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Keep Your Eye on the Prize

Dr Elizma van der Smit. March 2018

· Life Skills,Mind

Catchy statements can often be used to help people get motivated. The title of this article is a common one that people use. Some may think it’s overused,but it does sum up what is necessary to stay motivated.

Keep your eye on the prize. Obviously, the prize is whatever goal or task you are looking to accomplish. But, to keep an eye on it, you first need to define it. You need a concrete plan that gives you step-by-step directions on what it will take to solve the problem you are trying to solve or accomplish the goal, etc.

This isn’t an easy task. People aren’t always familiar with what needs to get done in order toget them to their goals. If this is the case, try to find someone who has done what you are trying to do. If you can find someone, set up an interview with them. Be sure to have a list of questions ready before the interview.

Some people may require payment for this interview while others may do it for free. You could offer other incentives such as bylines on a website or some other mention. You’ll have more weight if you have an outletthat has authority, such as a magazine or website. It will also depend onhow popular that outlet is. If you are quite the authority, you should have no trouble getting people to interview in exchange for that byline.

Try to keep the questions focused on accomplishing your goal. Ask what kinds of road blocks the person had to overcome and whether it took longer than anticipated. Don’t be afraid to ask tough questions as your aim is not to publish the interview but to gather insight. If they happen to push back, then you can scale it back a bit.

Another possibility is finding a mentor or a coach who will help you set up your goals for you. Make sure this person is qualifiedin the field or area that you are working in. Coaches who are generalists may not be able to help you with specific situations that come up for you. You want someone who has been through it before. Of course, this depends entirely on what you are trying to accomplish. If it is general in nature, you could choose the generalist.

You may also be able to find information online,and it can’t hurt to do an initial search (which you probably already have done.) It’s prudent when doing this, to take much of what you find with a grain of salt and fact check as much as you can.

This post is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered therapy.This blog is only for informational and educational purposes and should not be considered therapy or any form of treatment. We are not able to respond to specific questions or comments about personal situations, appropriate diagnosis or treatment, or otherwise provide any clinical opinions. If you think you need immediate assistance, call your local doctor/psychologist or psychiatrist or the SADAG Mental Health Line on 011 234 4837. If necessary, please phone the Suicide Crisis Line on 0800 567 567 or sms 31393.

This blog is only for informational and educational purposes and should not be considered therapy or any form of treatment. We are not able to respond to specific questions or comments about personal situations, appropriate diagnosis or treatment, or otherwise provide any clinical opinions. If you think you need immediate assistance, call your local doctor/psychologist or psychiatrist or the SADAG Mental health Line on 011 234 4837. If necessary, please phone the Suicide Crisis Line on 0800 567 567 or sms 31393.