By James Patrick

Have you discovered your life purpose? If so, great! If you haven’t, then I’d encourage you to reflect on what that could be and accept that YOU play a unique part in a much larger universal picture. Being successful on purpose is a simple concept that brings a refreshing new perspective to anyone’s life. On purpose, means that it all starts once we realize the greatest power we are given as human beings is the power of CHOICE. How successful we are is not a matter of circumstance, rather a series of choices we make with a greater vision in mind. The vision of tomorrow, if powerful enough, dictates the actions of today and motivates us to take action. As South African politician and philanthropist Nelson Mandela once said, “There is no passion to be found in playing small, in settling for a life that is less than what you are capable of living.”

The Formula

When moving towards success, there are four key components to consider. These ensure that no matter what, you will always be in a forward motion towards that dream and the next best version of yourself.

Even when you take two steps forward and perhaps one step back, you’re still moving in the right direction. When it comes to success and taking that first step you must:

Define it. Many have great intentions or ideas, however, what the future looks like is vague, at best. Be specific in what you want. Details for the details are necessary, while still being realistic in what you can do NOW with your current life situation, finances and support. Don’t take on the big picture all at once or you risk not starting at all.

Lock it in. Don’t make your goals moving targets. Have you ever started something and hit a wall or encountered your first challenge, only to give up and move onto another project and experience the same results? Then, you’re left with a lot in motion yet no sense of accomplishment. When you think about what you want most, does it create a sense of urgency? Ask yourself: WHY is this goal or project important to me? Once you have the answer to this question, LOCK IT IN. The “Law of Focus” will kick in and you will begin to attract what you need to achieve your goal.

Make a plan. Many fail to succeed or never begin the journey because they don’t have a plan. You don’t drive cross country without a road map (or a great GPS), so as you might imagine, achieving your goals and success becomes simpler when you know exactly how you plan to get from point A to point B. It doesn’t mean the plan won’t change, because we all know “life happens.” A plan helps us map the direction we want to take and allows flexibility for those detours when they arise.

Follow through. We can think outside the box! And, choose to live outside of the box as well! That’s right! Throw out the box. This is exciting! While it can get uncomfortable, be prepared to feel fear and have a plan to face it. It’s fear of failure which is the most common; if we don’t risk anything we won’t gain anything. Then, there is fear of success. What if the plan you have works and grows bigger than you imagined? Prepare for a best case scenario!

Prepare mentally and practically for success. The more you visualize and plan for success, the more likely you will achieve it. Mentally rehearse handling success so thoughts of success don’t create a sense of fear, they create a sense of excitement. While living outside the box can be unnerving, we often find that if it is uncomfortable enough or if there’s enough pain involved (with anything) we will do whatever is necessary to make change happen. It just takes ONE step forward.

At the end of the day, “Life is constantly testing us for our level of commitment and life’s greatest rewards are reserved for those who demonstrate a never ending commitment to act until they achieve,” says Tony Robbins, a world-class leader in success-training.

Make the choice to be successful on purpose through purpose and OWN IT!