Hi everyone, it's your host, Haley. If we haven't met before, I'm so happy you jumped on this episode since I have something really fun to share. Dun, dun, dunnnnn: this past week I officially reached my goal of making it to every state!

Last year, I realized I was really close and had under 10 states left to hit, so I thought knocking them off before i turned 30 (which is next month) would be a really cool goal. Through the months, I slowly but surely got to each and then hit a bit of a road block as I failed on my both of my attempts to get to Rhode Island and Alaska. So this past week, I put on my travel boots and hit both the smallest and largest in one week!

I'm planning to write a more exciting post about all the states and my favorite spots so that you guys can get some insight into new places you may want to hit, and I'll release that around my birthday, so stay tuned!

Today, revolving around this accomplishment, I wanted to talk with you about setting expectations for yourself.

This sort of relates to goals, and you can hear more about those on Episode 31, but I think expectations go a bit deeper. It's a way of everyday thinking, not just a distant accomplishment you hope to achieve. And it begins with a choice.

When I decided I wanted to reach all 50 states, I expected myself to make it happen. It wasn't simply an idea that may or may not occur. I fully expected myself to accomplish what I wanted and therefore welcomed any opportunities that came my way to see the remaining states. My expectations guided my actions.

How high are the expectations you have for yourself? And more importantly, are these expectations for YOURSELF or for someone else.

I find often we place high expectations on ourselves to please our parents, or significant others, or heck, even social media. But if we're being honest, those usually aren't fun and they won't last. Sooner or later you'll get sick of trying to please people and realize that people really don't care as much as you thought and you should've been spending your time following your personal expectations.

Alright, so we're clear, these are YOUR expectations. So what's the point and what's the process?

Simply, the point is that higher expectations allow you to get the results that you want. If you go into a meeting expecting mediocre outcomes, that's usually what you'll get, right? However, if you go in expecting that by the end you will have the results and information you desire, you'll be more apt to ask the right questions, engage with the right people, and delegate tasks to people who will create the best outcomes. Maybe you can't control everything entirely, but you got results you wanted and expected.

The same can be said for sports games. Say you expect to have 20 points by the end of your basketball game. Can you get those 20 points if you only shoot 3 shots? Obviously not. Same with clients. If I expect to sell 5 paintings this month, but only put 3 for sale, I don't even give myself a chance. By placing higher expectations on yourself, you give yourself a higher chance of success.

Kinda sounds simple, doesn't it? It is!

I want all of you to come out of this episode with high expectations for yourself so let's dive a bit deeper into the process of having them.

What are a few things you could get into order that would make you instantly feel like you are ready to achieve more? For my extra traveling, I knew I needed to maintain a better calendar and set a schedule to accomplish things while I was at home. Maybe for you, it's as simple (or not simple depending) as cleaning your desk and space! A clean space can make a world of difference, believe me! For you, it may mean eating healthier meals so you have more energy to raise expectations.