Snakes and Ladders

I found this article the other day, and I thought it was a good way to look at life and your goals.

A useful way to think about achieving your most important goals is to see life as a complex game of snakes and ladders.

Imagine that each time you take action towards achieving a goal, you are rolling ‘the dice of life’. Sometimes you roll a ‘6’ and your action has a big impact on achieving your goal. Sometimes you roll a ‘1’ and your action only has a small impact. Generally, however, you are moving closer to your objective each time you take action and roll the dice of life.
Every now and then something happens that moves you towards your goal in a giant leap. This is like landing on a square that contains a ladder. For example, if your goal is to run your own business, a ‘ladder’ might be signing a contract with a major new client.
In pursuing any worthwhile goal, there will also be times when you encounter unforseen setbacks. These setbacks are the equivalent of landing on a snake.

The secret to achieving your goals in life is also the secret to getting to the top of the snakes and ladders board…
“Just keep rolling the dice of life”

When things don’t work out the way you hoped, close your eyes and imagine yourself sliding down the back of a giant snake. Always think of your problems as a temporary setback rather than the end of the game.
Also, as you move forward, keep an eye out for the ladders that can accelerate your success. In the real world ‘ladders’ might be new contacts, new opportunities or new ideas.
If you approach life knowing that achieving any worthwhile goal will involve both snakes and ladders, you will be much better prepared for the temporary setbacks when they arise.

Action Steps
(1) Visualise the journey to achieving your goals as a game of snakes and ladders
(2) Understand that there WILL be ladders (unforseen help) and snakes (unforseen setbacks) on your journey to success.
(3) When problems arise, recognise them as temporary setbacks. Keep rolling the dice of life and continue moving forward towards your goal.

Dare to Dream!