Connect your daily goals with your daily habits

It is great to have ambition in life. The desire to do something more is within all of us. We all daydream as children of all the fun and interesting things we could do with our life.

But somewhere along the way, that ambition wilts. By adulthood, we are just going through the motions of life. We make decisions by default by not actively pursing our goals and desires. Instead, we stick our heads in the clouds, hoping for something better. Or we stay grounded by feeling nothing is worth the effort. But neither approach is a recipe for success and happiness.

The reason we get disconnected is because we are not good at connecting the ambition and goals to the action steps required. We cannot see the daily tasks we need to complete. Even if we do get a glimpse of what is required, we don’t do them. Instead, we hedge. We find reasons why it isn’t worth it.

But we all must learn how to break out of this. We need to learn how to connect our daily actions to the direction we want to go. Doing that will align our thoughts and actions and create a recipe for improvement. Through constant improvement, we can reach those goals we set.

Jimbo Fisher is a college football coach. He has experienced tremendous success in his career. Despite coaching several teams in various conferences, his method of coaching seems to work.

One of the elements of Fisher’s coaching style is that he makes sure to emphasize this link between goals and daily work. He understands the importance. He knows the success that comes when highly ambitious individuals connect to the daily habits.

In a recent article on ESPN.com this was addressed. The article said, “Fisher told reporters last month it was great that his players have those expectations for themselves.” This was in regards to several players stating they wanted to be the best team and win the national championship.

But then the article quotes Fisher, “’It’s great to have those goals,’ he said. ‘Now our daily habits have to match those goals when you can achieve them. And to me it’s the whole thing. Are your daily habits, and what you do on a daily basis, matching up with your goals? If they don’t match up, they’re wasted goals. That’s what we’re learning to do. I’m glad to hear them talk about it, glad to hear them see it.”

Fisher's response aligns with previous interviews in which he emphasized the daily habits of the players. He is always promoting the idea that those daily habits matter. Sure, you have to show up and play hard on gameday. But the preparation will determine success as much as talent. The work they put in will reveal more about the core of the team.

Seeing it from the outside makes it sound easy. But it isn’t. In our own lives that means that those things we want from life should become part of our daily actions. We have to create positive habits to take us in the direction we choose. This will help us understand what is required when we set those goals and daydream about future success.