Find Success Through Why You Study
Its the not the destination, It’s the journey.
The other day one of my students was wondering how to evaluate her progress in English communication over the years. She felt her level was below what she should expect for the amount of effort invested.
In Japan, only 2% of people can function in English, despite studying the language since elementary school. That seems absurd to me. Over the years, I’ve come to wonder if this is more an issue of confidence than ability. I asked my student what she considered good English to test my belief.
I told her that it all came down to the reasons she had been developing her abilities. Your whys are not only a huge motivator, but also a measuring stick for what you do. Improving language skills to pass tests like the TOEIC or IELTS is not very motivational. With exams like those, it is more important to achieve a high score than to be able to manipulate the language in real-world situations. Thus, the gratification of passing tests is a reward that quickly loses its luster.
Instead, consider building skills for some useful purpose. My student, for example, is hosting a homestay guest from Ireland. Being able to effectively communicate in a mixture of English and Japanese will provide her and her visitor the experience of a lifetime.
Regardless of what you study and the areas you seek improvement in, choose realistic achievements that you would like to reach in the next six months to a year. Then, consider these four questions:
- How will this achievement improve your life?
As you venture on the journey, have an idea of the destination. Do you want to assist ex-pats in your customer-facing role? Does the prospect of having a fun night out with friends while speaking their native language excite you? Do you want to read literature in its original language?
Taking action will move you further down the road to success than those who only wish for things to happen. Progressing in tiny steps will improve your life in ways well beyond the imagination. Whether you are learning something on your bucket list, working to develop a professional skill, or focused on improving in an activity you do for enjoyment. Finding a level of success will keep you progressing.
2. What does it take to get there?
Decide on the first two or three steps to take. Your journey is a moving target that will change as you make progress. As you move forward, you will constantly be adjusting your upcoming steps. Measuring metrics, reflecting on results, and entertaining changes in perspective based on your experiences will help you to do that.
3. What can you do today?
Taking routine actions invests you in the process of achieving your goals. You can start by documenting the steps you take daily (a journal or a spreadsheet is a good tool for this). That way you won’t forget. Then, you will have a clearer perspective on both how far you’ve come, and what to do next. You may even find yourself planning and scheduling tasks that need to be done in the future. Occasionally, something you initially thought would be the next step is actually four or five incremental tasks away. Be flexible when this happens. Adjust and take the best next action.
4. Who can help you?
Mentors and coaches are great resources for shortcutting your success. They have walked a similar path to the one you are on. They have also made plenty of mistakes which they learned from. You can take advantage of this knowledge as well. Utilizing a coach’s experience will allow you to avoid common errors and pitfalls, helping you see results faster.
Another benefit of using professional coaches and mentors is an increased personal investment in your success. We often think that money is the most vital asset. Therefore, having skin in the game ensures that you invest your greatest asset, your time.
Finding a good coach or mentor is a challenge, and you may need to switch from time to time as your journey progresses. You will have a sense of when that time is approaching. You may begin to discern your progress stalling or that you have heard the same lessons again and again. These are good indicators that a change would be beneficial.
Push
It has been my experience that when we commit to big, hairy, audacious goals, the right people and situations come into our lives, helping us through the next leg of our journey. Some may be with us for a long time, while others help us from point D to point E. Nevertheless, those people and opportunities will present themselves as you push beyond the mundane. So, be on the lookout.
Its the not the destination, It’s the journey.
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
At the end of the day, having a use for what you are studying makes the process more enjoyable, provides direction, and keeps you going when motivation fails you. Taking the time to deeply consider the questions above, and from time to time pushing yourself beyond your perceived limitations, will have you learning more and enjoying the process.
