Do you feel stuck in life, unsure of what your true calling is or how to pursue it?
As a psychologist who has counseled many clients on realizing their goals and potential, I want to share insights on achieving success and getting what you want. It starts with thinking big, committing fully without a Plan B, and putting in the hard work to make it happen.
Dream Big Dreams
First things first—if you want to achieve something great, you need to dream big dreams. Research shows that ambitious goals inspire people to work harder and smarter to reach them. Think about the amazing people who have made a difference like Martin Luther King Jr., Marie Curie, Albert Einstein. All of them had a vision for changing the world that drove their actions.
So take some time to imagine what you would accomplish in an ideal world. What cause do you feel passionately about? What problem do you want to solve? What personal legend do you want to achieve? The sky is the limit, so let your mind wander.
Once you’ve identified some big hairy audacious goals, write them down. Let those dreams simmer and start formulating plans to make them a reality.
No Plan B Mentality
Here’s one of the most important mindset shifts for crushing your goals—commit fully without a Plan B as a fallback option. As Arnold Schwarzenegger says:
“If you have a Plan B is because you are cutting yourself off from your chance of really succeeding, the main reason why people want a Plan B is that they are worried about failing”
“What if I fail I won’t have anything else” “You perform better when there is no safety net, when there is no way out.”
Having an alternate plan reduces the hunger that pushes people to make the impossible possible against all odds. It gives you an emotional escape hatch in case things get too hard. But achieving massive success requires laser focus and unrelenting will in pursuit of exactly what you want.
Tear up any backup plan holding you back from your dreams, whether a cushy job or secondary goals.
Commit fully to your top goal with flexible grit until you make it happen, adapting as needed. With full commitment and grit, you can achieve incredible success.
Learn Continuously
Another key to success is being a lifelong learner. The world is changing fast, with new technologies and ways of doing things emerging all the time. Sticking to the status quo will leave you in the dust. That’s why voracious learning is so important.
Read books and blogs, listen to podcasts, take online courses—whatever most appeals to your learning style. But make it a daily habit to pick up new information related to your field. Successful people from Warren Buffet to Oprah Winfrey devote hours per day to expanding their knowledge base.
Not only does learning open your eyes to new opportunities, but it also fuels creativity and problem-solving.
With abundant knowledge to tap into, you can make new connections between ideas and innovate. So open your mind by opening lots of books and educational resources!
Hard Work Pays Off
Unfortunately, there is no shortcut to success. Hoping for a lucky break or viral fame moment is usually nothing more than a pipe dream. Putting your head down and working hard day after day is what makes goals happen.
There will always be natural talent or privilege that gives some people a head start. Passion-fueled effort separates achievers from dreamers, regardless of innate talents.
Think about championship athletes—they didn’t get there without thousands of hours of practice honing their skills. Think about pioneering scientists—they didn’t rewrite textbooks without marathon experimentation sessions and trial-and-error. Great work comes from great effort.
So commit to putting in consistent work toward your goals, even when you don’t feel motivated. Let your vision of the finish line pull you forward during those tough times. By channeling perseverance day after day, you’ll look back one day soon with huge accomplishment under your belt.
Work Smarter, Not Just Harder
Working hard matters, but working smart matters just as much. Working 18 hours won’t lead to success if you use that time poorly. Productivity is all about maximizing output while minimizing wasted effort.
Start by analyzing how you currently spend your days. Track your time for a week using a tool like Toggl or RescueTime.
Social media distractions, over-perfecting reports, and water cooler conversations waste your time.
Look for these areas to cut out. Then prune away those time sinks so you can focus your energy like a laser beam.
You should also examine if you’re playing to your natural strengths. Delegate tasks that aren’t your forte so you can spend more time in your genius zone. And make sure to balance focused intense work sessions with adequate breaks to recharge.
Your brain does its best work when it oscillates between intense effort and rest.
By working smarter through eliminating waste and playing to your strengths, you’ll get far more done in less time. Be relentless in optimizing how you spend every minute, and your productivity will skyrocket.
Arnold Schwarzenegger's Inspiring Words on Success
I’ll leave you with Arnold Schwarzenegger’s famous speech and its hard-won wisdom on success:
“Trust yourself. Break some rules. Don’t be afraid to fail. Don’t listen to the naysayers… I never listened when people said I couldn’t do something…
Choose a goal and go after it. To live without regret. And then, when you get to the end, to be able to say: I did it. I finished. I didn’t give up.”
So venture boldly toward your biggest dreams without a safety net. Be willing to fail and adapt but never ever give up. With passion, perseverance, and relentless drive, you will succeed and inspire others. I wish you the very best in crushing your goals and realizing your full potential!
Choose a goal and go after it. To live without regret. And then, when you get to the end, to be able to say: I did it. I finished. I didn’t give up.”
The Path Forward
I hope this advice sparks ideas to clarify and pursue your biggest goals uncompromisingly.
My door is always open if you want personalized guidance tailored to your unique aspirations. Please reach out to my office at (561) 376-9699 / (305) 981-6434 to schedule a consultation to dig deeper into the next steps for success.
I look forward to helping you live your dreams!
Dr. Benejam Psychologist
