Do you have a success strategy, a success plan? You wouldn’t build a house without a blue print, or take a trip without a map, yet every day many people strive to achieve success without a real plan. Having a plan for success helps you to obtain the clarity and focus needed to avoid the pitfalls and traps that happen when you lack a plan.

Your success strategy starts with a clear plan of your desired future. Start by clearly defining what success looks like to you. Imagine your life from the moment you awaken until you go to bed when you have achieved success. The more detailed your thought process the clearer your plan will be, and the easier it will be for you to achieve it.

A success strategy considers both the personal and professional aspects of your life. When you focus on just the personal, or just the professional aspects of success you end up with a life that is out of balance. A life out of balance isn’t fulfilling or rewarding. Ultimately you want a successful life that is both fulfilling and rewarding, or it isn’t successful.

A success strategy has to identify the gap between where you are now and where you want to be. What is the ultimate result you’re striving for? Identify what has to change in your current life to achieve the success you want. Once you know the ultimate result you want, and what has to change to get there, you can begin to plan step-by-step how to make those changes happen.

A success strategy must expect and plan for the challenges you’ll face along the way. If there were no obstacles and no challenges you’d be there now. Try to identify what things could get in your way and brain storm some solutions for how to get around those things. That way when problems and challenges pop up you’re prepared. Being prepared means you are better able to continue your forward progress toward success and achieve that success sooner.