8 Steps to Achieving Your Goals

A new year is here and if you've set goals or resolutions we'd love to see you accomplish them and much more.  Read on for eight steps to achieving your goals. And I look forward to seeing you hit it soon.

Take small steps and be patient. Think about the speedometer on a car. Unless you're racing the Indy, you don't want to go from 0 to 120. Instead you might want to move a needlepoint at a time. Small steps are alright... just keep moving.

Once you start, you're already finishing. Understand that it's hard to start new things, but it's easier to keep things rolling once they're started. Just don't stop until you're finished, and if you do it's OK to reset.

Not now doesn't mean not ever. Be sure to prioritize. You don't have to do it all at the same time. Choose the tasks with the most immediate timeline or the greatest payoff to start.

Get up early! There is a truth to the early bird gets the worm. Use your time wisely and get your day started early. This also applies to the task, don't wait until the absolute last minute, get started early when you can.

Do things that excite you! This means enjoy the work! Yes, it may be a task you don't love but if it needs to be done...find something to enjoy about the process. It maybe that you enjoy knowing that it's something important or just getting it finished. 

Multitask. Also, don't multitask. This may seem funny but it's true. In some areas you may be able to multitask well, in others it's overrated so check in with yourself. Are you getting more done or less? Running a load of laundry while, vacuuming... GREAT! Reading text messages while driving...BAD.

Get UNBOXED! Often, there has to be no box. Experiment with crazy stuff to see if it works for you! Talk to yourself (just make sure you record it so you can listen to your brilliant ideas later). Buy a personal dry erase board. Write on your walls! Just get crazy!  

Begin with the End in Mind. What will it look like and feel like when you accomplish your goal? Get clear about what you're really after! Then begin to work your plan.

Author: Monokia Nance, Executive Director of HWHN, Inc. learn more on About Us page www.hwhn.org.

Don't Wait for the New Year

Can you believe it’s already November which means 2014 is right around the corner! This is often the time of year we begin to think about doing things “anew”. Many are preparing for the launch of the New Year. We're thinking about the resolutions that we might make, let alone keep. Whenever, I think about the start of a new season, I reflect on the meaning that season will have in my life. Who should I meet? What new endeavors should I take on or let go of….

Recently, I was having a conversation with a good friend who selected a name for her soon to be born baby girl. She selected a name that she loves! The name honors both maternal and paternal grandmothers (much to their delight) but is also has an amazing meaning. In essence the name means “With grace and highly favored by God.” WOW! Powerful and truly a beautiful name. Of course, it made me reflect on the meaning of names. With a name like “Mothyna”, I’m constantly asked…what does that mean? Well, while I have never seen it anywhere else, which means I’ve never found a meaning for my name, I tell folks all the time that I’d like to think it means something akin to “the one whom God has blessed to bless others.” J I’m striving. Ok, so yes the point is that I don’t know… it could mean that or something not so flattering. However, going through this experience with my sister-friend made me think, what is the true meaning of a name? How do we go forward to realize that meaning or can we?

How many times have we met some beautiful lady with a name like Grace yet she is an overly judgmental person or a man named Malik and he is certainly anything but king like? I’m a huge fan of names with GREAT meaning. I believe when selecting a name for a child or person, a name should inspire that person to stretch their potential, but isn’t that only the starting point? The true meaning of a name will be known when that person establishes a legacy through the way that they live. No one looks up the “meaning” of Jada Pickett Smith’s name or Albert Einstein’s and then says this is who they are? Rather we look to their actions, their contributions to the society and the world in general. Quite frankly, it appears those who will tell the “meaning” of your name are those you have touched. Here at HWHN we continually share the meaning of Mrs. Vivian Ryan. To us her name means far more than “lively”. It means the realization of a dream, faith in the potential of the young, quiet elegance and strength. Why? Because if it were not for Mrs. Vivian Ryan and the faith she had in a young 22 year old, HWHN as you know it, would not be here today. For women like Mrs. Ryan, who have nurtured the true meaning within women like us we are forever grateful.

Our actions are as much our definition as the words we may strive to live up to. Thus, the true meaning of ones name lives in the amazing potential for greatness that exists within them. Whether you “hate” your name or love it, its true value grows from within- that essential part of you. So what does your name mean? Are you just living up to your potential or blowing that concept out of the water knowing that your potential is boundless? Are you getting rid of the people, places and things that are limiting your growth? Don’t wait until the New Year, to begin anew, rather each day, brings a new season. Each day is an opportunity to define the meaning of your name. Today is anew…

About the Author: 

Sister Mothyna James-Brightful is a self proclaimed “Self Love Revolutionary”. She has spent the last decade empowering women and girls to live authentic lives. Sister Mothyna is the Visionary Director and Co-founder of Heal a Woman to Heal a Nation. Sister Mothyna is co-author of Because I am a Queen...100 Affirmations for Daily Living. Stay connected www.hwhn.org: Twitter @mothyna

90 days Until 2014! Are you ready?

Wow! There are only 3 months left in 2013! This time of year we prepare to gather with loved ones and we realize the year is quickly coming to a close. Let's plan to push hard in the final 90 days of 2013! Setting clear goals for the next 90 days is great way to start.

Set Clear Goals....

Often we declare a desire to get fit, get out of debt, get more organized or finally start that business. Many of us come up against real challenges bringing those desires into reality. Thus too often it remains an elusive dream. We must elevate our dreams to goals. The difference between a goal and a dream is a set lifeline. (Example: I will finish my business plan by Feb. 1, 2013.) Well, did you? As we set goals to help us reach our dreams, every action is bringing us closer to the reality we truly desire. Therefore, we are breathing life into creating our future. In order to achieve our dreams we must set goals that breathe life into our very existence, which all connects back to our unique purpose in the world. So instead of a deadline let us set Lifelines when we are moving toward our dreams.

Have you ever said, "There isn't enough time in the day"?  In reality we have the same about of time as billionaires, world class athletes or your favorite 5 year old. Life isn't about time-management. Can really manage time? Rather, let us focus on managing what you do in the time that you have. Instead of setting large vague goals by the end of the year, start with goals you can accomplish within each quarter. There are 4 quarters in a year, comprised of 3 months each, which is a roughly 90 days a quarter. Set goals per quarter which is not as intimating as a whole year and allows you to push yourself. Let's go 90 days left!

For every goal set, make sure you've noted milestones along the path. A milestone reminds us that we're on task to reaching the big goal. Sometimes we think we're not hitting the mark because it doesn't look the way we think it should. However, you won't know unless you've created markers are milestones along the way. Think of it this way, this is not a sprint rather it's more of a marathon. In every marathon, there are markers along the path. Those signs are a reminder that you may not have reached the finish line yet but you're one more mile toward accomplishing your dream. At each mile, there is a crowd to cheer you on and each mile feels like a win. Too often we come closer and closer to our dream yet we don't even know it because we haven't taken the time to celebrate our small wins along the way. Celebrate your wins!

Start now!!! I've said this a few times already but it's worth repeating. We all have dreams, yet there may be negative chatter in our heads saying we can't do it. Or it's too big and we sometimes give into that voice and say we'll do it later. "I'll start in January" is a favorite stall tactic. WHY? Start now. We'll never be less busy. There is no guarantee we'll have enough money later. The only guarantee we have is NOW. Give yourself the gift of your dreams and start in the present. It may not be easy but you are worth it. Remember, success and failure are both products of our thoughts.  So remember set clear lifelines for your goals. Identify milestones in the beginning of the process and most importantly start now.