Draw pictures of what you hope to achieve. Make a storyboard of your plan of action. Design a vision board of what your goal pathway looks like and include how your life will differ after achieving your goal.

As soon as negative thoughts creep in, think, "Stop it now" and mean it. Then, replace that negativity with an "I will persevere and achieve" message. Tell yourself, "I can and will do it."

Give yourself props for goals you've achieved before. What were those goals? Use these reminder techniques to find and connect with your confidence.

Remind yourself daily about why you want to reach a particular goal. Perhaps you'll earn more money, get a better job, live in a place you prefer, or protect your family's future. Stay the course by re-committing to goals each morning.

Along with committing wholeheartedly to goals, you've got to put in the work. Tell yourself your effort will, in the end, be worth it.

No matter what your goal, consistently schedule the time to work toward it. If you don't keep a calendar now, start. Look at your entire week or month and what's scheduled with a quick glance. Write in when you'll work toward goals.

• Maybe it will be Tuesday evenings from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. or Saturday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Follow your schedule consistently.

Write them and place copies everywhere inside your house, briefcase, and calendar. When you're sure about what you want, then you can diligently work toward those goals.