In many ways, my life, what I do, is second nature to me. I don’t actively think about how I accomplish my goals while caring for my children and home and cultivating my marriage. But after three people—some with children, some without—within two weeks asked me how I was able to meet my writing deadlines while caring for three young children because they needed help achieving their goals, I then examined my life so I could share my habits for success. I:
First, have vision and understanding, but to see results I have (practice) the following habits:
1. Have motivating scriptures. My two favorites are John 4:34 and Philippians 2:13: Jesus said in John, “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” And Paul reminds believers in Jesus that we have in us the power to want to do and to actually do what pleases God.
2. Believe what God says about me. I am a part of a chosen generation (1 Peter 2:9); I have the power in me that raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 8:11). I will do greater works than Jesus did (John 14:12). These help me to embrace my motivating scriptures and stick to my routine.
3. Follow a routine—I slot times for all of my daily activities. If I don’t wake up at least two hours before everyone else, I have on the fly time with God and try to write in between feeding children, doing laundry, etc. I do multitask when the children are awake. I just do less of it when I follow my routine.
4. Set and respect my boundaries—One day one of the ladies I’m discipling was in my neighborhood so she called me to see if she could drop by. I paused to consider my schedule and then told her she had 30 minutes. She later told me that giving her a limit and sticking to it helped her recognize that she too often let others dictate her schedule and that kept her from keeping her priorities.
5. Have accountability—I have friends who check on my progress, and my husband does this daily, but my main accountability comes from God. I dread that He will ask me why I squandered the gifts and talents he gave me and I dread knowing that He won’t say “Well done my good and faithful servant.” Un, un. That won’t be me.
6. Recognize consequences for my success or failure—Number six is a consequence for failure to achieve my goals I keep in mind. I also think about how awful I will feel not doing something I knew that I could do or how disappointed in myself I will feel if I see someone else less gifted and talented accomplishing something similar.
7. Visualize my new life—When I recognize that the consequences of working my plan will bring me success, I envision what that success will garner me and ultimately the kingdom of God. Matthew 5:16 says it best: “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
These are my habits for success. If you don’t have your own, I hope mine help you in your quest for success. If you have your own, I would love to hear from you.
Copyright 2010 by Rhonda J. Smith