All of you journey through life and you become the sum of what you experience.

Like any journey you undertake, you need to have a fixed plan, an agenda that begins with a choice of destination, the mode of travel, choice of companion and maybe a map, if you are not sure of your route.

And most important, an eagerness to reach the destination as soon as possible.

All of you in life have set goals and your life is geared towards accomplishing these goals as quickly and effectively as possible.

But do all your goals get accomplished?

Have you ever wondered why a certain goal never reaches finishing point? Why certain dream never bears fruit? Or why a lovely vision never crystallises?

Is it for a want of trying? Is it a wrong strategy? Is it a lack of consistent action?

These are the questions that plague you whenever defeat stares at you in the face. What is it that sometimes gets in the way of accomplishing something that you have worked so hard for?

What is it that allows you to come so close to success and then turns you away?

Are you getting a message here that you are not listening to?

Is it something to do with the divine sense of timing?

Are you being asked to wait, or to head in a different direction? Or is it much more than that?

There are many instances and examples of people undertaking a journey, excited and eager, full of plans of what they will do once they reach journey’s end. Although they prepare for it well in advance, they realise as they start out on the road, that they have forgotten to check the engine before they embarked on the journey.

By the time the realisation strikes, it’s too late. They are already stuck in the middle of the road leading to nowhere.

Get the message! Too often in life, when you think of accomplishing a goal, you focus on what needs to get done, without looking at who you need to become in order to get there. You need to acquire the necessary knowledge and information to equip yourself to fulfil your aim. Just a plan and a strategy are not enough.

For example, if you want to be a media person, you’ll need to build up your communication skills and personal rapport with people in order to give your best to your job.

If you want to be an actor, you need to hone your acting skills to perfection, maybe join a professional course to enhance your abilities.

How do you need to grow in order to achieve your goal?

This is a question you need to ask yourself when you feel stuck or before embarking on any project or goal.

Is there a quality you need to develop, or an inner muscle you need to strengthen?

In order to know this, it is important for you to get in touch with the inner you – to know what you want and what are the necessary changes that you need to make in order to get going. In other words, fine tuning your inner engine.

Undoubtedly, we become what we envisage

In order to discover how you might develop yourself in order to fulfil your goal, ask yourself who you admire the most.

If you know whom you admire, this could tell you a great deal about your hopes, dreams, and personal style. The person you admire should be successful and doing something that you would like to do.

Study the person closely and note the qualities that have contributed to the person’s success.

Try to consciously emulate these qualities and incorporate them into your daily life.

If your goal is to become a successful writer, pick up a writer you admire most. Focus on the style, the power of observation, courage of conviction, the ability to share thoughts with others etc. Look inward and focus on the quality you need to develop the most, and take it from there.

If you need to hone your power of observation, keep yourself alert. Make a note of everything that catches your attention. Develop an eye for detail.

If you start taking decisive and practical action everyday, you’ll not only arrive at journey’s end much sooner, you’ll also enjoy a smoother ride.