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Tag: dailyprompt

  • How to Set Solid Goals that Will Succeed

    How to Set Solid Goals that Will Succeed

    Setting goals is a powerful way to give your life focus and direction. Effective goal setting can be the difference between wishful thinking and tangible success. To reach that level of success, you need to do more than jot down aspirations—you need thoughtful planning and execution. You also need to decide when to say “no.” Here are five solid tips to help you set goals and succeed at them:

    Daily writing prompt
    How often do you say “no” to things that would interfere with your goals?
    View all responses

    1 Be specific and clear about what you want to achieve

    Vague goals are like leaving your house with no idea where you’re headed. It will be a surprise where you end up. 

    When setting your goals, be as specific and clear as possible. Instead of saying, “I want to finish my first novel,” specify, “I will write a chapter every two weeks and complete two chapters a month.” Clarity in your goals makes it easier for you to track your progress. 

    If something does not align with your goals, avoid “shiny object syndrome” and say no to distractions. You might have an idea for another story, but stick to the current one until it is finished.

    2 Set realistic and attainable goals

    When you set goals that are too far out of reach, you are more likely to set yourself up for disappointment and frustration. Know your current abilities and resources, and set goals that are challenging yet achievable. If you’ve never written a book before, don’t expect to finish writing your first book in one month. 

    Rather, break down larger goals into smaller, manageable steps to prevent overwhelm and maintain your motivation. For example, start with a story outline. Then sketch out the first scene in your story before you start to write that scene.

    3 Establish a timeline to reach your goal  

    Without a deadline or milestones, it will be easy to work on a goal until infinity. Establishing a timeline helps you prioritize your actions. Set specific dates for achieving milestones along the way and hold yourself accountable to these deadlines. 

    This means saying “no” to distractions, such as a weekend of social activities if you haven’t reached your goal. However, you still need to make room for adjustments, such as a special celebration with family, or a setback, such as becoming exhausted from work.

    4 Write down your goals

    Writing down your goals is like creating a contract with yourself. You’ve committed yourself to accomplishing something by a specific time. Writing your goals on your calendar places your goals where you can see them. You have a reminder that you committed yourself to finishing the first chapter of your book by the following Saturday, for example. 

    5 Create an action plan

    Writing down your goals without creating an action plan is like deciding on a trip to another country without planning how you’ll get there. It won’t happen. 

    You need to break down your goal into actionable steps. How will you be able to finish writing one chapter by the end of the week? You may have a specific word count to complete each day. Or one day might be set aside for planning the outline of a scene. 

    You should identify potential obstacles and brainstorm strategies for overcoming them. What if you’re invited to go somewhere one night before you reach your milestone? Do you say “no” or  create a new set of daily milestones to make sure you still finish your chapter if you take a day off? Review and adjust your action plan as needed to stay on track and adapt to changing circumstances.

    Key Takeaways

    By following these five tips and setting realistic goals that you can achieve with an action plan—you can set yourself up for success. Remember, achieving your goals requires commitment and perseverance. With dedication and strategic planning, you can turn your goals into reality.

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  • Your life or mine: What is the last thing you learned?

    Your life or mine: What is the last thing you learned?

    Sometimes, you see the past with 20/20 vision and wish you could repeat the day.

    Daily writing prompt
    What is the last thing you learned?
    View all responses

    She had to pick up her mom’s prescription medication on her way home and that errand took her past a beauty salon with the best assortment of skincare products. She had passed it many times, but today she walked in, attracted to the newest line of skincare displayed on the counter. Her favorite movie stars and singers endorsed those lovely creams that made skin radiant and flawless.

    “How much?” she asked the woman behind the counter. 

    “Three thousand for the entire set,” said the sales clerk. “Might be a bit pricey for someone as young as you.”

    “No,” she lied, lifting her chin. “Of course I can afford it.” She had $3050 in her bank account.

    “This is a special price for today only. It will go up tomorrow.”

    “Can I try it?”

    “Sure. We just have the hand cream as a tester. Not the others.” The sales clerk opened one of the jars. The fragrance of roses wafted into the air.

    “Just like on TikTok,” she said, dabbed a sample, and smoothed it on the back of her hand. It felt like a cool, tingly massage. As she rubbed, a long scar near her knuckle vanished. Imagine how envious her friends would be if she was the prettiest one in the group. Imagine all the guys who would be asking her out. Imagine if people stopped calling her ugly. Imagine…. 

    Her phone rang. It shattered her thoughts. “I’ll take the whole set,” she said to the sales clerk as she frantically dug for her phone in her purse. 

    “Sweetie?” Her mom’s voice was weak over the phone.

    “Mom? Are you ok? I’ll be home soon! I’ve got your med-”

    “They’ve taken me to the hospital. It’s going to cost $3000. Could you come to help pay it?”

    “No!” Not $3000! “I’ll call you back.” She turned toward the counter.

    “Is your mom ok?” asked the sales clerk. She presented a shiny gold gift bag with the skincare set inside.

    “No, she’s… not. Can’t I… can’t I come back for this? The price is really going to go up?”

    The sales clerk nodded. “You need to choose between this skincare or your mother.”

    She picked up her phone and pulled up her mom’s number again. She mumbled to herself, “I can get more money later. Take out a loan. Borrow cash from my cousins.” Then dumped her phone back into her purse. She took out her wallet and handed her credit card to the clerk. “I’m sorry. What did you just say?”

    The clerk took the card. “I said I hope you enjoy your choice. You will be as beautiful on the outside as you are within.”

    “What?” She felt the skincare sample on her hand tingle again. The sensation spread down her fingers and up her arm. “What’s happening?” Her purse slid off her shoulder as she tried to grab the gold bag. Her feet were rooted to the floor. Her legs were stiff. I can’t move! Can you hear me? I can’t move!

    “Well,” said the sales clerk, admiring the woman’s face. “Now you’ll look this young forever. I’m going to put you in the store window so everyone can admire how beautiful you are. It’s what you wanted, after all.”

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  • What experiences in life helped you grow the most?

    What experiences in life helped you grow the most?

    Every experience, whether big or small, helps us grow. But the experiences that help people grow the most have a profound impact on our lives. These experiences are like a chapter in a book or a phase change like transforming from a caterpillar to a butterfly. Looking at myself and my friends, I would say three life experiences help us grow the most.

    Daily writing prompt
    What experiences in life helped you grow the most?
    View all responses

    Career

    A job is a role you take on. In comparison, a career is a long-term commitment based on your experiences and education. You develop skills that define your life goals and lifestyle.

    A career takes commitment, such as courses for a certification or a degree; or long-term,  on-the-job training. You learn skills that will shape and impact your life for years and even decades. A defines you: you tell people, “I’m a (occupation).”

    You hang out with people with backgrounds, training, and education similar to yours. If you’re a teacher, you’ll meet others in education. If you’re a business owner, you’ll meet others who run businesses, or people selling products or services in the same industry. 

    A career impacts your income and your lifestyle. As a lawyer, you may work long hours and own an expensive house. As an accounts manager for a small company, you may make a modest income, enough to get an apartment and take the vacations you like. 

    For some who want to get into management with years of work experience and promotion, you’ll learn leadership skills and how to communicate and inspire others.

    Marriage

    Another experience that helps people grow is marriage. You’re working through everyday situations with your life partner. This person sees you every day and knows personal aspects of your life–what you eat, how you sleep, your income, your spending habits, your grooming habits, your routines. Unlike your family, who has observed many of the same things, you didn’t make the rules. Your parents did and you had to obey the rules to live with them.

    With marriage, you and your spouse jointly decide where to live–which city, which home, how to spend your money, and where to go for vacation. You share and divide responsibilities. If one person in the relationship is not content, there is an imbalance, and you need to communicate to work things out for the relationship to be healthy again. 

    This person impacts your mental and emotional health. You need to learn to communicate your needs and work out your struggles. You also need to work together. When you choose your spouse, you also choose their friends and family. You need to learn to compromise. Your communication skills are crucial. 


    Parenthood

    Another experience that helps people grow is parenthood. You’re the role model, setting an example for your child. Your priorities shift and you become your child’s protector because the child comes first. For example, you take sick days from work when your child is sick but you continue to work when you yourself are sick, instead of taking a day off.

    You save and spend money on vacations with your child. You spend money on the child’s interests, such as hobbies, sports, and toys. It’s a shift in identity and priority.

    You better appreciate what your parents went through when they became parents. You have a new awareness of what’s good and what’s bad–you’re suddenly aware that shows and movies you used to enjoy have bad language and inappropriate violence.

    As a role model, you watch your language and your words. If you’re tired, you want to ensure that you don’t say something to your child that could cause long-term damage. Your child takes cues from you on how to speak and how to behave.

    Key Takeaways

    Working on your career, getting married, and having children are three experiences in life that help a person to grow. Not everyone gets married or has children, and they will still experience growth. But I think these three types of experiences definitely have a significant impact on a person’s life.

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  • What advice would you give to your teenage self?

    What advice would you give to your teenage self?

    I open the door and there is a woman in my closet. She raises a finger to her lips to signal me, “Hush,” as my mouth opens in a silent scream.

    “Your mom doesn’t know I’m here, Cassie,” she says as she steps out of the closet. “You won’t get in trouble.” Her eyes pan briefly to my desk. “It’s the night before the big test. Oh, you hated that class so much. You’ll be punished for getting a stupid B+ in that class. What a tragedy. The only class where you don’t get an A.”

    “Who are you?” I ask in a voice one notch above a whisper.

    “I am Cassie Chen,” says the woman.

    I stare at her in confusion. “But I’m Cassie.”

    “It won’t always be this bad,” she says. “You’ll finish high school, move out, get a job, and have a fabulous career. You won’t be a doctor or lawyer, though. Ha! Do what you love, not what your mom wants you to be.”

    “My mom will stop calling me a failure? She’ll be proud of me?”

    “Oh no,” the woman says nonchalantly. “She’s not going to change. But you will. You’ll get out of here. This life-“ she waves her arm to encompass the bedroom that is my prison – “won’t last forever.” She grabs my hand and sits us down on the bed.

    “You’re married?” I ask. Her rings sparkled when she waved her hand. She looks like she’s thirty. Beautiful makeup, earrings, and necklace. Stuff I’m not allowed to wear. I see her for the first time. She does look like me. But older.

    “I’m forty,” she says. “We have a nice house and a good career. Mom doesn’t approve. Of course, but she can’t do much now. That’s not what I came here to tell you. I came here to say that I believe in you. You’re smart and talented and–”

    I burst into tears. No one has ever said that before.

    “I know, I know,” the woman says, and hugs me. “I need to go now. Mom is coming.”

    “Am I going to see you again?”

    “Of course. One day you’ll look in the mirror and you’ll see me. You’ll make it through this.” She returns to the closet. “Gotta go back to my own time. Remember I love you.” She blows me a kiss and shuts the door.

    I hear footsteps coming down the hallway, but I rush to the closet and open it. My future self is gone but I can’t stop smiling.

  • How to change the world: if you could be somebody else for a day

    How to change the world: if you could be somebody else for a day

    Let’s dive into the realm of sci-fiction and fantasy! We’ll have a little fun with it and change the world. Really! If I could be somebody else for a day, I would switch places with my mentor and use his influence to effect some changes. Now, what mischief would I be up to? Let me explain.

    Daily writing prompt
    If you could be someone else for a day, who would you be, and why?
    View all responses

    To start, here’s some context on my mentor: without it, it is hard to see why I’m not following in his footsteps. He was my business mentor, and he owned a lot of fancy real estate: a condo with a beautiful view and a house with all the toys he collected. For example, luxury cars, movie collectibles that cost $500 to $5000, $15,000 purses for his wife, and a very large fish tank–the size you see in restaurants and hotels. 

    If I switched places with him for a day, I would find myself in a house with a courtyard and two full-size kitchens. I would have a personal chef, which is great for someone like me who doesn’t like to cook fancy meals. But also for me, it’s too much luxury in these tough times. I’m not living in this house for a year, just for twenty-four hours.

    So in that time, I want to exert some maximum clout. Here it is. I’d hop onto his social media channels with his millions of followers. (They don’t know that he’s not himself today.) I’d stream live and spread my message. It’s not his standard message of I’m rich and successful; learn from me and you’ll be successful too.

    I’ll change things. I’d like to use my mentor’s social media channels to tell his followers to do something nice for someone, something small like holding open a door. Or something big like donating money to a charity, or volunteering at an organization. 

    Imagine how wide that message would spread if each of those millions of people did something nice and the recipient of that kindness paid it forward. That’s double a million nice acts. And poof, after midnight when I’m me again and my mentor is himself again, that message will still be out there, making the world a better place. It won’t solve the bigger problems, but maybe a small act of kindness will bring a little smile to someone’s day.

    Note: The apple in the picture is a nod to teachers mentoring the next generation – paying something forward.

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