Monday 9 May 2011

Challenging Times

 
I’ve always loved a challenge, any type of challenge, physical, mental or professional, I’m usually right up for it. For me personally there is nothing better than setting a goal, making a plan of action and pushing yourself to achieve something that just ticks all the boxes every single time.
Achieving a goal isn’t easy and it really shouldn’t be, after all if it were easy what would be the point in taking the challenge in the first place. The challenge is what makes the reward so much sweeter and the bigger the challenge the greater the reward.
I often hear sportspeople talk about how much they “wanted to win.” That’s the will to win, it’s a desire to succeed that lies within all of us, it pushes us on when we think we can’t go any further, often it’s what makes the difference between achieving our dreams and falling just short. It’s a deep desire it comes from somewhere inside us, somewhere very personal. It has a link to our goals from their origin and all the way through to completion. Whenever I feel like I just can’t do it I hear that voice telling me to keep going and to think about where I want to be, that’s the will to win at work.
Hitting your targets doesn’t always happen, this isn’t the end of the world it’s a fact of life, sometimes the bar was set too high, the circumstances weren’t right, the motivation was wrong, there are a lot of good reasons why these things happen and there are a few bad ones too. Failure is a good teacher but so is success. Every challenge has things that will go right or wrong, look at what went right as much as you look at what went wrong remember these things happen for a reason. Try and look at the reasons for what happened more than the result, it will lead to a better understanding of what happened. Hopefully it will pave the way to a better result next time, even if you learn how not to do it, you are still learning from the experience. Some things will always be out of your hands but the vast majority you can take ownership of, try to control as much as you can. that’s where the planning stage is all important.
Success acts as a great platform for more success, if you’re anything like me once you achieve one goal you immediately go looking for the next one, I need a challenge to keep me going. I’ve recently signed up to become a Bulgarian bag specialist, a challenge that mixes 2 of my favourite things learning and physical activity.
Have a think about it, pick a goal, make a plan and see how good achieving it feels.
I better get training for mine!
Cormac Quinn