Are you prepared to stick it out?

To answer this question I’ll begin by sharing a story my father told me recently.

His mate John had been training at a local gym for a couple of months. A few days after New Year’s Day John went to the gym and couldn’t find a car park. He approached a gym manager to address his concerns about the gym being so busy. The manager responded in an ironic tone, “Don’t worry, there will be plenty of car parks in a couple of weeks, just you wait and see.”

The manager’s point was that most people who declare a New Year’s resolution to lose weight and get fit — don’t stick at it. In fact, they stick all of about two to three weeks on average and then they’re gone. It’s common knowledge that gyms make most of their money from patrons not showing up. So remember that next time you sign up, because you may be better served saving your hard earned money.

It’s one thing to set a goal, quite another to stick it out and see it through.

The best way to set big, achievable goals is to set up smaller and more realistic goals and then truly commit to seeing them through. This builds confidence to enable you to then increase the size and importance of your goals accordingly. Many people ambitiously set ‘Big Fat Hairy Audacious Gaols’ (BFHAGs) and then wonder why they never achieve them. I’m all for climbing mountains but do so with a prepared mindset.

Another effective way to set a goal is to apply the 2.2 rule. Work out the best possible time to achieve a goal and then multiple the time by 2.2. This will provide you with a more realistic time for achievement by factoring in the extra time required for things you didn’t plan for (usually considerable) that leads to a loss of motivation and ultimately quitting.

If something is important to you, you will fight for it. If it’s not important, you won’t. Case closed. Partners who ache for their spouse to change their bad habits or people wanting to give up a vice or two will know that unless there is sufficient buy-in to warrant a change in behaviour, frustration is inevitable.

Tony Robbins advocates attaching pain to things to create leverage. I don’t think changing behaviour is just about pain, I believe it’s more about discipline, focusing on the things that matter most to you.

Some people believe they are not disciplined. I say that’s a cop out. The bottom line is, if you really want something then have a crack and fight for it. I have gone a bit hard on you in this blog, I know, because I believe in you, the rest now is up to you.

And don’t forget the old cliché: if first you don’t succeed then try, try again!

For more Selling Strategies advice, click here.

Trent Leyshan is the founder and CEO of BOOM Sales! a leading sales training and sales development specialist. He is also the creator of The NAKED Salesman, BOOMOLOGY! RetroService, and the Empathy Selling Process.