BIG Goals: Opportunities Disguised as Barriers

Greetings Monday Motivators!

Do you give up at the first sign of resistance? As soon as you hit a bump on the road to your dreams, do you back off? Do you say to yourself, “This just isn’t meant to happen?” Or “This must be a sign that I need to forget this dream.”

Continuing with February’s theme on BIG Goals, I want to talk about barriers and roadblocks. Opportunities for growth might be more commonly known as barriers, obstacles or road blocks. As you chart your course and set out to reach that goal, you will encounter barriers. At that point, you have a choice. You can turn around, crawl back into your comfort zone and give up, or you can find ways around the barriers. You can use them as learning experiences. If you choose the latter and I hope you will, you will learn more than you ever would have with a flawless experience.

Personally I see roadblocks as a test of how badly I want something. They make me think about why this particular “thing” is important to me. My greatest lessons in life have come from obstacles, barriers and setbacks. Listen to the video to hear more.

As the saying goes, anything worth accomplishing takes work and commitment.

Here are some tips to help you:

1. Think ahead about what kinds of barriers you might encounter along the way. What type of barriers might you encounter when you are getting started? Think of anyone or anything that might be considered a road block. Finances could be an obstacle. Your boss could be a barrier. Other roadblocks can be: health, knowledge and time.
2. Write a plan for overcoming your barriers, obstacles and road blocks. This places you in a proactive position where you are in control. Provide a fallback plan for your dream. It’s worth it! A fallback plan will act as a parachute or safety net. You will have these ideas available whether or not you need to use them.
3. Consider who might help you work around the obstacle.

I compare this fallback plan to a spare parachute. You may never need to use it but if you do, you have it ready to access. As you review your BIG thought or BIG goal for 2014, list the obstacles or barriers you might encounter and your plan of action. This will give you a sense of security.

Live a BIG week filled! Don’t accept anything less for yourself.

Joan Burge