Don’t wish it were easier; wish you were better. Don’t wish for less problems; wish for more skills. Don’t wish for less challenges; wish for more wisdom. – Jim Rohn

Determination is the most powerful essence of human nature. It’s the key ingredient for a mindset that turns plans into ticked boxes. An idea into an achievement. You into your ideal self and life.

To be determined is to leave nothing to fate and overcome any barriers that try to get in the way of you becoming and doing the best that you can. Here are five things you can do to bring more determination into you and your life…

1. Keep Focused

Identify your optimum conditions for working from experience. At what time of day do you feel most productive and proactive? Do you work best independently? Inside? Outside? Listening to music? Control the area around you to suit.

If this means unplugging the wifi, putting up pictures around you or simply putting a bolt on your door do it. To be in a place that channels our focus will ultimately become a place that motivates and inspires you so it’s important to consider where and when you work on the things you do.

2. Play To Your Strengths

If you bore easily on large projects, divide it into smaller ones. Always remember, when taking on any task, that you are a unique individual. Always aim for the things that you want. For the prizes that you find shiny. After all success means different things to everyone and we only have a limited supply of money, energy and time to invest in things.

3. Remind Yourself Regularly of the Task In Hand & Its Rewards

When you sit down to work, keep breaks strict and create realistic to-do lists. Ensure that you begin the day with a goal and keep a bucket-list nearby to remind you of your purpose throughout the day.

Motivation and determination go hand in hand, so never start a project that you see no reward or joy in. When we are positive towards the task in hand, we generally work a lot more efficiently.

4. Manage Your Time Well & Keep Organised

Stress, negativity and lack of self-confidence can not only affect our health but also, how S.P.I.R.I.T.E.D we are. It’s important to keep our mind refreshed but also clear.

The easiest way to do this is by keeping our external life clear too, keeping our belongings organised and avoiding negative or stressful situations that we are unable to take control of e.g learning to say no and making the most of your time.

5. Be ‘Selfish’

Always think independently and stick to what you believe in; sometimes you have to be a little bit selfish to get what you want but that’s okay, if your living by your values. Never let anyone say your doing too much because chances are, they are doing too little or they haven’t discovered the fact that a human can reach as far as he wants too; if he wants to.

6. Don’t Be Afraid To Blow Your Own Horn From Time to Time

If you’ve done something well, seek out and treasure the rewards. You want all the opportunities you can get, so make sure that your name is at the top of the pile when the next opportunity arises by defining yourself as the capable and determined person you are.

It’s all very well being humble… but what’s not great when your striving for success is to be overlooked so be prepared to make decisions and talk about your successes.

7. Make Clear & Defined Goals

The steps to achieve and the goal itself must always be clear and make sense to us. If we know exactly what and why we are striving for something it makes it easier for us to be motivated and to take the next step and decision. Anyone with a clear goal, will have a clear and focused train of thought so ensure that you know exactly what you want and how to get there.

8. Learn To See Obstacles As Just Stepping Stones

I guarantee that every successful person faced dilemma at some point. But the reason they overcame that dilemma, the reason they changed their life was because they took the steps to change themselves and ignored any doubts they or anybody else had. Being determined is about being positive and constructive about yourself and the future. It’s being focused on anything that you want to do, and not being pushed away from that vision.

Being determined can help you climb the career ladder, learn from feedback and get the job done. It’s essentially the difference between a fulfilled person and an unfulfilled person. So in order to be the best that you can be always keep what you have hopefully learnt here in mind and strive for the best.