Set Your Goals!

SET YOUR GOALS

Today is the day to start setting YOUR goals. I’ve been setting and achieving goals my entire life and here are some of the best tips I can suggest to help you be successful.

#1. WRITE THEM DOWN. The most powerful tool that you can have for goal achievement it is this: A PENCIL! In a word, WRITE YOUR GOALS DOWN! A goal that is not written is only a wish! Commit your goals to paper. The very act of writing your goals increases the odds of success by a factor of ten or more.

#2. POST YOUR GOALS. The second most effective tool for goal setting is to post you list of goals somewhere that you can see them and review them often! Goals are like pets and can't be ignored. You need to read them to yourself from time to time. Read them out loud occasionally.

#3. SHARE YOUR GOALS. Talk with others about goals. As appropriate, tell others about your own goals and share with them what you want to do. Bring them up in your conversations with others. This helps commit you. Sharing a goal with someone else makes you accountable and more likely to succeed. ”Larry, my goal is to lose 10 pounds in 3 months.” Now that Larry knows, he will be watching you! Its best to share your goals with people who are supportive, but remember that even bold declarations before adversaries will commit you to your goals. So don’t be afraid to open up and throw down the gauntlet! Other people are always your greatest asset because they can mentor and guide you. In fact, posting a list of your goals publicly, like in your family room or in your office at work will enlist the help of others who support you, love you, and want you to succeed! Believe that other people will help you achieve your goals. They are the keys that open the many doors to your success.

#4. BE SPECIFIC. Make your goals specific and achievable. Your mind works best when instructions to it are clear. “Lose weight” is a good goal, but “Lose 5 pounds” is a better goal because your mind knows exactly how much weight you want to lose. “Lose 5 pounds in 30 days” is even better because it is more specific since it adds the dimension of time that is so critical in rapid goal achievement. Practice making your goals as specific as you can, adding a timeline, and you will be amazed at the results you will have.

#5. NEVER BE DISCOURAGED. Discouragement is a disease that can destroy you. Never get discouraged. As it says in Joshua, “Be strong and of a good courage.” It is better to set a goal and get half way there than it is to never set a goal and stay where you are. Here's an example. If you are not a reader, you might set a goal to read a book a week for a year. If you fall short and read only one book a month, don’t be discouraged! Look at your gain and not at the loss! Much of the reward is in the journey. So always keep on GOALING!

For more tips on goals, read chapter 6 “Advanced Goal Setting” in my book, How to Get Where You’re Goaling.