This is an article about achieving success with a simple yet highly effective and repeatable four-ingredient personal success recipe comprising goals, strategies, self-discipline, and motivation.
Good recipes need good ingredients. Top-class chefs need practice to produce consistently good meals using those recipes.
Invest the time and effort to become your own cordon bleu success chef and you won’t look back.
In your pursuit of success, you’ll often hear about the importance of having a clear goal.
However, success isn’t only about knowing where you want to go; it’s also about understanding how to get there, and crucially, how to keep moving when the journey becomes tough.
Speaking of tough, in my experience there’s no easy route to success and achievement despite what so many self-styled “experts” like to tell you.
No magic bullets, no easy option hacks and no expert-driven, all-powerful offers or courses will get the job done without you doing the hard yards and applying maximum effort.
Whatever represents success for you, effective attainment of it requires you applying that effort in the right places.
It requires a plan. It requires a personal success recipe.
This is the one I use. A straightforward and powerful combination of setting a goal, developing an actionable strategy, maintaining self-discipline, and driving all of it with motivation.
This article will explore how to achieve success by merging these elements into a cohesive and flexible personal success recipe that works for you for the long term.
BTW – if you prefer an audio version of this article, I’ve included one right at the end.
Personal success recipe ingredient #1: Set your goal
Setting a goal is where any journey towards success begins.
Here’s a snippet of conversation between Alice and The Cheshire Cat from the most excellent “Alice in Wonderland” by Lewis Carrol:
“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?”
“That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat.
“I don’t much care where—” said Alice.
“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the Cat.
“—so long as I get somewhere,” Alice added as an explanation.
“Oh, you’re sure to do that,” said the Cat, “if you only walk long enough.”
Without a clear destination, it’s impossible to plan an effective route.
Goals give you a sense of direction, keep you on track, a reason to persist, and something tangible to work towards.
To create a meaningful goal, consider the following:
Make it specific
Vague goals lead to vague or even non-existent outcomes.
So, get specific.
For example, instead of aiming to “get fit,” aim to “run a 5K in six months.”
The more specific your goal, the easier it is to determine the smaller sequential steps you need to take.
Be realistic and challenging
A good goal strikes a balance between being challenging enough to keep you engaged but realistic enough to remain achievable.
For example, if your goal is to go to the gym five times a week, but you have a busy schedule, a more realistic yet challenging goal might be to start with three times a week and increase gradually as you adjust your routine.
This approach ensures that your goal pushes you to improve while still being attainable, reducing the risk of burnout or discouragement.
Set a timeframe
Goals with deadlines push us to make progress.
A timeframe creates urgency and prevents procrastination.
Remember, your goal should inspire you. It should be something that matters to you personally, which will provide the motivation needed to keep going even when obstacles arise.
Personal success recipe ingredient #2: Develop a strategy
A goal without a strategy is simply a wish.
If your goal is your destination, then your strategy is your roadmap – it tells you how to get from where you are now to where you want to be.
An effective strategy involves breaking down your big goal into smaller, manageable steps, making progress less intimidating and more achievable.
Break everything down as much as you can. Lots of “baby steps” can take you a long way. I wrote another blog post on this very topic. Why not check out “The Baby Step Approach to Goals.”
Start by identifying the key actions required to reach your goal.
Consider the skills you need to develop, the research you may need to do, the resources you might need to obtain, and the habits you might need to build.
A strategy must be both detailed and flexible. The flexibility allows for any adjustments you need to make as you learn and grow or as other external changes arise.
Here are some steps to take:
Break it down
Reduce your big goal into smaller actionable tasks.
For example, if your goal is to study for a professional qualification, your process might involve setting aside specific times each day for studying, breaking the syllabus into manageable topics, and creating a schedule that allows you to cover each area in depth.
Start with short study sessions to build the habit, then gradually increase the duration as you get more comfortable.
For instance, you could begin by studying for 30 minutes each evening, then move to an hour as you gain momentum.
Identify challenges and solutions
Think ahead about the obstacles that might come your way and plan solutions.
For example, if you know you struggle with staying consistent while studying for a professional qualification, identify the specific issues – such as lack of motivation after a long day at work – and plan around them.
This might involve scheduling study sessions during a time when you have more energy, such as early mornings or weekends, or finding a quiet environment that promotes focus and minimises distractions.
Track your progress
Set milestones for your key steps. This will help you monitor your progress.
Every milestone you reach will provide a motivational boost, showing that you’re moving in the right direction. Review your strategy often.
A well-crafted and well-formed strategy will help translate your goal into daily actions, providing structure and ensuring that you stay on the right path.
Personal success recipe ingredient #3: Cultivate self-discipline
No matter how well you plan, the road to success is bound to have challenges, and this is where self-discipline becomes invaluable.
Self-discipline is the bridge between your goals and your success.
It’s the ability to push yourself to act consistently, even when you don’t feel like it.
To build self-discipline consider the following:
Establish routines
A solid routine makes it easier to maintain discipline.
When you automate your tasks, they become a part of your lifestyle rather than an occasional effort.
For example, if you’re trying to build a writing habit, setting aside the same time every day to write will make it easier to stay consistent.
Remove temptations
Eliminate distractions that pull you away from your goals.
If you’re working on a project, turn off your phone notifications or use productivity apps to block distracting websites.
Additionally, make deliberate choices about your workspace.
Select an environment that supports focus—this could mean choosing a quiet room, setting up a dedicated study area, or even finding a comfortable library or co-working space where you feel motivated and free of distractions.
Practice patience and self-compassion
Like success, discipline takes time to build.
Start small, celebrate small wins, and remember that consistency is key.
Be kind to yourself during this process and practice self-compassion.
Understand that setbacks are a normal part of growth, and instead of being overly critical, use them as learning opportunities.
Self-compassion helps maintain a positive mindset, making it easier to get back on track after challenges.
Self-discipline is about finding ways to act even when motivation is low.
It’s the daily persistence, the decision to work on your goal even when it’s uncomfortable, that determines success.
The hard yards lead to big gains when you cross that finish line.
Personal success recipe ingredient #4: Harness motivation
Self-discipline gets you through the daily grind, but motivation is what lights the initial spark and keeps it alive. It’s the emotional force and guiding “North star” that drives you to start the journey towards your goal.
To sustain motivation, it helps to regularly remind yourself of the “why” behind your goal.
Why does this goal matter to you?
What will achieving it mean for you and your future?
There are many ways to maintain motivation. Here are a few:
Visualise your success
Spend time imagining what it will feel like once you achieve your goal.
Visualisation can create a positive emotional response, making you more eager to act.
For example, if you are studying for a qualification, imagine yourself successfully passing the exams, receiving your certificate, and experiencing the career benefits that come with it.
Picture yourself celebrating this success and how it positively impacts your personal and professional life.
This vivid mental image can help keep you motivated and focused on your daily study goals.
Celebrate all your wins
Recognise and celebrate the progress you make, no matter how big or small.
These celebrations provide positive reinforcement and motivate you to keep going.
You’ll start to become used to being successful but don’t get complacent. Keep your eyes on the prize.
Find an accountability partner
Sharing your goal with someone you trust and checking in regularly can be a powerful motivator.
You can also consider going public with your goal – sharing it on social media or with a group of friends perhaps – to increase your sense of commitment.
The support and encouragement from an accountability partner, or even a wider audience, can help you stay on track and make you feel more responsible for your progress.
Motivation fluctuates, and while you can’t always rely on it to be there, you can build strategies to reignite it when it wanes.
For example, if you find your motivation dipping while studying for a qualification, try switching up your study environment, setting new smaller milestones, or rewarding yourself after a productive study session.
Combining self-discipline and motivation allows you to push through tough times and enjoy the journey towards your goal.
Bringing your personal success recipe together
Success is not the result of a single element but the powerful quartet of a well-defined goal, a practical strategy, consistent self-discipline, and sustained motivation.
Each of these four components plays a crucial role:
- A Goal provides purpose.
- A Strategy provides direction.
- Self-Discipline ensures consistent effort.
- Motivation fuels your passion and keeps you inspired.
The journey towards success is not always linear.
There will be setbacks, times when progress is slow, and moments when you question whether it’s worth continuing.
In these moments, your commitment to your goal, your strategy, and your discipline will be your greatest asset.
Motivation may ebb and flow, but by developing self-discipline and following a clear strategy, you will continue to move forward regardless.
Concluding thoughts on your personal success recipe
Achieving success is less about talent and luck and more about intentional action, perseverance, and clarity.
When you set a meaningful goal, craft a well-considered strategy, maintain the discipline to take consistent steps forward, and fuel it all with motivation, you can create an unstoppable momentum.
This personal success recipe combination becomes the key to unlocking your potential and achieving the success you desire.
So, take some time today to get your chef’s hat set exactly right. Take out your personal success recipe and gather your ingredients. It’s time to create some success for yourself.
Define your goals, outline your strategy, build the discipline to stay consistent, and remind yourself why this journey matters to you.
Success doesn’t happen overnight, and it isn’t easy either. But, with the right combination of goal setting, strategic planning, self-discipline, and motivation, you can make it happen – step by step, day by day, minute by minute and inch by inch.
That is all for this one
You might also like to check out these related articles:
The “Baby Step” Approach to Goals
Self-Discipline Drives Success
PS Here is the audio version of this article if you would prefer to listen.
PPS Do you want more Emotional Intelligence and self-confidence in your life? Who doesn’t, right? Why not check out my short but powerful “Develop Your Emotional Intelligence” video course – it’s totally FREE btw – you’re welcome 😎. https://andrewdpope.ck.page/develop-your-eq
