Tapping into Your Inner-Savvy: 10 Ways to Accomplish Your Goals

As college coeds, we are encouraged to dream, and to dream big. We are encouraged to feel confident in ourselves, our ideas and our capabilities. We are told that we have our whole life ahead of us –that in four years or less, we will be at the proverbial fork in the road, where we will decide to go either left or right. I must admit that at times, I become lost in my thoughts,  wondering what life will be like when I make my decision.

Will the books I write line more than my own shelves? Will I have traveled the world? Mastered the art of my grandmother’s southern cuisine? Will I read all of those books I bought at random on Amazon.com during my college years? I wonder.

I have many goals, long-term and short. And I know that to fulfill them I have to pull my head out of the puffy clouds that surround me. It is time for me –and countless other dreamy coeds –to plant our feet firmly on the ground again, and run. “Run where?” you ask. I don’t know. But I have pulled together a list of ways to help us get wherever there is. Check them out below.

1. Take the first (and last) step! There are only two ways to complete any task or project.  Begin it.  Finish it.

2. Keep a notepad nearby. I received this tip from our very own Shelly, the founder/CEO of College Lifestyles (TM), who encourages all CL interns to keep notepads on-hand to write down ideas that may arise. Sometimes, the greatest ideas arrive spontaneously; you don’t want to be in a position to forget them. Keeping a notepad nearby ensures that not only will you remember your idea or goal, but you will also remember to fulfill it.

3. Visualize your goals. Being able to envision your goals makes it more likely that you will accomplish them. In their initial stages, your goals are abstract thoughts. Make them concrete by writing them down. You can go a step forward by drawing out a plan. Your notepad will definitely come in handy for this. You can also write down your goals on note cards and post them on your wall. In my last post, I mentioned creating a vision board, which is a collage of images and quotes that reflect your desires. Create your own vision board that represents what you want to accomplish. My fellow CL intern Michelle Martinez’s most recent post goes into great detail about how to create your own vision board.

4. Utilize online social networks. Facebook and Twitter have become social phenomena. Use them both to your advantage. Befriend or follow the top figures in your field of interest. You’re bound to encounter rich advice, words of encouragement, as well as hear about noteworthy opportunities.

5. Network the traditional way. While Facebook and Twitter offer a new way to network, you can never go wrong with networking the traditional way. Find a mentor –a professor whom you admire or a professional in your field of interest –who can help point you in the right direction. You are the company you keep. Surround yourself with people who have the same vision for your life as you do. Establish relationships with other college coeds, and productive and successful friends who can spur you into action.

6. Don’t talk about it; be about it. I’ve likely heard this phrase, or something similar to it, before. But it became my new mantra one day when I realized I said often to myself, and others, what I needed or planned to do, instead of just doing do it. So, don’t talk about it, be about it.

7. Change your language. We often speak things into existence. The world reacts to our energy. Speaking negatively and bearing a negative attitude does not reflect a classy coed, and will not help you accomplish your goals. Also, omit the word “try” from your vocabulary. If you say that you are “trying” to complete a task, you will only succeed in attempting to complete it –not necessarily completing it.

8. Read. A lot. Some of the greatest advice and wisdom come from philosophers, authors, and savvy professionals gracious enough to put their pens to page. There are many worthwhile books about how to be successful. I find reading success stories always inspire me to work towards my goals.

9. Trust your instincts. “Create your own roadmap. You’ll get lost trying to follow somebody else’s.” — Susan Taylor. I came across this quote recently while on the internet. Reading about others’ success stories and soaking in helpful tips are merely starting points and guides to help keep you on your path to success. The direction of your path is always up to you, so trust your instincts.

10. Be realistic about your goals. When a classy, savvy coed dreams, she always dreams big. But dreaming big doesn’t mean you have to start big. You don’t want to overwhelm yourself with a task so large that it may be too much for you to handle. If your task is big, break it up into smaller goals so that your smaller goals add up to one big goal. Completing each smaller task will help build up your consistency, which is one of the determinants of success.

What are some goals you’ve yet to accomplish? What have you been talking about doing, but have yet to do? For more than a year, I’ve talked about creating a vision board. Instead of saying anything more about it, I’m just going to do it. I’ll post a picture of my vision board on my upcoming post next week. What will you have accomplished by then?

Shannon Palmore is an intern with College Lifestyles, and a Senior majoring in English at Spelman College.  While she keeps her head in a book, she is currently pulling it out of the clouds, where she dreams about culinary arts school and her first book signing event, in order to create her very own vision board!