The clearer you are about what you intend to accomplish, the more likely you will observe the means of attaining it.

Likewise, the more tentative, ambiguous, and vague you are in defining what you are pursuing, the more prone you’ll be to waste time, mismanage resources, and become distracted.

By specifying your objectives, you heighten your awareness, minimize confusion, and eliminate hesitancy. Think about how this applies to the different areas of your life.

We all need fresh, compelling goals toward which to strive. And precisely worded goals tell our brains what to notice, what to pay attention to, and in what direction to move. In other words, our goals highlight our values. They provide focus and meaning to otherwise scattered thoughts and activities.

When we’re extremely clear about what we want, we have the power supply for our ambition. If we’re unclear about our destination, it’s as though we’re disconnected or unplugged from that power supply and the progress that it generates.

Though my years of coaching, I have concluded that virtually all underperformance can be traced back to confusion about an objective. Insufficient clarity about what is essential and relevant is a huge factor in most interpersonal conflicts as well.

To reach your full potential in the second half of 2017 and beyond, make sure you know what you want to accomplish and why it really matters. Then, you’ll be much more likely to make it a reality.

Are you as clear as you need to be about where you are heading and why?