Year after year, around late December, a whole slew of people make promises to themselves that they never intend to keep. Ok, maybe they have good intentions, but let’s be real, do you actually expect yourself to work-out every single day or cut sugar out entirely? I don’t mean to be a pessimist, but let one “weak” moment come along and you’re derailed; then you just accept it and continue living as you had before. This got me thinking, we should really be setting more sustainable goals. I’m not telling you to have low ambitions, quite the opposite. I’m suggesting that you set smaller, more attainable yearly goals that will help you reach your bigger, long-term goals. What if this year, you set a goal of simply not giving up? Don’t promise yourself that you’ll make a certain amount of money this year, or that you’ll practice your trade every day, or get X amount of jobs. Let’s be honest, not giving up is a job in and of itself and a gatekeeper to success that so few people achieve.
We all have days when we wonder if it matters that we put our hat in the ring, but you can’t win if you give up, actually, you definitely lose if you do. I wrote the pitch for this article after feeling discouraged that I had been on Tongal for over five months with no success. I wondered if it mattered that I pitched since I had not been chosen after so many attempts. I pushed through and kept pumping out pitches, even if it was a quick edit I did at 10:00 at night. It was something, it was consistent, and here I am. So, let’s stay in the game this year. It isn’t grand, it isn’t pretty, it doesn’t make a good Instagram post, but long-term goals are only met by small, less than thrilling goals set now. So, what can you do to stay in the game? I’m glad you asked, here are my top 5 tips:
1. Take Those Opportunities
If you aren’t sure how exactly to “stay in the game,” the first thing I would recommend is to take opportunities in your field whenever you can, even when you feel like it’s silly and you’ll never get chosen for the job. If you don’t get chosen, at least you gave yourself a chance and gained experience in the process; if you do, then look at you go! How can you succeed if you are not making any attempts to do so? You can’t fly if you get out of the plane before it gets off the runway!
2. Don’t Make Strict Promises
I’ve done it a million times, and I’m always left feeling like I have no follow-through. I once decided to make a short film every day for a week. In classic fashion, I made it to day four, felt bad about not completing the task, and that was it. I’m sure those four days were still beneficial, but my solution to this folly is to stop making such unrealistic goals that are so easy to fall short of ... which leads into the next tip...
3. Set Standards not Goals
Since setting rigid, highly specific goals often results in a slip-up that makes you want to count your losses and move on with your life, try setting more general standards for yourself. Such standards act as more of a guiding force, helping you get back on track when you stray from your plan, rather than calling you a failure and leaving you on your rear. I try to stay involved in at least one project at all times - whether I’m working on a pitch, waiting for an announcement, or actively completing a job. If sometimes I don’t meet this expectation, that’s ok, I just try to get back on track as soon as I can.
4. Print Your Success
At some point this year, I started printing out emails that showed my progress, and I really like the results. These can range from pitch tips, finalist emails and green-lights, to generally positive feedback (even from friends or family). Mine hang on my bulletin board above my desk and serve as a reminder that my work is being noticed, and I am making progress even when I don’t feel like it. Print what keeps you going and put it in a place where you can see your progress build up.
5. Don’t Overdo It
Don’t overextend yourself or get involved in a project you hate. Although sometimes you may take on a job you’re less than enthusiastic about, don’t do something you morally object to or hate the thought of. One of my favorite things about freelance and Tongal is getting to choose what I work on. I take breaks around holidays, and I don’t take on projects that I don’t want to do. Don’t be too picky, but don’t do something that’s going to make your passion a chore. That ruins the fun and leads to frustration.
So, your goal is to not give up. It’s a promise to yourself that you’ll stay consistent by continuing to try, even when you aren’t seeing the results you want to see yet. Choose to take steps, any steps at all. Don’t hold crazy goals over your own head, stressing, and feeling like a failure when you can’t keep some silly resolution. Sticking with it and making progress is the daily formula you need to meet your long-term goals. If you simply don’t give up, you’ve done something, and chances are, you’ve gained so much along the way. Happy New Year! This year’s gonna be great for you, I can feel it!
Love this post and want to read Part 2? Click here to read "Small Goals to Reach Big Goals: Risky Business."
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Note From Tongal: This blog is part of a series of Tongal Community-written blog posts that were originally sourced in the Tongal Blog Open Call Project. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Tongal. Read more Tongal Community-written posts here!
