Seven Steps to Achieving Your Goals

This is the time of year when many goal setting gurus being to talk about reflecting on your goals for the past year and looking ahead to the new goals you will create for the coming year. I recognize the huge importance of having goals but I also think it is useless to talk about goal setting without an even stronger focus on goal attainment.

Anyone whose ever celebrate the New Year has set a goal but what takes goal setting to the next level? I'd like to share with you my seven-step system for actually reaching and attaining your goals. Are you ready?

Step 1: Begin at the End:

Many experts in goal setting will tell you that you must begin at the end. Imagine yourself and all you want to accomplish in the future. That way you can develop the roadmap of just how to get there.

After all, you wouldn't get on a plane without knowing its destination, would you? Then why would you live your life that way? Decide right now, to the best of your ability where you want to end up when it's all over.

Stephen Covey in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People says his second habit is: "Begin with the End in Mind." He suggests that you imagine your own funeral and just what you want family, friends and community members to say about you, your character and your accomplishments. That way you will be able to plan step-by-step what exactly you will need to do to get there.

What is your purpose? What are your unique skills, talents and abilities that help you to contribute to humankind? If you aren't sure, take some time to daydream about it. Keep trying new things until you find something you love and at which you excel.

Step 2: Balance is the Key:

Many times when you think of setting goals, you focus on the area of professional objectives. While this is a very important part of your goal setting strategy, it shouldn't be your only center of attention. You are so much more than what you do at work, aren't you?

Think about it. At the end of your life, do you think you will be looking back regretting that you didn't work harder? Probably not. So, when you have a goal setting strategy session, you must look at all the important areas of your life. When I do my goal sessions, I look at work, love, play and spirituality.

There are many systems out there that divide our lives into different focal areas. I don't favor one over any others. My advice is that you find one that works for you and set goals in each of those areas.

Step 3: Take Stock: Where are you now? What are your strengths?

What would you have to give up?

As important as knowing where you are going is knowing where you are right now. It's impossible to get good directions anywhere unless the person giving directions knows where you are starting from.

Take the time to scrutinize the reality of your life. Where do you stand in each of the areas you identified in Step 2? This is not a time to be overly critical or overly optimistic. Just take an honest look at your current situation.

Then make an assessment of your strengths. Enumerating your strengths can be very helpful in setting future goals. Sometimes it's your strengths that will make goal attainment possible.

Finally, I ask you to answer the question, "What would you have to give up to be successful with this particular goal?" When you have your answer, you must then assess if it will be worth it. Many times we don't move forward toward our goals because of fears that remain just out of our conscious awareness. We must bring them to the forefront where they can be confronted and managed.

Step 4-Work Backwards/Time Management:

Once you know what you are striving for and where you are, then you plot out the course to get you there. You can have 10-year, 5-year, 3-year, 1-year, 3-month, 1-month, 1-week and daily goals. I generally review my big picture goals quarterly and set my shorter goals according.

While doing some positive goal setting, it is important to attend to time management issues. These things will not happen unless you prioritize and protect your time to do the things that you have identified as important.

Step 5: Affirmations/Visualizations/Meditations:

This is not just some new age hog wash. There has been extensive brain research that backs up the use of affirmations, visualizations and meditation.

If you are serious about accomplishing your goals you must write them down. Back in 1953, a Harvard University study showed that 3% of the students graduating that year actually wrote down their specific career goals. Twenty years later, a team of researchers interviewed the class of 1953, and found that the 3% who had written down their goals were worth more financially than the other 97% combined. (Make no mistake, writing down goals pays off, big time!)

An affirmation is simply writing your goal as if it were already true in the present moment. You then say these affirmations daily, at least once but more if possible. Be very clear about what you are trying to accomplish.

A visualization is just like a mental rehearsal. In your mind's eye, you imagine what life would be like if you had the goal accomplished. The more vivid and sensory-based you can make your visualization, the more effective it will be.

Meditation is a quiet time you take to get in touch with your inner self or your higher power. It is a time of deep reflection where you may ask questions and seek answers from a place or entity that has the answers.

Step 6: Positive Attitude:

There is a Universal Law of Attraction that says we attract into our lives that which we focus on. If we are focused on what we don't have, then we will bring more lack into our lives. If we are constantly complaining about our bad luck, then that is what we can expect.

When working in harmony with our true selves, it is important to maintain an attitude of gratitude. Even when things don't go as you planned, you can always be grateful for the lessons learned along the way.

Step 7: Continuous Improvement/Staying Motivated:

This may be the difference between goal setting and goal attainment. The first part is never being satisfied that you have arrived. There is always something more that you can do, another improvement that you can make. Life is a continuous journey.

Staying motivated is a challenge. Sometimes meeting our goals will motivate us; sometimes it has the opposite effect. I find having an accountability partner, a coach or a mastermind group to whom I am accountable makes all the difference. I can promise myself I'm going to do something all day long. If I don't, who will be the wiser? However, when I say out loud to someone else what my intentions are, then my integrity won't let me fail.

Stop goal setting and start goal attaining and make this your year!

By Kimberly Olver

Kim Olver is a life, relationship and executive coach. Her mission is to help people get along better with the important people in their lives. She teaches people how to live from the inside out by empowering them to focus on the things they can change. She in an internationally recognized speaker, having worked in Australia and the continent of Africa, as well as all over the United States. She has consulted with the NBA and other major league player development specialists. She is the author of Leveraging Diversity at Work and the forthcoming book, Relationship Empowerment. She co-authored a book with Ken Blanchard, Les Brown, Mark Victor Hansen and Byron Katie, entitled 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life. She works with individuals, couples, parents, social service agencies, schools, corporations and the military--anyone who will benefit from gaining more effective control over their lives. She has consulted on relationships, parenting, self-development, training, leadership development, diversity, treatment programs and management styles. Find out more information about Goal Attainment.

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Business and Personal Goal Setting

Have you procrastinated about your career goal setting or maybe your business goal setting. I truly believe you need to do some smart goal setting if you want to achieve specific things in your career, business or personal life.

First of all I truly believe everyone can create a great life. I believe money is a byproduct to a great life. However, the key is to keep it in perspective and to take the time to create a balanced life with great relationships, health and wealth.

How To Achieve Smart Goal Setting

So what do you have to do achieve smart goal setting? I believe the key to goal setting is that they are written positive and present tense. You need to write them daily (7 times), listen to them or read them out loud daily (7 times) with 7 second intervals. You do this to get them into your subconscious mine. You will achieve 99% of your goals using this technique.

The Best Affirmation

On another note, most people don't achieve their goals because of their Worth Barometer - which is a term I use to describe someone's beliefs and self worth. One of the best affirmations you can say to help your self worth is "I am enough". Many people's fear of succeeding or their cause of failure has to do with their self worth and this is the best affirmation, I have found, to replace that belief.

The Key To Smart Goal Setting

The key to smart goal setting is actually making a commitment to do your goal setting. You need to take the time to sit down and put your goals together. Find 7 goals, write down positive and present tense goals. Get in the habit of writing them down every day, read them out load every day, and then visualize yourself achieving these goals.

By Mark J. Nelson

Do you want to grow your wealth and business?

Learn from Mark Nelson. Mark works from his home part time on several businesses. Get your free articles, audio, and a free e-book on Building Your Wealth now - visit his internet business sites, FinancialHat and Your Money And Life

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Goal Setting For Your Business and Your Life

An entire month of 2009 is gone forever. What will you do with what's left? Think about it: You have a brand new 334 days. Nothing has ever been done with those 480,960 minutes. ANYTHING could be done with them, but so far no one has touched them.

Don't you think that potential deserves some preparation? So, how do you begin to prepare for such a monumental undertaking?

Start by examining 2008.

Ask yourself:

• What was the greatest thing you accomplished in 2008?

• What were your major setbacks or obstacles in 2008?

• How did you overcome them?

• Could you have handled the situation differently, better, more calmly, more efficiently, etc.?

• What is the one thing you most want to accomplish in 2009?

• Why do you want that thing?

• What 3-5 areas of your life would you most like to improve in 2009?

• What one thing would you most like to improve in those areas?

• What three things can you do in the month of February to help you accomplish those things?

• What will your greatest accomplish be in 2009?

• Why? What will make that your greatest accomplishment?

• What date will you start to plan for 2009?

It is up to you to make those things happen. Will you start today and move steadily through the year without having to jump any hurdles, without getting pushed back by a sickness, or a death, or an injury, without getting turned around and going backward for a while? Probably not.

But you will have a plan, a map, an idea of what you should be doing, what you want to do, and what you WILL do--steadily, confidently, and courageously to make 2009 the BEST YEAR EVER!

By Paula Farris

And now I invite you to claim a copy of a free ebook called "How to Understand the Economy in 1 Hour." This book is invaluable in today's uncertain economic times. Your business will benefit and you will be able to set more appropriate goals by understanding how the economy really works.

Claim your copy here: http://www.AggressiveSuccess.com

Copyright 2009, Paula Farris, All Rights Reserved

This article can be given away to anyone or reproduced in any publication as long as this resource box is attached.

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Setting and Achieving Goals - Your Success Depends on It

We all devote countless hours thinking of our present situation in life, and our future. During this thought process, you probably have found yourself wishing you could change something. The first step to making any change, whether personal or professional, is to set goals.

Many of us are fantastic at setting our goals, however, most of us are practically incapable of following through with them. When you think about it, how many times have you decided on a course of action and then simply couldn't follow through with it? Too often, we fail because we didn't take the time to create a realistic goal-setting plan.

By setting goals, and charting your achievement, you are able to see your accomplishments, and what you can successfully complete in the near future. When you analyze your goal plan, and assess your achievements, you gain a certain confidence in yourself, which enables you to conquer more challenging goals. Goal setting can be a relatively painless process, providing you have the self-discipline required to follow through. The outcome of a successfully achieved goal is extremely rewarding!

Benefits of Achieving Set Goals:

· Accomplish more in life
· Improve overall performance
· Feel an increased sense of satisfaction and pride
· Improve self-confidence and reduce negative thoughts

Think of goal setting as a process of personal development and planning. Setting goals enhances your ability to sort priorities in both personal, and business developments. When you know exactly what you plan to accomplish, you know what barriers you need to overcome. Goal setting is a way of life for many high-achievers: from professional athletes to multi-billion dollar companies. The idea is to create short-term motivation, with long-term triumph.

To effectively create a goal-setting plan, first think of what you hope to accomplish. Next, break it down in to more "bite-size" pieces. Consider your task as a completed puzzle--you see the whole picture at a glance. But, once the puzzle is in pieces, how do you go about re-assembling it? You start putting it together in sections, typically opting for the easier pieces--the ones that are obvious and make sense.

Set your goals in a format that includes time frames, such as the start date, amounts, completed-to-date, and the date of expected task completion.

When you have achieved a goal, take the time to enjoy the satisfaction of your success. Absorb the implications of the achievement, and observe the progress you have made towards future goals. If the goal was a significant one, don't forget to reward yourself accordingly!

The Unsuccessful Goal
Failing to reach your goals can go wrong for any number of reasons. When you fail to achieve a goal, the effects can leave a negative impact on both your attitude and self-esteem. The end result is giving up.

Why Some Goals Fail:

· The goal was set too high-(unrealistic)
· The goal was set too low (No feeling of accomplishment or satisfaction)
· The goal was set at the "outcome" level, rather than a "performance" level
· Too many goals were set at once. Focus on one goal at a time

The biggest reason for the inability to reach a goal is the failure to take action. You cannot reach your goals when you do not set a course of action.

The concept of setting goals is a cumbersome task in itself, therefore, it is logical to set goals separately in accordance to specific areas of your business and personal life. For example: if you want to further yourself in your career, you set goals pertaining to your career enhancement.

You see, while setting the goals can be the easy part, reaching them is a whole new story. As mentioned previously, you need to complete your goals in parts, one step at a time. Once you have
moved in to the first step of your goal, you have taken action--the most important step.

Think of a toddler, learning to walk for the first time. He sees a toy on the edge of the table, and his goal is to get it! He slowly gets up and takes the first step; he has a plan and now taking action. Then, the toddler takes another step, and another, and another. While he may fall a few times in the process, he knows the toy on the table is attainable if he just pushes himself. Often that first step is the hardest, and the next step can be equally difficult. Once you complete a few more, the steps are easier to handle.

Determining what is holding you back is a key factor in successfully moving on to the next step. Many people are followers, and do well only when there is group encouragement. In most cases, your goal is exactly that--your goal. It's up to you to find and embrace the will power required to succeed in achieving your goals.

The process of goal setting should not be looked upon as daunting. In fact, it can be quite exciting and brain stimulating. Setting your goals early enough will make your journey to both personal and online success that much smoother.

By Jullieanne Matheson

Jullieanne Matheson - Online since '99. Successful ezine advertising campaigns begin at: http://www.ezines-r-us.com

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Why Do You Think Success Begins With a Dream?

Successful people from whatever country, race or culture all have a trait that is common among all if one were to analyze their route to success a bit closely. That is, there is no "by chance". Any success that comes by is a result of intense focus, dedicated heart and firm mind on nurturing the "seed" of an idea, and they believe their ideas can work.

In life, we really need a dream to complete us. All of us have a dream inside us. Even you have a dream, which can be as mundane as marrying a nice partner and settling down in life content. To achieve more in life, that is to say you just need to dream "bigger".

"Your success BEGINS with a dream..."

So ask yourself now, what is your dream in life? Never be too late to reward yourself with a plausible dream. Otherwise, life will be truly pathetic, won't it?

Recall that while we were young, we dreamed and imagined most of the times by seeing what the adults are doing and we wish to be like them or even better next time when we grow up. Somehow, this fire in the belly died down gradually as we are in the education system which focuses more on academic achievements and we are forced to "readjust" to the realities.

Why does it that when we grow up, the passion in the belly just died down? Only a minority will grow up and successful achieve their childhood dreams. For these people, I would say they have broken the "code" that hinders them to success. Maybe this is due to the pressures, strains and complicated emotions that arise when we are adults. And it really takes a lot to break this life "code".

I know there carries a risk if we venture into something that is "unknown". That is why most people are ordinary in life. However, let's carry on dreaming our life and keep that passion burning. There has to have faith that what you do is worthwhile. Somehow you will find that right place and time to do it.

If you believe that you can, you no doubt can.

If you believe you can't, most probably you won't achieve.

By Mere T.

Mere T is a spiritual researcher, blogger, conservationist and freelance writer. She has benefited a lot from the guidance of psychic Maria Duval in the topic of spirituality. She lives in New Zealand with her family and she enjoys the serenity of her country as it helps her to build up on her spiritual bonding with the environment. Her blog is Maria Duval.

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Future Goals - Give Yourself Permission to Dream

For years I've had a list entitled "The Things I Want to do Before I Die" - it started off as 50 things, then 100, now there are at least 250 items on that last. Some are small things, like I want to read every book written by Edgar Allen Poe, some are bigger things like I want to go on a month-long African Safari. Among many other things there are people I'd like to meet, languages I want to learn, and business goals I want to achieve. I've crossed many items off that list - to live overseas, to learn German, to own a home, to own a business, etc... Some of my friends thought it was morbid that I called my list "the things I want to do before I die." I just figured it was inevitable and why not start checking things off my list now. After all, it's never too early to start living your dreams! When I began my coaching business I discovered something called a dream inventory - it's the same as my list, it just has a better name, and it made me realize all those "things" on my list, no matter how big or small, truly are dreams!

Asking clients to complete a dream inventory has been met with a wide-range of response. Some clients think it's silly, others really embrace it. I do have to say, the people that start off thinking it's silly have all come around. If you think about it though, every accomplishment from time immemorial has emerged as the end result of a dream, a vision, or perhaps even a far-fetched idea.

Start your Dream Inventory Today

Do you have a dream inventory? If not, I urge you to start one today! Many of the dreams you put on your list might be totally out of reach right now and that's okay. As you begin to grow and achieve, some of your dreams will become goals and perhaps some never will. This is all about dreaming it is not an exercise in your ability to actually achieve those dreams (I'll never be 6 ft tall, but a girl can dream!). Sometimes our dreams may seem too small or too insignificant to list, but list them anyway; there is no such thing as too small a dream. If a dream has value and worth to you, then it is important enough to be included on your list.

Here are some ideas for you to start creating your dream inventory today:

• Who do you want to meet?

• What books do you want to read?

• What plays do you want to see?

• What have you always wanted to do but never had time?

• What hobbies do you wish you had?

• What business goals do you want to achieve?

• What things do you want to do/offer your customers?

• Where do you want to travel?

• What do you want to own?

By Michelle Seyfarth

What's stopping you from achieving all that you can? Seyfarth Diversified Strategies was found on the belief that every individual has the ability, and can become empowered to be all he/she is capable of becoming. A day, a life, a company, can be changed by understanding and affecting the attitudes, thoughts, and beliefs that drive goals and lead you to success.

For more information, check us out: http://www.SeyfarthDiversified.com

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Failure - What Next?

I was sitting in a Tea Stall which in slang is called a tapri. Sipping tea in a small glass cup, I was thinking about my failure. I had miserably failed in the last project I started. It had shifted me into a state of depression.

Rains have started and the climate was wet. This was adding to the intensity of my pain and frustration. I saw a poor man digging beside the tea stall. He was sort of erecting some wooden columns so as to add a roof on top of them.

I strolled there near him and asked with curiosity, "What are you doing?"

"I am building my hut back, saab", said he not even looking towards me.

"Will you like to have some tea?" I asked but I didn't waited for his answer, and ordered "laalaa! One cut chaai here please."

Now he looked toward me with appreciation, as if he was thanking me with his eyes.

"What happened to your hut?" my question.

"Yesterday's rains washed away my hut and I need to re-build this before night."

I felt a connection between his situation and mine. Strange enough but he was also broke so as I. His hut was brought down not because of his fault just like my project failed not because of me. When you have to face failure from the situation where you are not responsible you always have a question "Why me?"

"Don't you feel pain bhaiyya? This is such a sad thing that you have lost your hut yesterday. I can feel the pain you may have inside," I tried to console him by showing my sympathy.

"Pain saab!, I cannot afford to be painful, I cannot afford to even think about the sorrow and why me stuff. I must work again and build this hut from the start as fast as possible so my wife and child can have some roof tonight to sleep."

Internally I felt to touch his feet for teaching me this lesson. Wow! Can I afford to be frustrated? What am I doing? Just sorrowing and doing nothing to proceed further.

Yes even I cannot afford to be painful and do nothing. I must proceed. I got my lesson that day from an unconventional teacher.

By Tushar V Joshi

Tushar Joshi, Nagpur

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