I have come to believe that the reason most people don't reach their goals is because of the person that greets them every morning, staring back at them in the mirror. People who don't stay on track with their goals somehow get in their own way.
Below are 10 strategies I have observed people use to NOT achieve their goals:
1. Make sure your goals are vague or better yet, don’t make any.
“Not having clear goals leads to death by a thousand compromises.”
2. Talk a lot about what you are going to do, but make sure your actions are minimal.
“Action always beats intention.”
3. Keep a sharp eye for barriers and obstacles.
“Focus on the goals, not the obstacles.”
4. Don’t appreciate what you already have.
“Never let the things that you want make you forget the things you already have.”
5. Focus on your weaknesses.
“Focus most of your time on your core strengths and less time working on your weaknesses.”
6. Only work at your goals when you feel like it.
“You can’t get much done in life if you only work on days when you feel like it.”
7. Focus on what others think of you.
“You wouldn’t worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do.”
8. Dwell on your past accomplishments and failures.
“You can’t have a better present if you are always focusing on the past.”
9. Lack both self-control and discipline.
“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.”
10. Blame all of your "problems"—big and small—on others; if you can’t be specific, blame "society."
“It’s always easy to blame others. You can spend your entire life blaming the world, but your successes or failures are entirely your own responsibility.”
BONUS: Quit as soon as things get hard.
“I already know what giving up feels like. I want to see what happens if I don’t.”
What strategies do you use to NOT reach your goals? Please add to the conversation—comment below or on Twitter at @gregbellspeaks.