Critical success factors CSF are the elements that are necessary for a project to achieve its goals and become successful. To achieve desired outcomes these factors has to be mastered and controlled. This concept is widely used in projects management whether they are for companies, organizations, or governments.

John F. Rockart, of MIT’s Sloan School of Management stated that the CSF is:

“The limited number of areas in which results, if they are satisfactory, will ensure successful competitive performance for the organization. They are the few key areas where things must go right for the business to flourish. If results in these areas are not adequate, the organization’s efforts for the period will be less than desired.”

Hence, what I am curious about is not the CSF for organizations. Rather than that, I am more interested in applying such concept to individuals. What is that essential thing/things that has to be done in order to achieve what I want? What is that thing that if I don’t do I will never get to where I want to be.

It is important to notice that knowing and understanding your goals is very important. So what are your goals? What do you want to be? What is that achievements you are dreaming of? These are essential questions that you need to answer before any further development can take a place.

Once you understand what you want and once you know what is your current place then it is the time to understand and to apply Critical success factors to your personal goal. If, for example, your goal is to achieve your financial freedom and double your income by next year then your CSF for that goals could be:

(Notice that I made up these factors just to clarify what I mean by CSF)

1. Create successful relationships with entrepreneur in your area
2. Work on developing your business idea every single day.
3. Start a successful business within the next 12 months.

After figuring out CSF for your personal goal it is time to work on setting up goals to achieve and maintain these factors. For example, to achieve the object number 1 ”Create successful relationships with entrepreneur in your area” you have to build a good network. So your goals can be

1. Go to entrepreneurship events and meetups twice a week.
2. Build a good friendship with at least two entrepreneur.
3. Read at least one book a week about entrepreneurship so you can connect easily with other entrepreneur.

You should do the same list for each factor as well. Now you have a roadmap that will guide you to your final destination which is in this case achieving your financial freedom. You can apply this same concept to help you achieve different kinds of goals. Once you decide to change to a better place in your life then you have to figure out what are the Critical success factors for that change. What are the Critical Success Factors to get to top ten universities? What are the Critical Success Factors to become healthy? What are the Critical Success Factors to land the job of your dream? What are the Critical Success Factors to get to become a great mother, father, partner, employee, employer…

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