We all want success. We all want to experience what it’s like to achieve our grandest goals and dreams. Everyone hopes for this. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: Hope by itself is not a strategy for success. You actually have to strategize, plan, and then, of course, have enough discipline to put that plan into action. Here’s how to set yourself up for success.
Taking the Time
It’s important to take the time for your success. No one else can do it for you. And the first step to moving toward your goals is to take the time to plan out how you’re going to get there. This can be done by understanding a few simple strategies.
The Big Rocks
There’s a video online of a professor teaching his class. To stress the importance of priorities, he uses a demonstration of a glass jar that he fills with big rocks (which represent your main priorities, such as time with friends and family, accomplishing your dreams and goals). He then fills the jar with little pebbles (which represent other things that aren’t as important but still matter in life).
He then adds sand (which represents the trivial things that don’t matter at all but still feel enjoyable). Only by adding in the big rocks first can everything else fit in. If he added the sand and pebbles first, the big rocks (AKA, the things that really matter) wouldn’t fit. In the same way, you have to fit in YOUR big rocks first before you fit in the other, less important things.
My Challenge to You
Here’s my challenge to you: I want you to look at your actual week, and then look at your ideal week. And identify one or two things that you can make some small tweaks in that will help you to make your actual week a little more like your ideal week. I’m not sure that our ideal week can ever happen on a consistent basis, because we’re human and there’s real life.
But what if you could get there 60% of the time? What if you could get there 80%? What would that mean for your business, productivity, and life as a whole? Remember to keep the change small for this exercise. You can build as you go along, but in the beginning, start small and make it easy to add those changes into your routine.
Final Thoughts
By following these simple steps of adding in your Big Rocks first and making small improvements to your calendar, you can set yourself up to win BIG in both your business and your life. And the best part is that we Certified Flourishing Coach can help. We are a team of coaches and facilitators who work from an evidence-based blueprint to create lasting change.
So, if you’re ready to join a tribe of like-minded individuals who want to see you grow and win, contact us today to learn more. We look forward to hearing from you!
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About the Author
Nicki Straza – Workplace Culture Facilitator & Generational Dynamics Specialist
Nicki Straza is a workplace culture strategist, speaker, and Certified Flourishing Coach with over 25 years of leadership and organizational development experience across non-profit, corporate, and small business sectors. As the founder of Straza Solutions, she partners with organizations to create inclusive, trust-based workplaces where people can thrive both individually and collectively.
A recognized specialist in generational dynamics, Nicki helps leaders bridge communication gaps, strengthen engagement, and foster collaboration in multi-generational teams. Her work integrates emotional intelligence, psychological safety, and habit-building to drive sustainable cultural transformation. She is guided by the belief that flourishing cultures begin with authentic relationships and mutual respect, she is committed to helping organizations leverage the strengths of every generation.
Nicki is a Certified Flourishing Workplace Coach & Trainer, holds a Diploma in Applied Bookkeeping, and is recognized as a Generational Dynamics Specialist. She lives in Brantford, Ontario, traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee and Anishnaabeg First Nations, with her husband and is the proud mother of two adult children.