It’s easy to set a big, awesome goal to work toward.

You might want to quit your job and start working for yourself. Maybe you want to travel the world, or just start waking up early on a daily basis (hey, getting out of bed can be pretty damn hard some days).

What’s not so easy is sticking to what you set out to do and continually recommitting yourself to your vision.

It’s especially challenging when there is a big, looming chasm between where you are now, and where you want to be. I know how daunting it can feel when you’re looking up at the summit from ground zero.

You’re here, but you want to be there.

If you want to close the gap between working on someone else’s terms, to getting paid to be who you are, what you need more than anything is to…

Stay hungry

Willpower and excitement at the beginning of your journey is wonderful. It inspires you to take the first steps and really commit to your destination.

But arousal-based energy is a limited resource. Like drinking a cola or a sugary piece of fruit, it provides an initial burst that quickly fizzles. What you really need for the long journey to your goal is slow-burning fuel.

When it comes to seeing your vision through to the end, you need a similar type of fuel. And the basis of that fuel revolves around three key ingredients:

1. Rituals that root you and reconnect you to your purpose.
2. Community and accountability.
3. The “just a matter of time” mindset.

Let’s take a look at each of these in detail and see how they relate and support each other.

#1) Create reconnection rituals

In order to stay connected to your purpose and vision, you need a practice that continually reminds you of what you set out to do and why it matters to you.

If you want to get paid to be who you are and work on your own terms, you might create a morning ritual where you revisit your most deeply held values. This could be a few minutes spent journaling with a cup of coffee in the morning, or reflecting on your commute to work.

I have a hard time not making this a robotic, going-through-the-motions process. Because of that I like to vary things by doing morning sketches that tie in to my values. (You can see an example here.)

The important key here is to find something that speaks to you, that you won’t do just to get through it. Really take the time to feel an emotional connection to your purpose and values, and let it sink in. Once you feel excited and energized, you know that your practice has been successful and it’s time to get to work.

#2) Cultivate a community that’s aligned with your values

Very few great things are accomplished alone. Just as the saying goes “it takes a village to raise a child,” it takes a community to raise an entrepreneur.

If you want to change the world, follow your passion and do great things, you need a community to support you. They’ll be there to lift you up when you’re feeling weak and are considering turning back. Without a community, you’re fighting the inertia of your current reality alone on a daily basis. But with a strong private council in your corner, you have momentum on your side and the wind at your back.

The most important key here is to consciously choose the people you’ll let into your community based on shared core values. Think about people that are on the path to a similar goal and vision as yourself, or those that have already done what you want to accomplish.

Rather than criticizing your big plans, they’ll cheer you on and remind you why what you want to do is possible.

Note: For further reading, I recommend this article on creating a private cartel.

#3) Adopt the “just a matter of time” mindset

In order to stay productive you need a deep, unshakeable commitment to where you want to go and the life you want to create. I think it goes without saying here that you must have a goal that is rooted in who you are and is founded in something that defines you. This is non-negotiable.

If working for yourself is aligned with the type of person you are, you’re much more likely to succeed at it, rather than if it’s just a fleeting, interesting idea.

However, even when a goal is centered in who you are, it can still feel daunting when you’re doing something you’ve never done before. The path can be dark, mysterious and treacherous at times.

As a safeguard to our fluctuating internal motivation, we can espouse the “just a matter of time” mindset.

Of all the tools and “inner game” skills I’ve developed, this is by far the most powerful. It’s my secret weapon that ensures any goal I commit to will be reached. Not might be reached. Not could be reached. It will be reached.

This mindset is simple once you get used to thinking in this way. Whatever goal you have for your life, decide that it will happen. No matter what. It’s not a matter of how or if, it’s a matter of when.

It’s just a matter of time. With enough energy, enough action, it is inevitable.

When you decide that something is just a matter of time, you move from the realm of possibility to the realm of inevitability.

Closing thoughts

When you mix these three key ingredients together into your trailmix, you have a powerful, steady burning fuel that will keep you energized on the journey to realizing your dreams.

Use these wisely, they are powerful and potent elements that will serve you well on your path.

You may even find when you employ this formula, others begin to think you’re superhuman.

PS: Want to get paid to be who you are? We’re holding a no-cost event soon (at your computer), on creating a path you never want to stop walking. Click here for the details.

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