Success can take the shape of many different forms, and many paths can be taken to reach each and every one. But whatever your concept of success, one sound way to get there is by setting a series of goals for yourself and working towards each one on an estimated timeline of your creation. 

If goal-setting does not come easily to you, here is a simple guide to help you get started:

• Know What Your Final, Desired Outcome Is
  What is it that you truly want? If it’s to get in shape, what does that mean for you? Ideal weight? Specific athletic abilities? Washboard abs? Whatever it is, write it down so that the goals you set are of maximum effectiveness. If you want to write a book, what will that look like? What topic is important to you? Who do you intend to read it? Do you want a small publisher or a major one? You get the picture: visualize and understand what your success will be. 
   
• Write It Out
  Writing out your goal as well as the steps you plan to take is crucial. Doing this sends the message to your brain that you can and will attain your goal. If it’s fitness that you want, write out:
  “I will achieve physical fitness by (fill in the date). More specifically, I will attain (fill in specific fitness goals).” 
   
• Break It Down
  To make your ideal final outcome feel more possible, break it down into milestones. Continuing with the fitness example, let’s say you want to be able to run a mile in seven minutes by June 1st. Let’s say today is January 1st. Take these six months and set up miniature goals throughout.
  
  Write out:
  “By March, I will run a mile in ten minutes,”
  “By April I will run a mile in nine minutes,” 
  “By May I will be able to run a full mile without taking any breaks,”
  “By June I will run a mile in seven minutes.”
  
  Setting up milestones also helps by motivating you along the way, and giving you periodic doses of confidence to keep you going. 

Once you’ve taken these three steps, all that’s left to do is be persistent. Don’t give up, even if you’re making progress much slower than you’d like to be. Will the world end if you’re a month late on achieving your final goal? No. The world won’t end even if you’re a year late, or ten, or twenty. With your goals in place, the only thing you need to do is never stop. By some definitions, that in itself is success!