If we forget about quantum physic it could be said that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. That logic could be applied to what the term, “being on purpose” means. Basically being on purpose means following a direct path to our objective.

In the art and science of self-improvement and goal achieving we often hear about the importance of being on purpose. Most of the time, we pay lip service to that admonition but that’s as far as it goes. When, in retrospect, we look back at some failed objectives we discover that in fact if we had truly stayed on purpose, the outcome would have been much different.

There are many reasons why we don’t stay on purpose; not the least of which is the fact that the “purpose” had not been well defined in the first place. How could we pursue something if we don’t have a very clear idea of what that “something” is in the first place?

Objectives have to be well defined. We must know exactly what it is that we’re after, we must know exactly what it means to have reached the objective and the entire project must be placed in a time frame.

Wanting to earn more money or loose weight are not well define objectives. Wanting to loose ten pounds in two months or double our income in the coming year are well-defined objectives. We know exactly what we are after, how long it should take and what the ultimate result will be.

Another reason to stray away from the purpose is the hidden agenda. That is when we are pursuing an objective while trying to fill a personal need at the same time.

A perfect example of that is the salesman who wants to make a sale but is more intent of being liked and accepted by the buyer than on making that sale. Of course everyone wants to be loved and accepted but if that need is overwhelming, it leaves little chance to stay on purpose and do what we set out to do.

As another obstacle to staying on purpose we also have the self-sabotage syndrome. It may be hard to believe but some people do not feel that they deserve success or deserve being in the winners’ or achievers’ circle.

With success comes notoriety, high profile and public scrutiny. These are all conditions that can prove to be challenging for the average person. In some cases it might even prove to be so unsettling that it will activate the self-sabotage syndrome.

Success comes at a price. It demands a complete metamorphosis of the self-image. Something that is not easily done when someone is not prepared to face the challenge. One of the basic laws of the Universe is that it will not let us keep what we feel that we do not deserve.

The last and probably most common cause of failing to stay on purpose is the lack of faith in our capacity to reach the pursued objective. It is rightfully said that, “Certainty is the winner’s edge.” Without this sense of certainty chances are very high that at the first sign of a major obstacle, the project will be dropped.

The difference between a high achiever and someone who only gets by is the ability to stay focused and on purpose. Thankfully, staying on purpose is a skill that can be developed like any other skill. It all starts with baby steps followed by perseverance and the will to master the skill.

This Blog can be viewed and debated with the members of Personal Development For Personal Success Forums by clicking here.

This article may also be reproduced so long as it is mentioned that it was first published in http://shamoublog.com/

Tags: achievers, stay focussed, staying on purpose, winner's edge, winners