The “How-To-Figure-Out-What-You-Want-Guide”

Like most people, you probably want a more stress-free, fulfilling and passion-filled life—but are you aware of how to make this dream a reality?

If you could uncover what keeps you from the life you desire and figure out how to obtain it, what difference would it make to your work, your family and you over the next year? The next 10 years?

As many people know, it is not what you know, but rather what you don’t know that can hurt you. From my years in corporate America and through my coaching practice, I’ve seen smart, highly motivated professionals become bored, confused, unfulfilled and frustrated, because they don’t know what is keeping them from living their best life despite how hard they work at it.

From these experiences I have sifted out the seven biggest mistakes smart, busy and highly motivated individuals make, and I have provided effective time-proven tools to overcome them.

This week I’m giving you the first of them.

Mistake #1 Having vague, blurry vision and desires

“The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: decide what you want.” -Ben Stein

One of the biggest mistakes many professionals make is not being clear on where they are going or what they really want. No doubt about it, not being clear on what you want will guarantee you’ll never receive it. If your desires are vague, your focus will be blurred.

Many of us know what we don’t want but we aren’t as clear on what we do want. It is important to get really clear. If you’re blocked or confused about what you truly want, honestly assess what’s missing in your life. Is there anything specific you’re waiting for? Is there anything you aren’t noticing because it’s so obvious you overlooked it?

If you don’t know what you want, begin by exploring the following questions:

1. List all your greatest achievements from birth through the present as a way of acknowledging your power in action.

2. What gives you energy when you do it?

3. What part of your passion do you already have in your life today?

4. What do you desire now? Do not block, judge or censor the answer. Write it down.

5. If you had a magic wand and could choose exactly what you desired to be, do and have, what would you choose?

6. If money were not a consideration, what would you do in this world?

7. What comes so naturally to you that it doesn’t seem like “work”?

8. What talent of yours are you often complemented for?

9. If you could be rich doing exactly what you love, what would you choose?

10. What do you really want in your heart? Think big. Now think bigger.

Grab a pen. Spend some time on this exercise. Note: You can’t do this in your head. Writing it down increases its power by ten.

I’ll be back next week with the second classic mistake that costs high-achieving professionals in their financial, emotional, relationship, and spiritual bank accounts.