55 - “What If I Quit Now?” - How to Stay on Track When Doubt Creeps In

Building the life and career of your dreams is not always easy or straightforward. It is messy, unpredictable, and full of moments where you wonder, "is this even worth it?".

I had one of those moments recently.

I love coaching - I know deep down that helping others build a meaningful life they love is my purpose. But some days, it feels like a juggling act. Between my children, my day job, my relationship, and my own hobbies, I sometimes wonder if I can and should keep going.

Then, one morning, over coffee, Jem stopped me in my tracks with a simple question:
"What would your 46-year-old self say to you right now?"

And I thought - holy cow. If I stop now, I will likely never achieve my dream of financial freedom and helping one million people (yes, this is a 10X goal!) find and achive careers they love. That dream only happens if I keep going.

The truth is, staying on track is hard for everyone. Self-doubt creeps in, life gets busy, and setbacks make us question everything. Before we know it, a year has gone by and we are still where we were. Stuck. But today I want to share a few things we can do to stay focused and keep moving forward. I use them - and so can you...

1. Create a vision board (and look at it daily!)

A vision board is not just a pretty collage, it is a visual reminder of your why.

• It keeps your dreams front and centre. When life gets overwhelming, looking at your board can reignite your motivation.

• It trains your brain to focus on possibilities. Visualisation improves performance and goal achievement.

• It is a powerful daily ritual. Even a 30-second glance at your board can shift your energy and mindset.

Action Step: If you do not have a vision board, make one today. It can be physical or digital (try Canva or Pinterest). Fill it with images, quotes, and reminders of the life you are building and put it somewhere you will see it often. Top Tip - don’t use images from your past, they should all be future focussed and inspiring.

2. Set clear goals (and break them down)

Vague goals do not work. If your dream is to "be successful," what does that actually mean? The clearer you are, the easier it is to stay on track.

Instead of: I want to be more successful in my role.
Try: I want to be promoted to a manager-level role within the next 12 months.

Then, break it down:

1. Research internal opportunities and speak to your manager or mentor about your career goals

2. Identify and begin a relevant training or leadership development course

3. Shadow someone in a more senior position and request feedback on your development areas

Action Step: Today, take one big goal and break it into smaller, actionable steps.

3. Reward yourself (but be specific)

Rewards keep us motivated, but only if we define them in advance. Otherwise, we just keep moving the goalpost or if you are like me, you feel guilty for "treating" yourself rather than rewarding yourself for achieving something very specific. Having something to look forward to in the short to mid term can help to keep you on track. 

Examples:

• When I achieve a promotion, I will take a weekend trip to Paris with my partner.

• When I hit my annual savings goal, I will buy that motorcycle I have been eyeing up.

• When I launch my online course, I will book a spa day.

Action Step: Set a specific reward for your next milestone and write it down.

Keep Moving, Even When It’s Hard

Every single person who has ever achieved something great has faced moments of doubt. The difference between those who succeed and those who do not?

The ones who succeed keep going.

My visionboard has a saying "Quitters never win, winners never quit".

Think about that for a moment.

I am staying on track because my 46-year-old self is counting on me and I am not prepared to quit.

What about you?

I would love to know how you stay on track, drop me an email at [email protected] and tell me one thing you are doing today to stay motivated towards your goals. 

Always with love,
Elsa x