Define Goals Clearly

• Successful people have clearly defined goals that they can see with their mind's eye, like the bull's-eye of a target. If you're struggling, then make sure you first have clearly defined goals; goals that are specific and measurable will keep you on track. People who keep changing their mind about what they want to accomplish or repeatedly abandon one project only to start from scratch on a new one usually end up frustrated. A clear goal is very specific.
  
  

Make a Plan

• Make a plan as to how you'll attain your goals. Make both strategic plans and tactical plans. Strategic plans take the long view and embrace what you want to accomplish, say, in one year or five years, or longer. Tactical plans contain the nitty-gritty -- all the daily activities -- of how you'll reach those long-term goals.
  
  

Act Now

• Knowing a destination and how to get there doesn't do you any good if you don't take action. Spending too long analyzing possibilities can hold you back. So the important thing is to choose a direction and start taking steps to make it happen -- right now.
  
  

Learn from Mistakes

• Successful people may seem to breeze through life, but in most cases they have had their share of failures and disappointments. However, they possess the remarkable ability to forget their mistakes and pick themselves up and keep going. Emulate that behavior. Don't dwell on something that didn't work out well for too long. Get whatever lesson you're meant to get from a "teachable moment" and move on -- quickly.
  
  

Persist

• The most important personal success factor is persistence. Those who succeed are those who decide that failure is not an option and keep trying until they do succeed.