People who are considered to be ambitious attend the best universities, have prestigious careers and earn high salaries. But they don’t necessarily lead more successful lives, according to a study by Timothy Judge, professor of management at the University of Notre Dame. The result is that these “go-getters” fall short when it comes to happiness and health.

Have you ever wondered what success means to you? Many of us have never asked ourselves this very important and personal question. Instead, we may follow everyone else’s path to please those around us. We may be chasing the traditional idea of success: Money, fame and power.

Real success is best measured by what motivates and drives us every day. This is very individual, varies from person to person and is unique because we all have a different mix of skills and talents.

On the other hand, true happiness is a feeling of life satisfaction, energy, time and having positive emotions. Research shows that people who are happier have better life outcomes, including financial success, supporting relationships, mental health, resilience, and even physical health and longevity.

There is a general process that can be followed to achieve many things in life. If you understand this process and follow it, you can achieve your dreams. However, this does not mean that it is easy. It just means that there is a process that provides predictable results. You still have to do the work!

Use these principles to achieve what your heart desires:

1. Know what you want to achieve

If you want to achieve something, you need to know what that “something” is. Be clear about what result you want to achieve. Most people already fail at this step. Choose something and create a clear idea of what you want to achieve.

2. Create a plan

Now that you have a goal, you need a plan to follow. Your plan will likely change over time, but you need a roadmap to get started. Create a plan and take the first step within 72 hours. Once you get started, your plan will become clearer and clearer. You just need to see the next step to move forward. The path will reveal itself as you make progress and take the first steps to achieving your goal.

3. Determine your internal and external obstacles

Inner obstacles are doubts or other negative feelings and thoughts connected to your goal or the path that leads to your goal. It is important to remove these obstacles if you want to be successful. External obstacles are things like time, money, finding clients, finding a mentor, and so on. Many of these obstacles are predictable. Create a plan for dealing with them.

4. Set short-term goals as well

If your goal will take more than a few months, set short-term goals. This will keep you on track and keep you focused. It’s easy to put off something that will take you a year to accomplish. That’s why you need short-term success experiences to help you along the way.

5. Plan your day

Make the most of each day by having a plan for your day. Consider your goal and your plan and schedule your time accordingly. It’s best to do this in the evening so you can go to work in the morning well prepared. Avoid starting your day without a plan. Make a firm decision to achieve 3 goals and complete the tasks each day.

6. Get rid of the issues that waste time

We all waste time. Think about how you waste time most often and find a way to remove those things from your life. Curb your TV consumption or unproductive habits. If this is not possible, minimize their impact on your life and on what is keeping you from achieving your dreams.

7. Improve your mindset

Your mindset affects your motivation, energy level, outlook and the way you make decisions. Adopt a positive attitude that supports your goals. Use positive affirmations which bring you closer to your goals every day.

8. Decide never to give up

This is a difficult point for most people. Most people fail either because they never start or give up before they reach their goal. Perseverance is perhaps the most important quality you can have if you want to succeed.

9. Find a coach

If you’re not quite clear on how to achieve your goal, a coach can save you a lot of time and heartache. Even reading a book can be considered as a kind of coach. Many experts write books. They share their wisdom and ideas in these books. If you can read, you already have a coach.

The process to being successful is not a secret. The challenge is to get yourself to take action and to persevere long enough to become successful. If you succeed at these two things, you can accomplish just about anything.

Decide on a big, defining goal and set out to achieve it. With all your heart and all your strength. It means work, but it also means fulfillment. Avoid the later regret of never having tried in the first place. Give yourself a chance and see what happens. Take the risk it is worth it.