Success. What does that mean? According to Merriam-Webster https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/success

But how do we achieve this success? What tools do we use to measure success? Do the world’s standards match God’s standards of success?

I have found that preparation is key to success. Creating an environment that encourages your goals, setting attainable yet measurable goals, and having passion and heart behind what you do are essential.

Creating an environment that encourages your growth is the biggest step toward achieving your goals.

Let’s say your goal is to read more this year. Create a space to read that is comfy and bright. Remove electronics and any distractions from this area of your room. Have a spot for your coffee or tea cup and keep a blanket readily available. Set one or two books in this area.

Another way to create this environment is to keep a book in your purse or backpack. When you have a few minutes in your schedule, like while waiting in a school pickup line or at the doctor’s office/pharmacy, pull out the book and read a few pages. You’ll be amazed at how much progress you can make with this small change. According to research, 85% of self-made millionaires read 2-3 books a month.

I am not saying that money is a measure of success. What I am saying is that reading opens doors to personal, mental, emotional, and spiritual growth, which, in turn, promotes success in other areas of your life. Personally, I am not someone who naturally sits down to read, but I have found great success in the discipline of slowing down to read or even listening to books through Audible.

Setting attainable yet measurable goals is the next step toward success. Have you ever set a New Year’s resolution only to find yourself two weeks into January already behind on exercise, reading, or whatever the goal was?

The biggest reason for this is that we often think we can go from being a couch potato to running a 10-minute mile overnight. When we “fail” to meet our expectations, we get discouraged and fall off track altogether. Or we miss a day of reading or praying and feel like we will never stick to it.

Set small goals and create a visual chart to track your progress. If you miss a day, pick it back up the next day, no matter how tough it is. Start small and simple. If you want to read more or pray more consistently, set a 5-minute timer. If you find it easy to continue, keep going, but if it’s a struggle, stop at 5 minutes and try again the next day.

Lastly, the biggest part of success is your heart, passion, and “why.” Why are you doing what you do? What does success mean to you? What does it look like to you?

My measure of success is seeing what I do and who I am through the eyes of God, then my husband and my child. As long as I am doing what the Lord has for me and obeying His will for my life, then I am successful.

My child looks up to me; she is my “why.” I am an example of what it looks like to be a woman for the Lord—how I should act, talk, walk, and so on. She will look to me to measure her own success. Remember this when you are feeling down about missing your goals. Take a break, but then pick yourself up, pray that the Lord helps guide your steps, and keep moving ahead.