How to Put Success Into Action

By Christian, Certified Life Coach & Personal Development Strategist

Success is not an accident, but an application of revealed principles and means. If you want to be successful, you must intentionally align your goals with your values and vision. You must set specific, achievable goals at different times and work towards achieving them.

It always helps if the goals are specific to your desires, are grounded in your personal values, and backed by a clear action plan. If your goals and your core values do not align, you are unlikely to succeed. In such a situation, it’s not that you weren’t disciplined enough; you were just not emotionally connected to your goals. 

Today, I’ll share steps to help you achieve your goals and put success into action. 

Step 1: Set Achievable Goals

The first step to achieving success is setting achievable goals, and you must have a roadmap for them. Without it, it will be hard to turn your dreams into a reality. I always tell those I coach to use the SMART framework when setting goals. SMART means: 

Specific

Setting vague goals will lead to unclear results. Therefore, you must be clear about what you want to achieve and focus your time and energy on it. So, instead of saying, “I want to make money,” which is vague, say, “I want to make $5 million,” which is more specific. 

Measurable

The next thing is tracking your progress. You must know how far you’ve come to manage what you have and improve. Set a measurement metric for yourself at different stages. It will help you see if you’re inching closer to achieving your goal or drifting off. 

Achievable

Many people fail to achieve success because they do not set attainable goals. While it is good to have lofty aspirations, it will do you no good if you drain yourself while trying to achieve them. Set goals that won’t break you, and set milestones for them.

Relevant

Always ask yourself how your goal will help you be successful. Ensure it aligns with your long-term values and larger life vision. Experience has taught me that if you don’t care about the outcome, you won’t stick to the process.

Time-Bound

Finally, set a deadline for your goal. If there is no deadline, you may not follow through with what you need to do to achieve success. By making your goal time-bound, you will beat the spirit of procrastination. 

Pro Tip: Keep track of your progress weekly by keeping a journal. According to a 2022 study by Michigan State University, journaling weekly boosts long-term adherence to your goal by 40%. 

Step 2: Be Disciplined and Persevere 

At the start of your success journey, you will be motivated and full of vigour. But without discipline, you might be unable to get to the finish line. Therefore, build systems that will help you persevere throughout the journey. 

It also helps to make micro-decisions that keep you committed daily until they become daily habits. According to Dr BJ Fogg at Stanford’s Behaviour Design Lab, lasting personal change comes from tiny, consistent habits. Examples of what you can do daily to help you build perseverance and discipline are: 

• Making your bed every morning → This builds order and momentum.
• Reading five pages of a book each day → This grows focus and self-discipline.
• Tracking one habit daily → This reinforces identity as someone who follows through.

To get to the prosperous future you want, you must put in small efforts daily, as success isn’t the result of a single massive event. It is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out.

Step 3: Build a Supportive Network

No man is an island. You need a supportive network to make it to the finish line. If you listen to the stories of successful people, they always have friends, colleagues, and family members who make up their support network and keep them from burning out. 

I always tell my clients to surround themselves with:

• Mentors who’ve walked the path
• Peers who challenge and uplift them; and 
• A community that shares their vision. 

A 2018 study by the American Society of Training & Development found that people who belong to goal-focused communities are 33% more likely to achieve their objectives. To build your circle, you can: 

• Join local or online mastermind groups
• Attend events in your industry or niche, or 
• Schedule monthly check-ins with accountability partners.

You can also do all three. The point is knowing the journey to the top need not be lonely. With more like-minded people cheering you on and providing constructive criticism, you are more likely to pull through and achieve success.

Final Thoughts: Start Today and Stay Consistent!

Becoming a successful version of yourself starts with knowing what you want and staying persistent. If you’ve carefully read all I shared about putting success into action, then you are ready to begin. Internalise the three steps, know the SMART framework by heart, align your values with your goals, and stay disciplined. Remember, taking small steps daily puts you one step closer to achieving your goal.

About the Author

Christian is a certified life coach and speaker with over 10 years of experience helping individuals achieve clarity, discipline, and success through personalised goal-setting and behaviour change. Learn more here.