Within every single living being on this planet lies a deposit of greatness. A flexible and elastic measure of relevance that is fuelled by purpose, plan, and action. This is the driving force behind the greatest leaders, revolutionaries, activists, and even hugely successful business owners. It is not difficult to sense when a person is infected with the charisma of self- actualisation, and big-picture-thinking.
They have that spring in their step; they speak up when they have something to say, and the petty squabbles of daily living can never bring them down. They are entirely above it all. But how do you get this confidence that gave Martin Luther King Jr the courage to stand before the world and say, “I have a dream!”? How can you reach that state of mental readiness to go for what you desire no matter what it may seem to cost you? Regardless of the consequences.
It first begins in the mind. It starts with searching deep within and finding what makes you unique or different, the best person to chase your dreams. Ask yourself the question, “Who exactly am I?” and let the answer shape your thoughts going forward. With a clear understanding of who you are, you start to grasp an image of your persona, your strengths, your weaknesses, and your values.
The next step is to take what you discovered and juxtapose it to the world around you. How do you fit in, and how do you stand out? Where do you belong, where do you want to be, and how can you get there? With your answers to these questions, you start to grab a scope of your purpose, the first link in the chain of greatness. Now you know what you have to do.
Now that you know that, the next question is pretty obvious; how do you do it? Where do you start?
It is pretty simple and straightforward to organise your purpose into a grand, intricately simple plan of action. Take your purpose, your vision, and break it down into chronological parts and sub-parts. Set milestones that divide the big picture, then divide those into objectives, then divide the goals into tasks that can then be divided into steps.
Related: The Power of Goal Setting
With that system in place, it becomes literally crystal clear what you have to do at every point in time, how to do it, and when you should do it. All you have to be worried about is the diligence to back everything up with swift, decisive action and stick to the plan uncompromisingly. There should also be room for flexibility if conditions your project is based on or factors within the plan itself change.
There are no special skills involved in attaining success besides tons of hard work, perseverance, courage, and a spirit to never give up. You can achieve anything you want if you apply these lessons in your daily life.