A goal is a deadline you set for yourself in order to reach something you strongly, personally desire. If you’ve always wanted to write a book then write a book. If you’ve wanted to build a website then build a website. Run a marathon? Do it. Live on an exotic island in the Caribbean … make a plan and go for it. I will show you how in this little blurb.
A goal is not Joe Lineman's rushing yardage benchmark he set in order to beat (enter high school football team name here) at homecoming. It’s your road map to get something you strongly desire and it doesn’t have to always be grandiose or materialistic – perhaps you just want to call your mom once a week – go for it.
Step 1: Write it out
First, do a little daydreaming. What does your ideal day look like? What kind of career success will you have, how much money? What does your family life look like? I like to address these 8 main areas in goal setting:
Happiness
Family and Friends
Finance
Career
Health
Hobbies
House (mowing the yard always makes its way onto the list)
Service
Think about each of these areas. What’s the ultimate picture you hold in your head for where you will be 3 or 5 years down the road. Once you’ve got a decent picture – and don’t be afraid to shoot big or be optimistic – it’s time to write it down. Ideally you should shoot for 10 decent goals that are going to push you towards the ideal picture you hold in your head. Shoot for a list of 100 if you so desire - the sky is the limit.
Now we need to bring that picture into reality and write it down in a spot where you can review 2 to 3 times a day. The main push of a written goal is that it has a timeline and it is specific – it’s a dream with a deadline. Thus, if you want to lose weight its much less effective to say “I want to be slimmer” than it is to say “I want to weigh 170 pounds by September 22, 2009 at 7pm." In the second example we have a specific date and for that matter, a time. Be as specific as possible. You’ve stated how much you are going to weigh – 170 pounds. It’s easy to jump on the scale on September 22,2009 at 7pm and see if in fact you are at 170.
If you want a new car, describe in detail the make, model and color and perhaps all of the features of the car. If you want a vacation home on an exotic beach describe what it looks like and the sights and sounds you will see as you sit on the beach in front of it. Write it down and be as specific as possible.
In addition to this, you need to put your goal in the present tense and write it in an affirming sense as if you have already achieved it. "I am thoroughly enjoying being svelte and slim weighing 17o pounds by September 22, 2009 at 7pm. I feel healthy and great." These action verbs and feeling of present tense will help your mind close the gap faster by bringing it into reality.
Write down your top 10 – put them in a notebook, on your computer or on note cards where you can review them daily.
Step 2: Read it 2 – 3 times a day
Now that you have your list you need to put some daily action behind it . Read it to yourself 2 to 3 times a day, out loud if the opportunity presents itself. Be diligent about this. Read them in the morning and before going to bed. This one action could take up to 10 minutes a day while putting you in the top 10 percent of all achievers.
Step 3: Now visualize it
Continue on with the daydreaming from the initial setup that spurred your goals list. At least twice a day spend 5 to 10 minutes visualizing your goals that you have written down as already complete. What does it feel like to drive that ’65, white mustang, breezing down a country road? What sights and sounds do you see and hear? How does the wind feel blowing through your hair? What tunes do you have playing on the radio? Who is by your side in the seat next to you - your wife or the dog?
For that vacation home – what do the waves feel like as they lap against your feet? How warm is the water? Do you hear laid back Hawaiian music playing or Metallica? Can you smell coconut or the sun tan lotion you are wearing? Do you have a beach bungalow or a beach mansion? Can you hear the seagulls baying in the distance?
Scientists claim that the mind does not know the difference between repeated visualization and reality. In the end what you are trying to do is program yourself to look for the opportunities to move towards your goals on a daily basis. When you visualize your goals daily as already complete, your mind will strive to close the gap between reality and your daydream.
Step 4: Affirm it out loud
Okay, I don't want people to think you are crazy but if you can find a nice quiet place where you are preferably alone, you should read your goals out loud at least twice a day. This is reinforcing even further that you are closer to the reality of your goal. Affirm it out loud in the present tense – read what you have written – “I am thoroughly enjoying having a net wort h of $1million by October 31st, 2009 at 7pm. This money brings great joy to my life and gives me the freedom to travel the world.”
Read it out loud.
Step 5: Rewrite It
Also, if you have time rewrite your top 10 goals at least once a day. I’m not saying spend all of your time working on these techniques instead of your goals – but be diligent about these tactics and at the most, for your top ten, all of the steps laid out before should take no more than a total of 30 minutes a day. The rewards from the time invested are well worth it. Rewrite the top ten - keep your dreams in the forefront of your daily activities.
Well, there you have it. Five steps to get you on the path to the life of your dreams. Don't be afraid to dream big, don't be afraid to believe in yourself. Give yourself the life that you deserve. Be diligent, follow through on these steps and all of the rewards of life will arrive at your doorstep in great waves.
AB
If you are highly interested in goal setting techniques, living the life of your dreams and the spot where most of these steps came from, check out Jack Canefield's book The Success Principles(TM): How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be
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