*Amazon Affiliate links have been used in this post – This means if you use my amazon link, you won’t ever pay more but I will make a small commission
Whilst a really big part of my own business is helping people achieve their goals, I always love to hear from other experts in the field. So I asked Gemma Venn of Peak Pathways to share her top tips to help you achieve your goals. I also got the opportunity to get to know Gemma a little better too.
Here’s our Q&A session:
Hi Gemma, please start off by telling us a little about yourself.
I am the founder of Peak Pathways (a blog dedicated to personal development and self growth, and with big plans for 2015) and author of the 5* rated ebook ‘Maximize Your Mornings’, about creating a successful morning routine.
I am passionate about everyone maximizing their potential and becoming all they can be in all areas of their life.
I discovered Personal Development when I was rebuilding myself after having a nervous breakdown in 2008. Personal development and all it encompasses, has helped me transform from an anxiety disorder-diagnosed and depressed person with agoraphobic inclinations into a confident, happy person with a passion for life, learning and adding value to other people’s lives.
When I am not helping others to Be All They Can Be, I enjoy spending time outdoors amongst nature with my son and husband, delving into Victorian history and working on my first novel.
Wendy: I absolutely love hearing about people who’ve made such a huge life change and then gone on to help others. Well done Gemma, the world needs you.
Have you always been goal focused or is this something you’ve needed to work on?
I have never been innately goal-oriented, it is definitely something I have worked on. And I continue to work on it; I don’t think you ever stop learning about goal setting and achieving. Since I have set goals and plans for things in my life I have become much more focused, more conscious of where and how I allot my time, and have had fantastic results. My productivity has gone sky high too.
Wendy: I absolutely agree. We never stop learning about goal setting and how to achieve our goals. I’m constantly tweaking and getting new ideas.
When you set a goal, do you also set a time for it to be completed by?
You need to always have that end date in mind as this drives you forward and keeps you motivated.
Wendy: I’m always really interested in how people answer this question. Lots of my law of attraction friends say not to set a deadline. Sometimes I do and sometimes I don’t. What I tend to do these days is set monthly goals rather than I must achieve xyz by …Date.
What are your top 3 tips for my readers to help them achieve their goals?
2. Kick your own arse if it needs it. You know if you are slacking on something. You don’t need outside accountability to tell you this if you are truly honest with yourself. Self accountability is the strongest accountability you have so use it. Don’t beat yourself up though, just get tough and honest with yourself so you keep moving forward when you start to flounder or get too comfortable.
3. Know your why. Know why you are setting and working towards a certain goal. Have a vision of what it will be like when you have accomplished your goal, and how you and those around you will benefit. Your why is what will get you out of bed and get you cracking on what you need to do; the steps you need to take to make your goal happen. Your why is personal to you so only tell those who need to know. Keep your why in your head and heart daily to keep the motivation flowing.
I’ve decided traditional goal setting is far too serious for my tastes. Now I want to use crayons and colored pens and plot my day and week in circles!!! Thanks for the post!
That’s great Kate if that works for you. I personally need a more long term approach as well as day to day to keep me on track.
Good interview. I agree with setting mini-goals and action steps. Too easy to go off track without them.
I like the suggestion in #2 – “Kick your own arse…” Yup!
Good post.
Mini goals are an absolute must for me. I like to see the bog picture and then break it down.