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Set Yourself Up so You Can’t Fail

Posted by Kaye Putnam on Mon, May 06, 2013 @ 02:00 AM

Guest post by Kaye Putnam, Founder of Successful Military Wife

 

Military Spouse GoalsGoals. The word makes me cringe sometimes – it sounds like a lot of hard work. It reminds me of some goals that I set out to do, but got sidetracked and fell off of the wagon on my way. Its fitting that “sidetracked” and “falling off of the wagon” are phrases that we use to describe accomplishing goals. Like a road trip, the journey to the success of a goal as a military spouse can be long. However – also like a road trip – if you don’t make a point to enjoy the ride, you’ll miss out on half of the fun.

One way to enjoy the path to success is to make a game out of the getting there. Bear with my road trip analogy a little longer….

Work on Big Wins

Military life is like construction in the summer. We know roadblocks and detours are probably coming, but still get frustrated when they slow our progress. For this reason, when you are moving, make sure that you are on the most direct route possible. Take shortcuts when you can. It’s inevitable that the military is going to force you down a side road or even bring you to an idle at times. Know what activities you can focus on that will help you make the most progress in the shortest amount of time. These are called “big wins”.

Create Quick Wins

On a long trip, if you only focus on the end, the kids (or that voice in your head) will be chanting, “Are we there yet?” before you know it. Break your trip into “quick wins”, and celebrate each one. You got to the next mile marker? AWESOME. Made it to the next town? PARTY! Quick and constant wins will make time fly on your way to the ultimate destination. 

Plan to Fall off the Wagon

No one can drive cross-country without stopping to refuel, get a good night sleep, or have some fun sightseeing. Instead of speeding towards your goal with unrealistic expectations, schedule some breaks. If you have a day where you need to stop and stretch your legs more often that usual, forgive yourself. It doesn’t mean that you need to give up on the trip all together. You’re in this for the duration.

Assemble Your Crew

Make sure you have someone riding shotgun who’ll entertain you, help you navigate, and motivate you to the destination. Even better, enlist a crew of friends who want nothing more than to see you succeed to help you along the way. A quick phone call may be exactly what you need to be convinced to keep on truckin’ when you are feeling down.

 

kaye avatarKaye Putnam is the founder of the Successful Military Wife where she helps spouses by giving them the tools and inspiration they need to reach their most outrageous dreams. Connect with her on her website, Facebook, or twitter.

  

 

 

Photo By Anton Novoselov

Tags: military spouse, Business 101, goals, productivity