“You can still be in first gear. You can still be walking like a turtle or even like a snail. But if you’re moving forward in the direction of your dream, it can’t NOT happen.​” ​ — Mark Leblanc

Welcome back to the Steve Show! Today we’re going to start with a quick exercise. Just for a moment, close your eyes and imagine your ideal, passion-driven life. Can you see it clearly? Most people can imagine what they want with very little effort! But how do you fill that gap between where you are now and where you hope to be?

Designing the life you really want can feel like a massive, complicated undertaking — but today Mark Leblanc joins us to share his practical take on reaching your biggest life goals. From the time Mark was 21, he knew he wanted to be a professional speaker. He now enjoys his dream career on stage and the freedom to indulge his passions, like walking across Spain in the Camino de Santiago!

His secret? Understanding that ANY step toward a goal is meaningful, no matter how small. Keep reading for Mark’s best pieces of wisdom for embracing progress in ALL its forms…

Earn The Right

Like many people starting toward ambitious goals, Mark found that no one would take him seriously or give him a chance early on. He had two options: give up, or earn the right to speak. So he built ​a business, worked to make it successful, and later sold it.​ While it may have looked like he stepped away from his ultimate goal, he was actually doing exactly what he needed to build authority. Suddenly he had the success and experiences others wanted to hear him speak about.

The path from point A to point B is rarely a straight line. Ask yourself what you can start doing NOW to earn recognition and authority in the industry you dream of pursuing. Honor the steps toward your goal that look more ‘sideways’ than ‘forward’ to the untrained eye.

The Power Of The Calendar

Of all the steps you can take toward your dreams and goals, Mark says the most important one is simply writing them down on your calendar. When he became infatuated with the idea of walking 500 miles across Spain, he was busy serving as the vice president of the NSA and running a business. Even though he knew he couldn’t take the trek soon, he called on the power of the calendar.

In his words, “I looked out two years and plopped it on the calendar and for the next two years, then everything I did was given to that conscious commitment. The power of putting something that you want on the calendar, even when you don’t know how you’re going to make it happen, that was the ultimate step.” Simply committing to yourself that you WILL do the thing you set out to is the most meaningful and often missed step in the journey toward your dreams. Try Mark’s simple trick and lay the foundations for accepting a ‘do’ers mindset!

What steps are you ready to take toward your biggest life goals? Make a list and don’t forget to add it to your calendar! Share your goals, fears, and questions about choosing your life in the comments below – I read and respond to every comment with the hopes of encouraging you toward action.

As always, until we meet again…

Choose Gratitude Create Freedom

Steve Napolitan