Nothing great ever happens by accident. Successful people from all walks of life don’t just wake up one morning as high achievers! For change to happen, a plan of action has to be made, targets have to be set and a commitment to see it through has to be adopted.

The most successful students on any study programme are those who set themselves realistic, achievable goals to get them from A to B. Goals, or targets that stretch you somewhat are vital for consistent effort. Even if the end result falls short of the planned criteria, it’s a likely bet that you’ll be much closer to success than you’d have been without them.

Make a personal contract based on the following 5 D’s to immerse yourself in the positive outcome of your studies. This contract should be written down, and signed.

DEFINE exactly what you expect to get from your efforts, in terms of possessions, income, lifestyle etc. Make a collage of pictures that reflects these things, and look at them regularly (e.g. before your study sessions). The more specifically you define what you want, the better.

DESIRE (why you’re doing it) e.g. personal challenge, get out from where you are, you owe it to yourself to have a better job, to prove to someone you’ve got what it takes, to take control of your destiny. This needs to be something that stirs an emotion within you.

DEDICATION is a measure of how commited you are to a successful end result. Plan your time each week so you know exactly when you’re dedicated to studying. This not only helps you to get into a routine, it’s also an indicator for those around you that you’re engaged in something that’s important to you. They won’t expect you to get involved in different activities when your diary shows a study period if you’ve been consistently sticking to your routine. Setting aside ‘official’ study times helps you to concentrate, and prevents you from thinking about other things that you could be doing. It also frees up your mind to enjoy leisure time outside of study periods.

DETERMINATION. Having a contract with yourself will make you more determined to stick with the programme. You’re the one who will lose out most if you give up on yourself.

Having a plan and targets to work towards gives you a DISCIPLINE that helps you to power through the tough times that will occasionally strike you.

Once you’ve done this, sign it and do NOT put it away in a drawer. This is a working document and should be read every day for at least one month so you buy into it and it becomes your new way of life. If and when things get tough, read it again for another month. Always have it close to hand while you study and show it to your partner, kids (if you have them), friends and parents. This will help you to see your goal through.

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