I gave my son advice a couple of days ago, prefacing it by saying it was the most important advice of his life. Five simple words:
 

Be true to your word.
 

To me that means have respect for the person you are talking to and more importantly, have respect for yourself. If you say you're going to do something, then do it.

Being true to your word means living up to your end of the bargain. This is easy to understand, for instance, when you sign a contract with someone else. You oblige yourself to do something, by a certain time, for which, in exchange, you get something in return. Of course.

Respect for yourself is not just about your obligations to others. It's about your obligation to yourself.

When you set a goal, think of it as a contract with yourself. If you want to achieve your goal, you have to understand the terms. A goal is not an aspiration. You need to know what you need to do, and when.

Don't tell me how much you want to achieve your goal, show me with your actions. You can't just will a goal into existence. You must pursue it every day. Every Day. Achieving your goal is merely the result of your daily actions. Your daily practice must be deliberate and intentional.

You can't worry about setbacks. You have to expect roadblocks. You have to understand your weaknesses, too. You need to adjust and readjust accordingly. Being true to yourself means having the determination to do the daily work you need to succeed.

You must trust the process without being obsessed with the results. Do everything you are supposed to do to reach your goal. It is your goal. Have faith that your hard work and determination will be rewarded either with successfully reaching your goal, or in an amazing way you can't even imagine.