Achieving Life Goals

It was December 2016, and I couldn’t help but feel a warm sense of accomplishment as I reflected on the year that had passed. It had been one of the most productive years of my life, a year of transformation and growth. I had taken on a personal challenge that seemed daunting at first—losing 20kg—but with determination and grit, I did it. I could finally look in the mirror and see the strong, healthy person I always knew I could be.

That wasn’t the only victory. I had just wrapped up my first year in my academic career—a huge milestone that I’d been working toward for what felt like forever. Walking into that first lecture hall as a lecturer was a mix of nerves and excitement, but by the end of the year, I felt like I had found my stride. My confidence was growing, and I was starting to see my future in academia take shape.

Perhaps the biggest triumph of all was getting my first academic publication. Seeing my name in print felt like a dream come true, validation for all the late nights, the endless revisions, and the moments of self-doubt. It was proof that I was on the right path.

As the year drew to a close, I couldn’t help but wonder if life could get any better. I was healthy, happy, and feeling more accomplished than ever. But deep down, I knew I wasn’t ready to settle. I could still feel this subtle tug, like there was something more I needed to do, some part of me that wasn’t fully unleashed yet.

So, as I sat down to review my year and plan for 2017, I decided I needed a focus—a guiding word to keep me moving forward. I chose the word “progress” – I was so committed to living this word, a colleague gave me ‘Progress’ as a nickname and came into my office every morning say “Hi, Progress!”. It felt right because even though I had achieved so much, I still sensed there was something holding me back, something that kept me from breaking through to the next level. Whatever 2017 had in store, I knew I needed to keep progressing, no matter how small the steps might be.

And so, with a heart full of hope and a mind set on growth, I began to write, ready to embrace the new challenges and opportunities that awaited me in the years ahead. I wrote down, not only what I wanted to achieve in 2017 but what I wanted to achieve in five years.

This is where the magic happens!

I put together this list back in December 2016, full of hopes and dreams for the future. By February 2017, I had taken a big step forward and applied for a PhD position. At that point, my life was quite average, and honestly, there weren’t even any exciting prospects on the horizon. I was still living at home with my mom, with no financial means to move out, and we were buried in debt that seemed impossible to climb out of.

The rest of my goals felt more like distant dreams—things you might put on a bucket list for when you’ve hit your stride in life. But for me, someone who grew up below the poverty line, they seemed almost laughably out of reach. The idea of leaving South Africa, exploring the world, or achieving anything beyond survival wasn’t something I dared to truly imagine, not with the financial constraints that had always been a part of my reality.

Fast forward five years to December 2022, and here I am, sitting in the passenger seat of our car with my fiancé, on our way to pick up our new puppy. We’ve named him Bailey, and getting him has been a long time coming. A year ago, we started talking about adding a dog to our lives, but everything was a bit up in the air—especially after I landed a job at the University of Edinburgh. That was yet another crazy life goal accomplished—one I’d almost given up on after my failed attempt to get funding for a PhD there in 2014.

Completing my PhD in 2020 was a huge milestone, but the years since had been a whirlwind of short-term contracts and uncertainty in my career. But now, things are finally settling down, and here we are, about to bring home this little bundle of joy we’ve been dreaming about.

As I sit down to plan for 2023, I open my diary from December 2016 and take a deep breath. I just sit there, in awe. Somehow, against all odds, I have accomplished every single thing on that list I made so many years ago. I’m not even sure how it happened. Was it sheer determination? A little bit of luck? Maybe a lot of both. But here I am, with the life I once only dared to dream of—my PhD, my dream job, the love of my life, and now, Bailey, the puppy we’d longed for.

How did it all come together? Honestly, I don’t have all the answers. And if I were to start listing all the so-called “coincidences,” you might think I’m making it up because it all seems too good to be true. But when I really reflect on it, I can trace the series of fortunate events back to one method I stumbled upon in 2016—a method that completely changed the trajectory of my life.

It all started with a simple idea: pick a life goal. For me, that goal was to work as a professor at an international university. Then, ask yourself, “What do I need to accomplish in five years to achieve that goal?” For me, the answer was clear—I needed to get my PhD. Next, break it down further: “What do I need to accomplish in one year to get closer to my five-year goal?” I realized I needed to start attending conferences, apply for PhD positions, and write papers to build my academic profile so I set concrete goals for 2017 (attend three conferences, apply for five jobs, write two papers).

From there, it became about setting monthly, weekly, and even daily habits to keep moving toward that one-year goal. One of those weekly habits was to scan through a mailing list I had subscribed to for upcoming academic job opportunities. It seemed like such a small task at the time, but in just nine weeks, I came across a job posting for a PhD position in Germany. I applied, got the position, and by June 2017, I was living in Germany, starting a new chapter of my life.

That one opportunity was the catalyst for everything that followed. It led to my PhD, which in turn opened doors to my dream job at the University of Edinburgh. And now, I’m living the life I once only dreamed of—married to the love of my life, with a dog and a bright future ahead. It wasn’t just luck or coincidence; it was the result of a deliberate strategy that I kept chipping away at, day by day, even when the end goal seemed miles away.

As I sit here, reflecting on the incredible journey that’s unfolded over the past few years, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of gratitude. It’s amazing how a few simple steps, taken consistently, can lead to life-changing outcomes. And if my story shows anything, it’s that no dream is too big or too far out of reach—sometimes, it’s just a matter of breaking it down into achievable steps and staying committed to the process.

If you’re ready to start making your dreams a reality, I’d love to help you get started. I’ve put together a free worksheet that follows the exact method I used to set and achieve my goals. Whether you’re aiming for a big career change, personal growth, or just want to make some positive shifts in your life, this worksheet will guide you through the process of turning your dreams into actionable steps.

So, why not give it a try? Download the worksheet, grab a cup of tea, and take a moment to think about where you want to be in five years. Remember, it all starts with one small step—and who knows? That step might just lead you to places you never thought possible.

I can’t wait to see where your journey takes you!