There’s an old saying that a dream without a plan is just a wish.
I know this firsthand. There have been things I’ve dreamed about in life and not achieved, and others I have seen come to fruition — from building a business to starting a charitable foundation to maintaining and growing personal and familial relationships. What made the difference?
Having a plan.
When researching this subject, I came across an article by Douglas Vermeeren titled “Why People Fail to Achieve Their Goals.” Vermeeren cites these 10 reasons:
- Fear of success or failure
- Lack of understanding about the goal-setting process
- Lack of commitment to the goal
- Inactivity
- Analysis paralysis
- Lack of a real destination
- Failing to plan
- Having too many goals
- Feeling unworthy of the end result
- Lack of motivation to change
If you see yourself or your own habits in that list, you’re not alone. I’ve experienced a number of them, too.
After 62 years of chasing dreams, I believe you can put all the reasons we either attain or fail to achieve our goals in three categories — what I call the three D’s. The lack of these qualities has caused my own failures as a dad, husband, friend, believer and business partner. But, by developing them, I have achieved greater success and happiness in many areas of my life.
The three D’s are:
- Determination: A positive emotional feeling that involves persevering toward a difficult goal despite obstacles
- Direction: A set course along which someone or something moves
- Dedication: The quality of being committed to a task or purpose
If you possess these qualities, and apply them to a plan you create for achieving a goal, you will be on the road to successfully achieving your dreams.
And remember: A dream does not become a reality through magic. It takes determination, hard work and sweat.
It’s worth the effort.
Jimmy DeLoach Jr.
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