3.  Visualize your obstacles ahead of time. We call this “mental contrasting.”  You need to consciously think about the obstacles that could potentially prevent you from achieving your desired outcome.

This might seem counterintuitive at first, but it’s a strategy that works wonders.  And here’s what’s really interesting: As we’ve used this method in our coaching practice over the years, some people who do this get more focused almost instantly, while others end up less motivated in the short-term.

Does that mean this strategy is defective?  No, it means it’s truly working.  Here’s why:

The people who do not get a boost of focus are often the ones who realize the “specific outcome” they are aiming for is not specific enough or simply not reasonable – meaning they’re aiming for a goal too big and overwhelming for their current mindset.

So this mental contrasting doesn’t only motivate people to get the right things done, it also helps them break their bigger long-term goals into achievable shorter-term goals that they can wrap their minds around and get excited about, right now.  So…

When people visualize their obstacles and realize they have a good chance of overcoming them (“I want to get a raise this year”), motivation increases. Those who visualize their obstacles and realize their goals are too lofty and not specific enough (“I want to make a billion dollars this week”) report less motivation. The latter are deterred from dreaming the wrong dream again and again, and so they tighten up their focus and don’t waste any more of their time.  Thus, outcomes for both groups that use mental contrasting are positive.

The bottom line is that to be successful, we have to envision what could go wrong, and what will inevitably go wrong, in advance, before we begin.  Far too many ambitious people fail for easily preventable reasons.  Far too many people don’t have a well-thought-out backup plan because they refuse to consider something might not go exactly as they dreamed it would.

Today, this strategy not only helps entrepreneurs close billion dollar business deals, it saves lives.  Prior to my career in personal development and life coaching, I spent a decade working for the U.S. Marine Corps.  One thing I learned from the high-ranking officers I worked for: They spend a vast majority of their mission training time going over every possible mistake or catastrophe that could happen during the mission.  Every possible error is mercilessly examined and linked to a suitable reaction: If the aircraft is hit and losing altitude, we’ll do X.  If we are forced to make an emergency landing in enemy territory, we’ll do Y.  If we are outnumbered on the ground, we’ll do Z.

(For more on using “obstacle visualization” to improve decision-making, read Decisive: How to Make Better Choices.)

So now you know your obstacles and you’re ready to take the next step…

4.  Use self-inquiry to build actionable “if-then” responses for overcoming your obstacles. Mental contrasting is so helpful because it directly weighs dreams against realities.  It basically stress-tests your desired outcomes.  In other words, questioning your dreams leads to insights about how to proceed with them in the real world.

The bottom line is that while thinking positive is important, it’s also important to ask questions that help you actually build a plan for making real progress.

So rather than just saying something positive like, “I will lose weight,” start with a question like “Can I lose weight?” (and this question leads to other obvious questions, like “How?”)

Seems like a small difference, but questions are powerful tools.  They make you realistically consider the problem and what’s truly required.  From my experience, those who use this kind of self-inquiry for goal setting always outperform those who employ the more conventional positive affirmation sort of self-talk.

Questioning your dreams helps build actionable plans.  And actionable plans help you be more productive, and eventually bring your dreams to reality.

So what’s the best way to make sure your actionable plan addresses your obstacles?

Create little “if-then” responses to all the (known) challenges you face.

For instance, a simplified bit of self-inquiry might go something like this:

Can I lose weight?  Yes. How?  Skip dessert after dinner.  And… “IF I’m eating out and others are ordering dessert, THEN I will just order a coffee.” Makes sense, doesn’t it?  Simple, but a little different.

Closing Thoughts Successful people are successful because they take action.  They are taking action right now.  And YOU can be one of them.

So take the four steps above and start working through them.  Yes, right now!  Reading is not doing!

Just like watching Shark Tank doesn’t make you an entrepreneur, reading about what successful people do doesn’t make you a success unless you follow in their footsteps.

You want to go from dreamer to do-er?  Try it now:

What do you dream of achieving? What does the specific outcome of your success look like? What obstacles are standing between you and where you want to be? When an obstacle arises, what will you do about it?  “If _____ happens, then I will ______.” And then take action!

Can you see how this strategy takes a simple dream and puts you on a path to achieving it?  I’m hoping you’re nodding your head up and down.

But again, blog posts can’t change your life.  Only YOU can.  Now go DO IT!

The floor is yours… I’ll help start you off… Tell me:

What do you dream of achieving?  What are you going to do about it today?