From my years in the NFL to climbing the Seven Summits and starting over after
business failures, I’ve learned that big achievements don’t happen overnight. They’re built
on a solid foundation. Without a strong base, even the most ambitious goals can crumble.
When I transitioned from football to business, I thought success would come as easily as it
had in sports. But I quickly realized that my foundation was shaky. I hadn’t spent enough
time laying the groundwork for success, especially in areas outside of my athletic ability.
Here’s the thing: every major success in life requires a strong foundation.
Whether you’re aiming to build a business, get in the best shape of your life,
or even climb your personal “Everest,” it all starts with solidifying your foundation first.
Here’s how to do it.
10 Steps to Building a Foundation for Big Goals
- Clarify Your Why. Before you build anything, you need to know why you’re doing it. Your “why” is your driving force, the reason that keeps you going when things get tough. Understand your deeper motivation for the goal you want to achieve.
- Set Clear, Specific Goals. Big goals are great, but they need to be broken down into manageable, actionable steps. Be specific. Don’t just say, “I want to be successful.” Say, “I want to increase my revenue by 25% this year,” or “I want to run a marathon in 6 months.”
- Develop Strong Habits. Consistency is the backbone of any solid foundation. Create habits that will keep you on track. These could include daily goal-setting, healthy routines, or time management practices. The more consistent you are, the more stable your foundation will be.
- Plan for Obstacles. No journey is without its challenges. Think ahead and prepare for the roadblocks you might encounter. Develop contingency plans and be flexible enough to adjust your course when necessary.
- Start Small, Then Scale. You can’t build a skyscraper overnight. Start with small, manageable tasks that lay the groundwork for bigger actions. Once you’ve mastered the small steps, scale up—consistency will drive you toward larger achievements.
- Invest in Yourself. Your biggest asset is YOU. Whether it’s learning new skills, improving your mindset, or enhancing your physical health, invest in your growth. The stronger you are, the stronger your foundation will be.
- Surround Yourself with the Right People. You can’t build a solid foundation alone. Surround yourself with people who challenge you, inspire you, and help you grow. A supportive network is crucial to success.
- Learn from Failure. Failure is part of building a strong foundation. When things don’t go as planned, take note. Learn from what went wrong, adjust your approach, and move forward. Resilience is key.
- Master the Art of Patience. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither are your goals. Big goals take time. Be patient and trust the process. Keep showing up every day, and progress will follow.
- Celebrate the Small Wins. Every step forward, no matter how small, is progress. Take time to celebrate your achievements along the way. These small wins will motivate you to keep pushing toward your larger goals.
The WYE Challenge
This week, I challenge you to identify one big goal you’ve been putting off.
Then, break it down into manageable steps using these 10 strategies.
Start building your foundation today, one step at a time.
The Next Step Toolkit
Book Recommendation: Atomic Habits by James Clear
Clear’s approach to small habits and the compound effect is perfect for building a
solid foundation for any goal. Learn how tiny changes can lead to big results over time.
Building a foundation isn’t easy, but it’s the key to achieving your biggest goals.
Stay committed, stay patient, and keep laying the groundwork.
Best,
Mark
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