| Everyone needs goals. By setting and achieving | | | | Once you have decided on a goal, you have to |
| goals you will gain confidence and become more | | | | decide how you are going to accomplish it. What |
| self-assured, and you will become more creative | | | | exactly do you need? And how long will it take? |
| as you begin to use your mind more effectively. | | | | Analyze the facts. Ask yourself: What knowledge |
| When you have goals your life has purpose; you | | | | do I need to achieve the goal? If you need some, |
| know what you want and you feel the | | | | get it. Look at the facts from all angles -- analyze |
| excitement of going after it, and achieving it step | | | | them, and get what is needed. |
| by step. | | | | Also, consider your desire; is if sufficient to carry |
| Without goals you have no dense of direction. Life | | | | you through the months of hard work that may |
| is a journey; you need direction and a destination, | | | | be required? If not, you have to ask yourself if |
| otherwise you will go around in circles and get | | | | you are sure this is really something you want. |
| nowhere. All successful men and women have | | | | Also, are your abilities consistent with what you |
| achieved their success as a result of setting goals | | | | want; this is helpful, but not essential. If you're |
| and working to achieve them. If you want to be | | | | starting as a novice, however, you have to be |
| successful you have to set goals. | | | | ready to pay the price. So, know what you want, |
| It's almost impossible to list all the things that | | | | and be sure of it. |
| goals can do for you. A goal is a dream -- an | | | | Determination is Critical |
| exciting challenge -- that keeps hope alive and | | | | You also have to have the required determination |
| gives you a reason to live. We are born as goal | | | | to follow through. You can't be wishy-washy. And |
| seekers. Children have all kinds of dreams and | | | | this requires a sincere desire; in fact, it should be |
| goals for the future. They want to be firemen, | | | | a burning desire -- a feeling that nothing can stop |
| pilots, policemen, and even cowboys when they | | | | you or get in your way of accomplishing your |
| grow up. They're full of enthusiasm but all too | | | | goals. To get this you have to develop a supreme |
| often as they grow older they begin to lose this | | | | confidence in yourself and your abilities. Look at |
| enthusiasm. Disappointments begin to pile up and | | | | your past successes (everybody has some) and |
| they lose their dreams. | | | | concentrate on them. Think about your strengths, |
| Goals can take many forms, and all of them | | | | and at the same time ignore everything negative |
| improve some aspect of your life. Setting and | | | | that has happened in the past -- your failures and |
| achieving a goal is one of the best ways of | | | | problems. If any thoughts such as "Can't do... |
| enriching your life, and giving it meaning. A few | | | | impossible" come to mind, get rid of them |
| examples of goals are goals related to skills in | | | | immediately. |
| sports and games, goals for achieving success at | | | | Plan on following through despite any setbacks or |
| work, goals for your business, physical fitness | | | | difficulties. Its a good idea, however, to have a |
| goals, goals related to playing a musical | | | | plan B in case something serious comes up. Keep |
| instrument, goals related to losing weight, and so | | | | telling yourself that failure is impossible -- you |
| on. Most people who set goals, set them up in | | | | won't accept it. Remember the four things you |
| more than one area. | | | | need for success: discipline, commitment, |
| How to determine Your Goals | | | | determination and persistence. |
| As strange as it might seem, some people have | | | | Develop a Plan |
| no idea where to start when it comes to setting | | | | You're ready now to sit down and set up your |
| goals. The first thing to do is think about what | | | | plan. The following is a good way to proceed. |
| you really want out of life? Where do you want | | | | |
| to be in 5 years, or 10 years, or even six months | | | | 1. Begin by listing your goals. |
| from now? And how do you achieve what you | | | | 2. It's critical that you express your goals |
| want? Incidentally, your age shouldn't be a factor. | | | | positively and in the present tense, and not |
| Goals are not just for young people. You can set | | | | negatively. For example: "I'm going to lose 10 |
| them at any age. | | | | pounds in three weeks." rather than "I'm not going |
| Begin by writing out a list of things you want. | | | | to eat as much at each meal.' |
| Think about how your life can be improved. | | | | 3. State your goals precisely in relatively short |
| Getting a better job that pays more money will | | | | statements that are easy to remember (this |
| no doubt be high on your list, but there will likely | | | | makes them easy to say to yourself as |
| be many other things you want? Do you need | | | | affirmations). |
| more education? Ask yourself what is the best | | | | 4. Outline how you are going to achieve your goal. |
| way to get it. Do you want to improve your skills, | | | | Plan each step carefully, listing each step that is |
| or acquire a skill you don't have? Think about it. | | | | required to achieve the overall goal. List the times |
| How should you go about it? Do you want to | | | | associated with each step (your short-term goals). |
| become more fit, or lose weight? How would it | | | | Short-term goals give you a sense of |
| benefit your life? | | | | achievement and this is something you need. |
| It's pretty obvious that there are a lot of things | | | | State your long-term goals. Everything should be |
| to consider, and with a little thought you can no | | | | planned in detail and you should keep track of |
| doubt come up with many things that you would | | | | your progress. |
| like to improve. And as you'll see, setting goals, | | | | 5. Have a Plan B in case something serious |
| working towards them, and finally achieving them, | | | | happens. Also, it's okay to make minor |
| is the best way to go about it. | | | | adjustments in your plan as you go along, but |
| What Goals are | | | | don't keep re-adjusting it. |
| From a simple point of view, goals are things we | | | | 6. Write down a list of reasons why you want to |
| want -- things we dream about. But let's look at | | | | achieve these particular goals. What do they |
| other aspects of them, in other words, what | | | | mean to you? How will they improve your life? |
| properties they have. First of all they have to be | | | | 7. Write down and type up your plan. Study it. |
| concrete; in other words, they have to be specific | | | | Post it where you can see it every day. |
| -- not vague. A vague goal is something like: " I'd | | | | Make Sure Your Plan is Realistic |
| like to lose some weight." A concrete, specific goal | | | | When you have finished writing up your plan, look |
| is "I'd like to lose 20 pounds by the end of July." | | | | it over carefully. Are the steps right for you? Too |
| Goals also have to be measurable. In other words, | | | | much, too soon and you may get bored or |
| there has to be something related to the goal | | | | overtired. In fact, you should include recreation |
| that allows you to keep track of your progress | | | | and fun along with the work required to achieve |
| towards achieving the goal. It may be related to | | | | your goals. All work can be a drudgery, so as |
| money (your wages), your weight (how much | | | | much as possible, make it fun for you. Also, try |
| you have lost), or how fast you can do | | | | to look forward to each day, think of it as |
| something. The important things is that goals are | | | | exciting -- something you really want to do, and |
| not static -- they require forward movement. | | | | the best way to do this is to keep your eye on |
| The main thing that has to be measurable is time. | | | | "the pot ot gold" at the end of the rainbow -- |
| They must have a time limit. You can have | | | | what you'll finally achieve. Think about how great |
| short-time and long-time limits; in fact, you should | | | | it will feel, and the sense of achievement that |
| have both, but you have to have definite targets | | | | you'll have. |
| that you are aiming for. And you have to take | | | | Imagination |
| these time limits seriously. | | | | It might seem that imagination doesn't play much |
| You can have several goals -- one related to | | | | of a role in relation to goals, but it does. You |
| work, one to skills, and so on -- but don't become | | | | should spend as much time as possible imagining |
| overwhelmed by too many. It may become | | | | yourself achieving the goals. Drive your success |
| difficult to keep track of your progress on each | | | | into your subconscious mind. Remember that your |
| one. Some types of goals are also better than | | | | subconscious mind can't distinguish a vivid |
| others; performance and knowledge goals, for | | | | imagination of success from real success, and it |
| example, are the best because bad luck normally | | | | adjusts your habits accordingly. So think of your |
| doesn't play a role in them. Outcome goals are | | | | goals every morning when you wake, and in the |
| good, but they can be a problem. For example, a | | | | evening when you go to bed. See yourself |
| goal of running a 4:20 mile within six months is a | | | | successful -- see the end result. Picture yourself |
| performance goal, whereas, winning the mile race | | | | as a success. Use your five senses to drive it |
| at the state track meet is an outcome goal, and | | | | home. |
| you may run 4:20 by that time, but not win. | | | | Imagination will increase your desire to achieve |
| Goals should also be at the right level. They | | | | your goals, which in turn will increase your |
| shouldn't be too simple (something you can easily | | | | motivation for success. What is particularly good |
| achieve) since achieving such a goal would give | | | | about thinking about your goals as much as |
| you little satisfaction, and they shouldn't be too | | | | possible is that it will be difficult for negative |
| hard, since this may lead to frustration. To get | | | | thoughts to find their way into your mind. You |
| around this, the best strategy is to have several | | | | won't think of failure, and you won't fear it. |
| "small goals" that eventually lead to a "large" goal. | | | | Enthusiasm and Happiness |
| Each of the smaller goals should be challenging | | | | You'll find that setting goals and working toward |
| (beyond your present abilities) but not so hard it | | | | achieving them will bring considerable happiness. |
| frustrates you. Once you have achieved one of | | | | You will always have something to look forward |
| the smaller goals, you then move on to the next | | | | to. You'll be happy because you are living your |
| one. For example, if you are a long jumper, a first | | | | dream -- you're achieving goals. You'll also find that |
| goal could be a jump of 18 feet, then when you | | | | it gives you peace of mind, and it will inspire you. |
| achieve it, aim for 19 feet, and so on. | | | | Also, let your enthusiasm grow. Feel the |
| Finally, you should be sure the goals that you are | | | | excitement of enthusiasm and the thrill of |
| setting are the ones "you" really want, not | | | | achieving something. You'll find that it gives you |
| something someone else (for example, your | | | | more self-confidence, and makes you more |
| parents) want for you. If you don't want it with all | | | | optimistic, With enough enthusiasm, nothing can |
| your heart and soul you won't achieve it. | | | | stop you. |
| Start By Getting the Facts | | | | |