“If you want to achieve something ridiculous, you have to put in ridiculous effort.” For the past three months, this quote has been my mindset. And I’m not going to lie, living by that quote was HARD–ridiculous even. I found myself trying to juggle school full-time, working full-time, and pursuing several STEM passion projects under the thought that this was the “ridiculous effort” I needed to put in to go where I wanted to go.

But learn from me, as I soon encountered how unsustainable this mindset really was… at least without the proper preparation. For me, preparing for this mindset involved quite literally nothing. However, I soon had the realisation that I wasn’t making growth in the areas I truly wanted to grow in because I did not do adequate prep before charging toward my STEM personal and professional goals.

I was too busy focusing on the end goal, which caused the short-term objectives I was putting “ridiculous effort” into not to add up to my bigger picture. So, my advice here is not to neglect the smaller steps toward the bigger picture; don’t try to run before you’ve walked. Shifting my focus to viewing each task and challenge through the lens of short-term goals has made the path toward my long-term goals way more clear. I am now running full speed on the right path, rather than one that is leading nowhere I want to be.

Here is my advice on getting on a path that leads toward your long-term goals…

Clarity of Vision – having a clear long-term vision provides direction for your short-term goals, guides decision-making, and helps allocate resources effectively.

To achieve clarity of vision:

• Take time to articulate and refine your long-term vision, considering factors such as mission, values, and desired outcomes.
• Regularly revisit and refine the vision as needed to adapt to changing conditions and your priorities. Flexibility and adaptability are crucial for navigating the unpredictable nature of business and ensuring that short-term goals contribute effectively to the long-term vision.

How to enhance flexibility and adaptability:

• Anticipate potential obstacles and develop contingency plans to mitigate risks and capitalise on emerging opportunities. This proactive approach allows you to respond swiftly to challenges without derailing progress towards your long-term goals. This can be as simple as moving short-term goals around on your “Goals List”.
• Do not be afraid to share your plan. Embrace feedback and insights from others along the journey. Actively seek input from team members, stakeholders, and mentors, and use their perspectives to refine strategies and adjust course as needed. Prioritisation and focus: with competing priorities, effective prioritisation is essential for maximising impact and efficiency. You can optimise resource allocation and drive meaningful progress by focusing efforts on the most critical short-term goals that align with the long-term vision.

To prioritise effectively:

• Conduct a thorough assessment of short-term goals, considering factors such as urgency, importance, and alignment with long-term objectives.
• Identify key milestones and milestones that contribute directly to the realisation of the long-term vision, prioritising them accordingly.

Don’t pull a me, and try to juggle every “big vision”, you have to unsuccessfully work towards it effectively. Make your list of goals, break them down into short-term ones, and work through the goals sustainably. Although obvious, taking that time can help save you an abundance of brain power in the long run. Embracing these principles and taking actionable steps to balance short-term goals with a long-term vision, you can navigate complexities, seize opportunities, and drive sustainable success. These have all been working for me as I work towards five start-ups that I will drop in the fall!

Warmly, Ahmya Rivera