Staying on track with your goals

9 ways to get back on track when you hit a plateau

When we first set out to accomplish something, nothing can stop us. We have a dream and a deep belief in ourselves that we will achieve that dream. Then somewhere along the line, life gets in the way. We lose our focus and begin to feel stuck. These plateaus are a normal part of progress – even top athletes experience them. The trick is to stay on track even when it feels like the last thing you want to do.

Staying on track with your goals when everything seems to be working against you is hard. But with the right strategies, you can learn how to stay on track no matter what.

1. Take responsibility

When you get off track, do you blame the track? Or do you understand the role of your own decisions and actions? Get on track by first realizing that you are the architect of your life. You can design it to be anything you want, and when you lose focus and let others interrupt your plans, that’s on you. Take personal accountability and go from there.

2. Connect with your purpose

Tony often says that, “People are not lazy. They simply have impotent goals – that is, goals that do not inspire them.” Do your goals inspire you? If not, it’s easy to lose your focus. When you connect your goals to your ultimate purpose in life, you’ll get crystal clear on what you want to accomplish. You’ll turn your “shoulds” into “musts” and discover how to stay on track with enthusiasm.

3. Don’t let self-talk derail you

We all have that little voice that says things like, “Just 10 more minutes of sleep.” Successful people know how to ignore this voice and stay on track. Eliminate this type of negative-self talk and instead use rituals like incantations to get in the right mindset. Incantations go a step beyond affirmations – instead of just saying the words, you embody them. It provides a powerful feeling of certainty in your goals.staying on track with your goals

4. Create empowering habits

There are many empowering habits that can help you stay on track. Meditation is proven to help improve focus, promote productivity and reduce stress – all essential elements of reaching your goals. Many successful people use goal visualization to create a specific, detailed vision of their lives that can actually help it come true. Priming, the exercise Tony uses in his own morning routine, combines elements of both these practices, plus gratitude and more. 

5. Use the power of proximity

When everyone around you is laser-focused on achievement, staying on track with your goals doesn’t seem so hard. Surround yourself with ambitious people who will raise you up with them instead of holding you back. Find a mentor, join an online networking group or sign up for Results Coaching and start leveraging the power of proximity.

6. Learn how to say “no”

Are you letting other people’s goals throw you off track? Maybe you started a new relationship and you’re working toward their goals instead of your own. Maybe you’re living up to the dreams of your family instead of finding your own happiness. Perhaps you just have too many day-to-day demands from family, friends and work. Get on track by learning to say “no” and prioritizing yourself instead.

How to stay on track

7. Make a plan

You can’t know how to stay on track if you don’t know where the track is. Use a system like Tony’s Rapid Planning Method (RPM) to align your daily actions with your purpose, then set goals that will help you get there. The key to success is to break down your overall dream into achievable, measurable SMART goals and then track your progress so you can hold yourself accountable – and celebrate your success when you reach a milestone.

8. Take action every day

Ultimately, rewards come in action, not in discussion. The time to take massive determined action is now. Make sure you do something every day that helps you stay on track. Use your N.E.T. time (No Extra Time) to listen to educational podcasts or skip Netflix and check something off your to-do list instead. There are time management apps that can help you focus, chunk your time and control your emotions so you can get more done.

 9. Feed your mind the right fuel

Just as you need to be careful about who you surround yourself with, you also need to feed your mind the right fuel. Tony often quotes his own mentor, Jim Rohn, when he says, “Stand guard at the door of your mind.” Keep your passion and enthusiasm going by reading and listening to content that inspires you to stay on track.

Quotes to help you stay on track

Inspiration can be found everywhere. Feed your mind with these quotes from a diverse array of leaders and authors. 

“No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow you progress, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying.” – Tony Robbins

“Success is never final. Failure is never fatal. It is courage that counts.” – Winston Churchill

“Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.” – Jim Rohn

“Taking responsibility for your beliefs and judgments gives you the power to change them.” – Byron Katie

“Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.” – Tony Robbins

“The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus.” – Bruce Lee

Team Tony

Team Tony cultivates, curates and shares Tony Robbins’ stories and core principles, to help others achieve an extraordinary life.

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