most of the word “question.”

Asking, “What if I fail?” puts your focus on failing, whether it’s asked intentionally or not.

So, to change your focus, ask a different question.

Replace that question with this example:

“What amount of effort do I need to put in to make failure impossible?”

By asking this question and similar ones, you're focusing your brain on what you can control: your actions.

And your actions are how you achieve the outcomes you seek.

You Get What You Have to Have

We want many things in life.

People usually want a nice car, a hot partner, a fat bank account, etc. That’s typical.

It’s rare for people to back up their talk with action. People don’t typically do whatever it takes to get what they want.

They only talk about what they “want,” and that’s the extent of their action.

I’m reminded of the quote from Wallace D. Wattles from The Science of Getting Rich:

“Do, every day, all that can be done that day.”

How many of you can say you actually do all that can be done each day to achieve your goals?

I know I sure didn’t.

When I was younger, I was in the same boat. I thought my 'wanting' was enough. I 'worked hard,' or so I thought. But then I woke up to the harsh reality–courtesy of my competition– that led to the next point.

Idea #3. You don’t get what you want in life. You get what you have to have.

'Wanting' is a passive desire, while 'having to have 'is a deep, burning commitment that drives action. It's the difference between wishing for something and being willing to do whatever it takes to achieve it.

Sounds intense, doesn’t it? That’s because it is. That’s the price success demands.

Success doesn’t care about how badly you “want” your desired outcome. It only cares if you put the work in or not.

“Wanting” is actually an energy of lack. And so it leads to more wasted time of daydreaming and lamenting. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy. Wanting delivers more wanting–not results.

But when you have to have it, you’re focused on action.

When you have to have it, you're not just dreaming; you're taking action. You meticulously plan your actions, carve out time in your calendar, and set daily, weekly, and monthly goals. You work relentlessly, and your actions speak louder than words.

Wanting shows up emotionally and talks a lot.

When you have to have it, your actions do the talking—and, eventually, your accomplishments speak for you.

The BMM Takeaway

So many people always look for the key to success.

They’re seeking shortcuts and always looking for the secrets or “hacks” that’ll propel them to their desired destination.

There is no secret, and there are no “hacks.” Success will know if you try to cheat its system.

Here’s the reality: there is no one key to success because it’s a combination lock. 

Stop looking for shortcuts. When you take shortcuts, you cut yourself off from maximum growth. And the reward is in the process of achieving your success, not the thing itself.

Depending on your goal, you may need to alter methods many times before the combination unlocks. That’s good. If it came quickly, you wouldn’t enjoy it as much.

Expect resistance ahead of time. Anticipate the challenges so the pushbacks won’t derail you when it shows.

You must train your mind to go all in and prepare for the long haul.

A significant component of winning is one’s ability to outlast the competition. If you can do that in conjunction with the above points, you’ll win.