When you set the stage to achieve a tough challenge, you have a better chance of achievement. What does it mean to set the stage? Setting the stage means doing the research needed in order to prepare your schedule, your environment, your mindset, and your support in ways that will help you to achieve the challenge.
As I think about my life, one of my most successful challenges was rising up in credits to increase my salary and knowledge at work. I was highly motivated since I deeply desired to be a great teacher and I desired more money to support my family. My desire to meet that goal trumped any challenge the work created for my mindset, schedule, environment, and supports. It also helped that this goal was in my strength area since school work and study has almost always come easily for me. Goals in areas that are more difficult for me present a greater challenge.
Mindset
If you're convinced that the challenge is worthwhile, you're more likely to succeed. If you're a bit wishy-washy about the challenge's goal, then you're not as likely to succeed. Make time to think deeply about the challenge and why it is a valuable goal. Visualize your life with detail about what your life will be like once you succeed. Think through the sacrifice and specific challenges the goal will create in your life and figure out ways to deal with that. Be ready as you can for every challenge. Create a mantra to say when you face the challenges, a mantra that will remind you of why the goal is worthwhile and how you will be able to meet that challenge. Setting the stage means preparing your mindset.
As you reach your goals, you'll change a bit, and that may create reactions from friends and relatives. You have to be prepared for those reactions as some may be jealous, some may not support your goals, and some may even work against you. Be ready for a range of reactions and support.
Support
Share your goal with a few very close friends, and not too many others. Telling too many people about your goal setting may add undue pressure, but a few good friends or relatives that really love you can help you reach your goal in countless ways. They can talk about it with you and help you during the tough parts of the journey.
Schedule
Prioritize the goal work in your schedule, don't make it an add-on, but instead make that work a priority. Schedule the work for your most energized times in the day. Organize your calendar in ways that make space for the challenge. Actually schedule the challenge work on your schedule to make sure you do what's necessary to meet the challenge.
Environment
Make your environment conducive to the challenge. Put away items that will get in the way of meeting the challenge. Add items to your environment that will help you to meet the challenge.
Schedule
Rework your daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly schedule to help you succeed at the challenge. For example, to earn the credits I desired to earn, I had to lessen social engagements in order to have time to attend classes and study. Recently a friend had to say no to an invitation I sent her because she was working hard to meet a worthy professional challenge--I understood that. No one can be all things, and if a challenge is worth it, you'll make time for that challenge.
Tough challenges are difficult to achieve, but if you set the stage for that achievement, it's likely you'll meet the goals you set.
