May 5, 2014 - Written by: Yazmin Joy

A Twenty-Something’s Guide on How to Get Your Shit Together (Part 2)

So last week I talked a bit about how to get your shit together when you have no idea what you’re doing with your life.

But how about when you know EXACTLY what you want to do!?!

You’d think that would be easier hey! But turns out finding the strength, motivation and courage to make your dreams a reality can be a whole other ball game. Some of us already work full-time jobs, have a family and/or have no idea where to start.

It’s tough man. Real tough.

Sometimes the barriers are based on circumstance, but most of the time they are psychological. I love this quote by Henry Ford:

‘Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you’re right.’

It says to me you are in charge of your destiny. And that you’ve got the power to determine your future. And my bloggy-reader-friend seeing as you are reading this, maybe the time has come to get your ass in gear. Here we go…

If you know EXACTLY what you want to do, but struggling to get your shit together, here’s some advice:

1. Write 2 lists.

List 1: Your ultimate life goals. This this should include both personal and professional goals.

List 2: Your short term goals for the next 6-12 months.

These will help you:

1. Clarify and organise your thought processes.

2. Get your priorities straight.

3. Give you direction.

2. Plan your weekly schedule.

Every Sunday or Monday, take 10 minutes to plan your week. Factor in rest time and schedule work time.

Fail to Plan = Fail to Do

3. Don’t waste your spare time on things that don’t contribute to your goal.

Before you even think about working your ass off at that internship that pays you monkey nuts, make sure you are getting something for your time.

Whether it be experience, contacts, knowledge or invaluable CV space, don’t waste your time, money and energy on anything that doesn’t contribute to your overall goal. Be strategic.

Remember: time is valuable: it’s the only thing in life you can spend and never get back.

4. Study people who are successful in your desired field.

Who do you admire? Who has been there and done that? What can you learn from them? How did they get to where they are?

If someone inspires you take the time to read their book or check out their blog, listen to their interviews and so forth.

If they are contactable, why not offer to buy them coffee and ask them for their advice? (not in a freaky – I’m stalking you way, but in a hey I’m cool, I like to learn way)

5. Surround yourself with people who are better than you.

Learn, enrol, read, watch, train and practice with people better than you, they will push you to excel.

Someone told me the other day: ‘If you’re the smartest guy in the room, time to move to a different room.’ I love this, it’s spot on.

6. Put theory to practice. See what happens. Figure out what did/didn’t work. Repeat.

I don’t know about you but I learn best from doing. The text books will only take you so far. A business mentor of mine told me recently not to ‘sit on my ideas too long’ – just go and do it!

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. As long as you tweak and improve – it’s awwwl good!

7. Play the part.

‘Dress for the job you want, not the one you have.’ Anon.

You know what, you wanna be a boss? Dress like a boss. You want to be a pro? Invest in the tools. You can’t go into battle with a pea-shooter – as my dad likes to point out.

If, like me, you often work from home, create an office space that puts you into a professional frame of mind. Getting into a work mentality is about the little details, so make changes that work for you.

8. Work with the schedule you have.

If you already work a full-time job, one of the reasons you might be struggling to find motivation to pursue your dream is:

1. You are too tired.

2. You don’t have time.

I’m afraid there is no way around this. If you want to be successful you do WHATEVER IT TAKES, with whatever you have.

It might involve getting up 2 hours early, using your travel time to study, sacrificing your night out to stay home and train. Success doesn’t manifest itself buddy! The bigger the dream the more over-time and sacrifice.

9. Be prepared to be mis-understood.

Boring, lame, workaholic – people might call you a lot of things when you follow your dream.

I have one word: distraction.

When you choose to follow your passion (and intend on getting paid for it) you choose a lifestyle. Some people just won’t get that you are working so hard because you want to. That’s okay, they don’t need to understand.

10. Walk your own path.

The way people work is changing. Business is becoming increasingly globalised (hello 24 hour business). Consumers want different things from what they wanted 10 years ago. We are living in a digital age and this is just the beginning…

What am I trying to say? You can not predict the future. Your choices might be traditional or completely wacko (nothing wrong with wacko!).

If your vision for your future is unconventional – it might freak your family out. But don’t worry. Just remember: if you have an interest in something, there will be people out there who share your interest i.e. you will have an audience. And when you have an audience, you have a business.

My advice: Do your own thing, follow your dream, but do yourself a favour… do it bloody well!