Why Do People Fail?
Many of us often say that we can’t wake up early in the morning, we don’t find time to read 10 pages of a book daily, we don’t manage to exercise regularly, or we don’t have time to develop new skills!
If you find yourself saying the same, it means that you don’t have a clear goal in life. Whether it’s financial, physical, social, or mental, many people can’t wake up early because they are not clear about what they need to do once they are up.
Let’s look at a case study: According to a study by the Social Security Administration of America, if we observe the working careers of 100 people until their retirement, we find that:
- 54 people are still struggling and depend on friends, family, relatives, or the government.
- 36 people have passed away.
- 5 people are still working because they have to.
- 4 people are living a comfortable life.
- Only 1 person has become rich.
This means that only 5% of people will be financially successful, and 95% will struggle their entire lives. So, the crucial question is: what should we do? Train your mind to become part of the Top 5% of the universe. Writing a definite goal is the very first step to be financially successful
How to Write a Definite Goal: Napoleon Hill, in his book Think and Grow Rich, beautifully describes 6 steps to decide on a goal.
First: At first, decide exactly how much money you want to earn. Let’s assume you want to become a millionaire, meaning you aim to earn more than ₹8 crores a year.
Second: Remember, there is no such thing as a free lunch in this universe. So, you won’t get anything for free. To become a millionaire, you have to give something in return—be it a product, service, innovation, hard work, or commitment. Decide what you are willing to give in exchange for those ₹8 crores.
Third: Write a definite date by when you want to become a millionaire.
Fourth: Now, you need to write a detailed action plan with deadlines. This is the most important step in the whole process. Whether you’re ready or not, start working towards your goal right away. Remember, there is no “right” time to start a business or get pregnant.
Fifth: Now, write a clear, concise statement.
Sixth: You must read this statement aloud twice daily.
Will following these steps really make your dreams come true? Let’s take an example: Do you know Jim Carrey? He is a famous American comedian and actor. In 1985, he signed a cheque of $10 million for himself, saying that he would earn this amount for acting within 10 years. He used to keep this cheque in his wallet. Whether you call it coincidence, luck, or destiny, exactly 10 years later, he was casted in the movie “Dumb and Dumber.” And as you guessed it, he earned $10 million for that movie in 1995.
Now, you should also create your definite goal and detailed action plan—start working towards achieving your dreams by leaving all the bad habits and developing new habit towards aligning with your goal.
How to Develop a New Habit: Psychologist Edward Thorndike conducted an experiment where he placed a cat in a puzzle box and put food outside the box. Inside the box, there was a magical lever that, when pressed, would allow the cat to escape. As soon as the cat was placed inside the box, it tried to escape by scratching and pawing at everything. After some time, the cat accidentally pressed the lever and got out. Thorndike repeated this experiment with many cats multiple times. After about 20 to 30 trials, the behavior became automatic and habitual.
Thorndike observed that the 12th cat:
- Took an average of 1.5 minutes for the first 3 trials.
- But only 6.3 seconds for the last 3 trials.
Step 1 – Start Small: I hope you can now decide your goal! Start developing a new habit in line with your goal. Begin with small steps. For example, if you want to lose weight, start with a 5-minute stretching routine instead of an hour-long workout. Gradually increase the duration and intensity of your workout. If you can’t read 10 pages of a book daily, start by reading just one page. Try to incorporate new habits along with your old ones. We all brush our teeth in the morning. Right after brushing, write down your action plan for the day, visualize your goals, or meditate. At night, we all go to bed. So, keep a book beside your pillow so you can fall asleep while reading.
Step 2 – Consistency is the Key: Whether you’re happy today, work towards your goal. Whether you’re not feeling good, work towards your goal. Whether you’ve had a fight with your friend or spouse, work towards your goal. Whether your teacher or boss scolded you today, work towards your goal. Thus, repeat your habit again and again until it becomes automatic.
Step 3 – Rewards: According to the habit loop, rewards are the end goal of every habit. They can satisfy us or teach us. So, if you’ve followed a balanced diet throughout the week, you can have a cheat meal. After an intense week of workouts, you can hang out with friends or watch a movie. Remember, winners and losers have the same goal. Only your actions will decide whether you’ll be a winner or a loser. What are you thinking? Start working towards achieving your goals.
How Long Does It Take to Develop a Habit? Now, the question is, how long does it take to develop a habit? According to studies, it takes a minimum of 21 days and a maximum of 240 days to develop a new habit. On average, it takes 60 days to develop a new habit. It essentially depends on the complexity of the habit, and it varies from person to person.
