Staying the Course

“Wherever you get to is better than where you started. To stay on the road is a massive achievement.” Anthony Joshua

Imagine you are on a road trip, the sky is blue, and the weather is fine. Suddenly it starts pouring, and your GPS goes completely haywire. (Not that this has ever happened to me. Oh wait, yes it did, during a road trip in North Carolina!) Do you pull over and simply give up, waiting for the storm to pass? Or do you stay the course, stick to your guns, and follow your original plan no matter what Mother Nature or technology throws your way?

We all know the saying, “It’s the journey, not the destination.” Looking back over the year, when you identified what you wanted to achieve, did you start out confident that you could achieve anything you set your mind to, only to find that staying motivated, especially over long periods, was challenging? It certainly was for me!

In 2025, I was definitely planning to leave my old life behind. My goal was nothing short of a complete upheaval: I had decided it was time to step away from my professional career. I didn’t exactly think of it as “retiring” – instead, it was taking what I called a “strategic pause” to figure out what’s next.

In addition, I had some lofty ideas for how I wanted to use all the free time I would have once I stopped working: update and republish all of my books; take classes on any subject I might be interested in; volunteer for several canine organizations; redesign my entire website; offer new (and hopefully, inspiring) webinars; step up my marketing efforts for my business; learn Gaelic (why not?).

The list was challenging even for someone as disciplined as me!

My original goal was to leave my job at the end of 2024. But right out of the gate, my plan was upended. I had to pivot quickly, which meant staying in my job for three more months, changing, delaying, or abandoning some of my goals, and then coming up with a new plan for achieving everything still on my wish list. In addition, even I found it hard to maintain my motivation and meet the goals I had set for myself.

But I’ve had to repeatedly remind myself that reinvention is an ongoing process. It doesn’t have to be dramatic; even small shifts in our habits, beliefs, and goals can lead to significant changes over time. The key is to stay the course and continue pursuing a goal despite facing challenges or obstacles.

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” Winston Churchill

It is easy to become discouraged by initial failures or unexpected setbacks. But take heart! There’s a fix for that!

There are a number of strategies that can help you stay the course and persist in whatever you set out to achieve. In addition, making these strategies part of your daily life can create an environment in which success will ultimately follow. Here are just a few examples:

• Clarify the “what” and the “why” of your objective. Whether it’s for personal growth, financial freedom, or helping others, a clear purpose gives you something to anchor your motivation to.
• Ensure the goals you identify are actually achievable. Instead of aiming for an overwhelming long-term goal, break it down into manageable chunks. Each small win will fuel motivation.
• Develop – and follow – a routine in order to build consistency. A structured routine minimizes decision fatigue and keeps you on track. Consistency is key to maintaining long-term motivation.