Every kind of success starts as a seed. Before the work, before the wins, there is a vision and an intention. That seed is where everything grows from, and learning to tend it is the whole practice.

The secret to success is no secret to those who have worked hard to achieve it. Unfortunately, many people give up before reaching their goals because they are not prepared for the bumpy ride to the top. Those who succeed understand the process.

The first step toward success is having a strong idea. Anyone can have one, but very few people act on it. The reasons vary: lack of confidence, poor timing, or a lack of support, to name a few. At the beginning of the success process, it is essential to have a vision and an intention. I call this the seed of success. Once you have the seed, you can begin the process with the ABCs of success.

The A of Success is the Action Plan. An action plan is a plan for achieving success. You create your action plan by visualizing the desired outcome (outcome visualization) and then working your way back to the steps that get you there (process visualization). Think of a coach of a sports team. The coach uses both with the players, focusing on winning the game (outcome visualization) and then preparing the team with practice schedules, game film, and steady motivation (process visualization).

A great way to visualize success is to create a drawing or a model of the outcome you want with as many details as possible. If you are striving for personal or business success, draw a picture of each step needed to achieve your result. Focus on how you will feel once you have achieved success, and revisit that feeling when you are dealing with difficulty or the unexpected.

Once your vision is created, you will need to create a plan. It is critical to consider the pros and cons of your plan and prepare with pitfall planning. Pitfall planning covers the obstacles that may interfere with your success. Many people fall short because they have not considered all aspects of their plan. Be sure to write down each step in detail and set small, smart goals with pitfall plans. This is the map for the Action Plan on the road to success.

The goal setting and achieving process will help motivate you. When you have achieved a goal, be sure to celebrate the win. Focusing on small positive achievements fills your brain with dopamine (the feel-good hormone released when you achieve something), which makes you want to achieve more. Keep your goals small, because goals that are too hard to carry out will confuse your brain and work against you on your quest for success.

The B of Success is Belief. You must believe that you can achieve success and believe in your reason for wanting it. Confidence that you can succeed, paired with belief in its value, is the key to keeping you on the road. A daily visualization meditation, covering both process and outcome, can help keep your success vision alive. Keeping track of your progress can strengthen your confidence and give you a sense of achievement. Reminding yourself of why you want success will help keep you motivated.

The C of Success is Commitment. Setting an intention and committing to success will help you stay focused until you reach your desired outcome. The commitment mindset is the belief that there is no choice but to succeed at whatever you are pursuing. The most powerful way to confirm your commitment is to create a commitment form and sign it, since the written word carries more weight than simply saying you will commit. This way, you will feel more obligated to continue when you run into obstacles. The intention is the will behind the commitment. When you set an intention, you focus only on success, and although you know there will be obstacles, you will succeed.

Successful people know that challenging work, dedication, and consistency are essential to achieving success, but believing it is possible is what makes it happen. Those who reach their goals keep going when times get tough. They continue when difficulty hits because they have prepared with pitfall planning. And once they succeed, they stay diligent and work through the rough patches, because they built the tools to do so along the way.

The bottom line is that becoming successful can be as easy as ABC if you have a success plan, keep your eye on the goal when adversity strikes, and believe that you can make it happen.

If you are ready to plant your own seed of success, I would love to help you tend it. Book a discovery session with me and we will map out your ABCs together.

Gemma Nastasi PCC, NBCHWC, CAPP, CHNC