Secret #2: Set a Deadline

We all work on deadlines. Without deadlines, nothing would get done because “tomorrow” always seems be the best day to start something you really aren’t too excited about. Setting a deadline creates a sense of urgency to complete your goal.

A deadline puts a healthy pressure on you to start taking action. Start using the power of deadlines in everything in your life such as finishing your résumé, writing a handwritten letter to a loved one, and buying your first car. Literally everything you want to achieve must have a deadline.

The only difference between
a dream and a goal is a deadline.

Let me give you an example of the power of deadlines. Let’s say on February 1st you get assigned a fifteen-page paper due March 25th. What day is that paper getting done? Keep it real, March 24th (and for some of us, March 25th really early in the morning, right?).

The deadline is what makes you take action.

What is interesting is that many students seem to only need one day to write an entire paper. So perhaps we should only be given two days to write our papers. (Just kidding—that would not be fun AT ALL!)

One of the worst things you can do to sabotage your success is wait to get something done “when you feel like it” because chances are you will never feel like it. In school, we have deadlines for papers and dates for exams, but in life there is no authority figure to set a deadline on the things you need to accomplish to become successful.

You have to be that authority figure in your own life. (Remember the First Pillar? Take responsibility!)

Arel Moodie is widely known as America's Top Young Speaker. He has spoken to over 65,000 students in 39 states and 2 countries on the topics of student success, student leadership and student entrepreneurship. He is a leading authority on helping students of this generation succeed in school and in life. He is also the best selling author of the book Your Starting Point For Student Success. To find out more about Arel's book, go to www.startingpointbook.com. To find out more about Arel's speaking please go to www.arelmoodie.com.