Giving Up is For Losers – Literally

Jul 2, 2010 by mandeewidrick

Well, my Alexa rank didn’t hit the top million in June as I’d hoped. Starting out a bit over a month ago with a ranking of 4 million and something, I set a goal to be in the top one million by the end of June 30th. I didn’t hit the mark quite yet, but the good news is, I’m getting there! So let’s talk about setting goals and what to do when you don’t reach them at the exactly when you want.

Undoubtedly, one of the reasons I didn’t hit the top million is because I hit a busy stretch and didn’t blog for almost a week. Oops! If I’d stuck to my daily blogging schedule, I’d probably be reporting a win right now. With a current ranking of 1,701-something though, I’m not too worried about my Alexa score, and you can bet I still intend to reach my goal.

So what happens when we tentatively set a goal then don’t meet it? I know it can be frustrating and at that point, and quitters are likely to whine and pout exclaiming, “I just knew I couldn’t do it!” Are you a quitter?

There are some very important factors to keep in mind when trying to achieve a goal. Take a look:

1. Is your goal attainable?

I always encourage people to reach for the sky, however, just make sure that before you go reaching you are equipped to tackle that goal. Sometimes this means asking others to help you along the way or investing money in materials that will help you climb the ladder to success. Don’t reach too soon or you’ll end up falling on your butt.

2. Set yourself up for success.

Nobody wants to fail. By equipping yourself with the tools mentioned above, you’ll be setting yourself up for a better chance at winning. If you jump into a project too fast without proper preparation, you may not succeed. Of course, you know the old saying: “If you fail, try, try again.” Mistakes are not regrets…they are learning experiences.

3. Find an accountability source.

Have someone you trust keep you on your toes. I don’t mean just any random person, I mean someone whose energy is going to rub off on you, someone that will keep you pumped up about what you’re working towards. Of course, I would hope that you have all the passion and energy needed to attain your own goal, but it’s good to have someone who can keep your head up on days when things aren’t so easy.

4. Focus, focus, FOCUS on that goal!

Dwell on it. Think about it day in and day out. Want it like you’ve never wanted anything before. You want to hit this goal, right, so don’t let stupid “I can’t do it” thoughts get in the way! Put pictures and notes representing your goal where you can see them all the time. Don’t lose sight of what’s important to you…you CAN DO THIS!

Now, what happens if despite all those things, you still fail? Well here’s the deal. You didn’t fail. You worked hard, you learned new things, and you did a great job. And the great part is, now that you’ve learned how to do all of the above, you can still keep working towards your goal. I may not have gotten my website in the top million sites according to Alexa, but I have learned a lot more about SEO and blogging in the process, so there’s no reason why I can’t get there very soon.

Millionaires don’t become millionaires by giving up. Listen to just about any one who’s wealthy, and you’ll hear stories of hard work, sacrifices, and a burning passion for what they do. They didn’t lose sight of their goals, and neither should you. Giving up is for losers. Literally.

Photo credit: Gabriella Fabbri