6. Become a visionary: You don’t have to be a guru to have a vision of future. All it takes is a bit of imagination and courage to reach for something bigger than your current reality. If time and money were no object and success was guaranteed, what would you want to create for yourself, your family, or world? Give yourself at least 30 minutes to let your thoughts dig into this one. How does this vision of future relate to your life today?

7. Identify milestones: Set concrete goals for yourself that can be broken down into measurable pieces or milestones. If you want to lose 20 pounds, each 5-pound increment is next milestone you should aim for and celebrate. Instead of shooting for a distant peak, it’s much more encouraging to set your sights on corner at end of block.

8. Say it with pictures: Research says that 89% of what we learn is visual, 10% is auditory, and 1% comes through our other senses. Draw, photograph, or assemble a collage that represents your aim in life. Hang it on wall or download it to your computer desktop as a reminder of what you’re working towards.

9. Play: If you feel like you’re toiling, take a break and interject some fun. Do something ridiculous. If you can’t think of anything, spend an hour or two watching 4-year olds play. To them, everything has potential for fun. Learn to enjoy journey even more than destination.

10. Ride wave of change—don’t run from it: Like death and taxes, change is inevitable. However, resistance to change is common and causes untold amounts of struggle. Become a master evolutionist—respond to change eagerly and rapidly.

We all need a push once in a while. Choose instead to latch onto inspiration as a force that pulls you forward and you’ll discover that success can be effortless.

6. When will you do this? Another moment of truth—setting deadline. You’re not writing anything in stone, so don’t freak out! After looking at your task list and considering who will help, estimate how long it will take to reach your goal. Note, studies show that people respond better to a shorter window of time. When due date is too far off, it’s easy to procrastinate and lose motivational energy needed to push project through to completion.

7. Why will you succeed? Everybody has strengths and weaknesses. Where do you shine and excel? You want to spend 80% of your time utilizing your strengths, whether that’s organization, creativity, or negotiation. Next devote 15% of your time to learning and research and final 5% on your weaknesses. Most importantly, know why you will succeed now at what you have never reached in past.

8. Why will you fail? If you failed in past because of fear, it’s likely that same fear will trip you up again. Take a bold look at obstacles that have foiled you time and again and devise strategies to avoid, disable, or defeat them. 9. Who holds you accountable? You absolutely need someone in your corner to cheer you on and also to make sure you stay on track. Find someone positive who believes in you and give him power to check on your progress. Consider hiring a professional life coach or consultant who can give you non-judgmental support and a kick in pants at same time.

10. How will you stay inspired? Chances are that road might not run as smoothly as you would like. Things will go wrong. Results might trickle rather than flood to your door. Devise some tricks to help you stay motivated when honeymoon is over. Post your pay off list where you can read it daily. Draw or cut out a picture of what this goal represents and combine it with a picture of you at your best. Add a daily reminder to your virtual calendar, cell phone, or refrigerator door to help you stay focused.

Answer these questions honestly and become your best asset instead of your biggest liability. The future begins today if you have courage to envision and reach for it.