Proximity to Your Goals: How to Elevate Yourself by Knowing What You Need

We all know we need to drink more water. When you train for endurance events, especially in Texas, water becomes even more essential. But despite knowing that, I always tell myself, “I’m too busy to drink water.” It’s an excuse, but one I felt justified in until recently. A friend gifted me an electronic water station. It produces super-cold and super-hot water instantly, and I placed it next to my desk in my office. Suddenly, my water intake skyrocketed—not because of a newfound discipline, but because I changed my proximity to something I needed.

This made me realize how much proximity affects our pursuit of goals. Are we failing to achieve our goals simply because we aren’t close enough to the things that matter?

Understanding What You Truly Need

The first step is understanding your actual needs. Do you know what you need to get to the next level of your career, relationships, or personal development? Too many of us sit and wait, hoping for an epiphany. But life doesn’t work that way. You have to take small steps toward something even as you wait for those big revelations. It’s easy to mistake our wants for needs because we aren’t clear on what our real needs are.

Action Step: Create a Needs List

Take a moment to list what you truly need in each major area of your life. Ask yourself if these are actual needs or merely wants disguised as needs. Remember, your body functions without adequate water, but not like it should. Similarly, your life might work without clear needs being met, but not at the optimal level.

Putting Yourself in Proximity to What You Need

Once I placed the water station right next to me, I couldn’t help but drink more water. You can use the same principle in every area of your life. Are the things you need within arm’s reach, metaphorically speaking? If not, how can you change that?

When I first started my journey as a speaker, I didn’t see the progress I wanted. I realized I needed to be around the right people and in the right places. Back then, I signed up for the most exclusive gym in town, not because of the workouts, but because that’s where the people I wanted to do business with spent their time. At first, the gym’s cost felt like a burden, but soon, I realized I couldn’t afford not to be in those rooms.

Action Step: Assess Your Proximity

Write down what you need to get to the next level and think about where those opportunities or people are. Ask yourself, “How do I put myself in proximity to these needs?” Don’t just sit at home wishing things would happen. Place yourself where they can.

Mental Minimalism: Eliminating the Extras

Lately, I’ve been focused on a new concept called “mental minimalism.” The idea is simple: eliminate what isn’t moving the needle in your life. It’s not just about doing more in 24 hours but doing what matters in those hours. I frequently make a checklist of my actions and ask myself, “Is this helping me reach my goals, or is this an energy-waster?”

Action Step: Practice Mental Minimalism

Get a piece of paper and divide it into three sections: Career, Relationships, and Personal Growth. List the actions you take in each area. Now, identify the ones that truly push you forward. Anything that doesn’t? Let it go.

Clarity and Commitment

It’s easy to drift away from the essentials, but once you know your needs and get yourself close to them, you’ll start seeing progress. Success isn’t just about what you do, but where you position yourself to do it. Let go of distractions and create a life of focus and intention.

If you want to take your team, event, or conference to the next level, book me to speak at baylorbarbee.com/pages/book-baylor. For more mindset motivation, check out my 10-minute-a-day podcast, Shark Theory, at baylorbarbee.com/pages/podcast. Mindset Matters: Let's make yours unstoppable.