It's the end of August and therefore the final blog in this series about the D.R.E.A.M pathway. That means we're at "M" which stands for “Make it Happen”. It could also stand for Motivation, Momentum, Mindset ... basically an alliteration of all the things you need to make your dream career a reality!

As a coach, I believe that all individuals have their own best way of getting stuff done. But I also believe that there are some solid methodologies and processes out there that can help us all. I also know that there are some very common barriers that get in the way (imposter syndrome, perfectionism, procrastination, etc...?). And, the final truth: that accountability is vital for goal achievement.

So, in today's blog I am going to share my top 5 tips for Making it Happen.

1. Set goals

I wrote about goals in last week's blog so I'm not going to labour the point. My preference is to set goals across three timelines: long, medium and short-term. What length those timelines represent is down to you. They may be based upon an amount of time (e.g. 1, 2 or 5 years) or a milestone (e.g. by the time I'm 50). The important thing is that you have clear goals.

2. Have a plan

Once you've set your goals, you need a plan to make them happen. Start with your goal and the deadline and work back from there. What needs to happen and by when in order to hit your goal? Break it down, step by step. It's important to build flexibility into your plan as well, as things don't always turn out as you expect them to.

If you're not a natural-born-planner (I'm not!), then borrow someone else's methodology or spread sheet. There are plenty of free or paid versions available so choose one to suit you.

3. Get organised

It's one thing to have a great plan with a gorgeous-looking schedule mapped out but there is one very important aspect, you need to get organised. Allocate yourself some time to execute the plan.

If you're working full-time, then executing your future D.R.E.A.M plan can get forgotten unless you carve out some significant time to work on it. Think about a regular time slot when you can work on this. It could be one Sunday per month; it could be for one hour every Monday morning at 7 am; it could be for two hours every other Wednesday evening. Whatever you can allocate, put it in your diary. Now.

4. Have a to-do list

Now you have your goals and your plan and you've got yourself organised; you simply need a to-do list. I'm amazed at how many successful people work without any type of activity allocation system. It's at this point that you start to break your plan down into actual activities and to prioritise them.

If you have a to-do list system that works for you at work, simply replicate it for your D.R.E.A.M pathway plan. I use a few different systems as I like a blend of digital and analogue to really get granular. I use Asana as a project management tool as I can access it on my computer as well as on my phone and I can share and allocate tasks with my PA. I then use the Full Focus Planner which helps you break your activities down into your weekly Big 3 and your Daily Big 3 - the essential tasks that you must achieve that week or day. This really helps me prioritise.

5. Find accountability buddies

You have a far better chance of achieving your D.R.E.A.M pathway goals if you have accountability buddies. Don't try to execute your plan all alone. These accountability buddies can be formal or informal, (think working with a coach or asking your spouse/friend to hold you accountable).

You may be happy with one accountability buddy, or you may prefer to join a group who are all working towards the same sort of goal. For example, I have an accountability "pod" with two other coaches who are also working on delivering group programmes. We meet once a fortnight, set our goals and report back on goal achievement. It's a perfect blend of accountability and support.

What's next?

I hope that's given you some ideas for how you can achieve your D.R.E.A.M pathway as well as any other life goals you might have. This is at the business end of coaching and where the transformation happens by achieving your goals. Dreaming the dream is the easy part but I really want you to make those dreams a reality.

I'm not going to tell you that it takes blood, sweat and tears. It doesn't have to. But it does take planning, focus and accountability. These are all words that I used to be allergic to (I still have a slightly adverse reaction) but, by using a strengths-based approach and having accountability buddies, you can actually have some fun along the way!

If you're interested in joining a group of people all making their D.R.E.A.M pathway a reality, you might be interested in joining my Flourish membership which will be opening its virtual "doors" in September. If you'd like to know more, you can join the "interested" waitlist here.

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