Just as a golfer who is committed to improving must ask him or herself a lot of questions to see how well he is progressing, the goal achiever must ask these questions regularly.

What plans/actions are working?

How can you celebrate what’s working? It’s important to account for what is working in your plans to achieve your goals. It’s important to determine why these plans are working and to celebrate what’s working.

What plans/actions are not working?

To solve the problem, it is important to be specific about what is not working in your plan.  If you’re trying to improve your golf game, you’d identify the specific skills (driving, putting, chipping, etc.) you need to improve:  Do the same for improving the game of life.

Have you put in enough time and effort to make a difference?

Change is often difficult: make sure you have put in the time and effort to make it happen. Ask yourself the question, “How hard have I really tried to make this change?”

What obstacles or problems are getting in your way?

To identify what’s holding you back, identify the obstacles: as stated earlier, the obstacles can lead us to the solutions, and to achieving our goals.

What are the main problems?

Once you have identified the obstacles, figure out what problems are primarily holding you back. Figure out what is keeping you from making this change in your life.

What are some possible solutions?

First, ask yourself, “What can I change?” Then ask, “How can I change it?” Brainstorm possible solutions.

What is the best possible solution?

Look at each possible solution and choose the best by asking yourself some questions:

• Will this idea solve my problem?

• Can I live with it?

• Is this idea reasonable for me to achieve?

• What would I need to do to make this happen?  What would others need to do?

• Are there any constraints (time, money, resources, etc.) that limit the possibility of this working?

When and how will you implement the best solution?

Make a plan with specific dates and times to implement the solutions to your problem.

Who can help? How can they help?

Identify people you can stay accountable to, figure out what you will ask them to do, and then ask them for help.

Need help applying these concepts?

Call 817.421.8780 to set up an appointment today.

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Adapted from LD Kids Can! ©1993, Monte Davenport.  Excerpt from the I Can! Achievers Course ©1989 used with the written permission of the author and publisher.

© 2009-2019, Monte W. Davenport, Ph.D.