Over the years I've gotten better and better at achieving my dreams. The lessons came at the cost of failure after failure and redefining what success and a happy life look like for me. As opposed to chasing a vision designed by someone else that appears alluring from the outside. Throughout this process I've gathered my own insights on why we either achieve what we seek or don't. I've experienced both sides of the coin.

Here are some tips I've gathered along the way:

1. Only pick *one* goal for the year if it's big and you know you're busy, have a full-time job, family to care for, pets that need your love, want to get some sleep, or have a life. A year sounds like a lot of time but it actually goes by quickly after the day-to-day routines kick in.
   
   
2. Stop calling it a goal. Start calling it a milestone. A goal sounds intimidating and hard, a milestone sounds forward moving and positive. Word choice really does matter.
   
   
3. Write down EVERY single piece of physical deliverable you will need to consider your milestone fulfilled and complete. You make the rules here.
   
   
4. Focus on small sprints (for the first 3-4 months) over arduous hours. 20 deeply focused minutes may end up getting you more productivity than hours of tedious unfocused effort.
   
   
5. Create deadlines and stick to them as much as possible. It helps if you create rewards for every mini milestone you reach. Like sushi dinner or new fuzzy slippers if you finally finish writing that chapter.
   
   
6. Visually track your progress on a calendar or notebook. Make check marks, use stickers. When we can see that we kept our promise to ourself we are more likely to want to keep going.
   
   
7. Use a plain kitchen timer to keep you focused and hide your phone out of sight.
   
   
8. Go to a new location to work that's different and new throughout each month. Our home no matter how comfortable and beautiful⸺will almost always be a distraction, pulling us away from our focused work. A sink full of dishes. A pile of unfolded laundry. Crumbs and random objects thrown about on the floor. Sigh.
   
   
9. Make working on your milestone a daily habit as soon as possible. Habits are hard to break so you might as well get hooked on a positive habit that could change your life.
   
   
10. Finally, and in my opinion the most important. Follow your peace. Close your eyes and imagine what it feels like to live out the dream and goal in your mind. How does it feel? If you feel at peace then you're on track to living an authentic life. If your gut clenches and tightens than it's time to write down what about that dream needs adjusting. It doesn't mean abandon it necessarily but it signals that parts need tweaking to your personality and natural abilities.