If you want to be a success at anything you do, you must accept that your success will not come overnight. The most successful people have spent many hours of practice, dedication and hard work to reach their high level. 

Instant gratification and overnight success are few and far between. Many people are motivated by a great idea and decide to go for it. They often fail because they don’t stick to it long enough. They are not willing to put in the time and the hard work!.

How many of you know Kentucky Fried Chicken? Have you heard about the Colonel, the founder of KFC? After operating restaurants for many years, Colonel Harlan Sanders found himself broke at 65 years old. Most people retire at 65! The Colonel developed a fried chicken recipe and began going door to door and from restaurant to restaurant trying to sell his recipe, and everyone said “NO!” The Colonel stuck with it and kept going, his first “yes” came after 1,009 tries!

By 1964, the Colonel had 600 restaurants selling his chicken, at this time he sold his business for $2 million. He remained a spokesmen for the company and in 1976 he was the world’s second most recognized celebrity. The key for Colonel Sanders? He stuck with it.

Michael Jordan did not make his high school basketball team, Joe Sakic did not make his Midget team, these guys stuck with it and the rest is history! 

Becoming a top athlete, business person or a top professional in your field is a marathon, not a sprint. Great things take time, hard work and you have to stick with it! 

Here are 5 steps that can help you stick to your goals: 

1. FIND THE PASSION! Passion is defined as “love; a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept.” 

Do you have a dog? Do you ever play fetch using tennis ball with your dog? Your dog gets focused on the tennis ball, he gets obsessed with the tennis ball, becomes passionate over the tennis ball. What is your tennis ball? Is it hockey? Is it another sport, a subject in school? Find your tennis ball! 

2. FIND OUT “YOUR WHY”. Why are you doing this? Why is it important to me? How will my idea impact my life? How will my why help others? What is your purpose? Your why is your foundation for all your whats, whens, wheres, whos and hows. When you are clear on your Why, you will find a way. When you are passionate about your Why, you will find your How. You will achieve any What. You will meet the right Whos. You will end up in the right Where and overcome any challenging How.

Dig deep and discover your personal WHY. It has to be meaningful to you. Stay connected to your Why.

Write your Why down in a journal! 

3. MAKE A PLAN AND WRITE IT OUT! Setting goals creates a roadmap for yourself. You won’t know where to go unless you plan and follow the plan. Be specific and set a time frame!

There is scientific evidence that proves YOU HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF GETTING TO WHERE YOU WANT TO GO BY WRITING IT DOWN YOUR PLAN! 

4, MAKE IT A DAILY HABIT. “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.” - Aristotle 

How true these words are! If you want to be great at something you have to prioritize and make sure you get things done on a daily basis.
People that reach great heights are not normal people as being great requires personal sacrifice and “being comfortable being uncomfortable.” It is NOT EASY! Make your practice a part of your day. Eliminate the excuses that you will do it tomorrow! 

Break things down into small goals that you do every day no matter what, the little things will become big things at the end. Shoot 50 pucks per day, run 2 miles every day, read 1 chapter of your book every day or do 30 minutes per day of your homework project. 

5. JUST DO IT – STICK WITH IT! Keep your “why” in mind and don’t let anyone discourage you, “just do it!” A few other simple tips that will help you stick to it are:
a) Schedule your tasks during the day, write your tasks down.
b) Track your progress, write down how your workout sessions went and what you did.
c) Find a friend, a coach or get one of your parents help you be accountable.
d) End point visualize: see yourself reaching your goal using your mind’s eye!