A Goal Without A Plan is Just a Wish!

Goal Setting

Setting a goal provides you with the incentive and motivation you will need to stay the course for the task at hand.  When I first started my entrepreneurial adventure my goals were S. M. A. R. T. By following the 

S. M. A. R. T. goal setting idealology from the start my odds of success were increased.  

S. M. A. R. T. goals are:

S. Specific
M. Measurable
A. Attainable
R. Relevant
T. Time-Bound

One of the first goals for my business for to generate $3,750 per month by 8/17/10.

It was: 
Specific - Earn $3,750
Measurable - $3,750 by 8/7/10 (6 months after I launched my PTC  business)
Attainable - I had a strategy and plan which I developed to achieve this goal.  
Relevant - Of course my goal was relevant & critical to my own personal life plan.  
Time-Bound - I had a deadline that was set based upon the strategy I was implementing.  

Sometimes it can be quite difficult prioritizing your goals.  Often, we will have so many needs, wants, and desires it's overwhelming.  I realized I needed help so I turned to someone I trusted for assistance.  I turned to Zig Ziglar for inspiration.  Zig Ziglar has an excellent audio book called "Goals: Setting and Achieving Them on Schedule"  Zig Ziglar recommends that you spend at least 10 hours planning your goal, which is why on only 3% of the population has clearly defined objectives for their lives.  Zig's 5-step process will equip you with even more tools to become successful.  

Zig Ziglar's goal setting process:

1. #1 Create your dream list. Let your imagination run wild and write down everything you want, desire, and wish for. EVERYTHING!
2. Wait 24-48 hours!  Once the time is up consider "Why?" for each item on your dream list.  (If you can't HONESTLY express in a single sentence why cross this item off your list.  
3. With the remaining items on the list ask yourself these 5 questions.  If you can't answer yes to these questions cross the item off your list.  It's more of a dream than a goal.    
   • Is this really "my" goal?
   • Is this morally right and fair for everyone concerned?
   • Is it consistent with my other goals?
   • Can I emotionally commit to completing this goal?
   • Can I truly see myself achieving my goal?
4. With the remaining items on your list ask yourself these questions & if you can't answer yes to at least on of these questions cross it off the list.  
   • Will this goal make me happier?
   • Will this goal win me more friends?
   • Will this goal give me peace of mind?
   • Will this goal make me more secure?
   • Will this goal improve my relationship with others?
5. Divide the remaining goals into 3 categories;
   • Short - less than 1 month 
   • Medium - 1 month -  1 year
   • Long - greater than 1 year

There should be a mix of big goals to help you grow to reach your full potential; long range to keep you focused; and small to keep you on task daily.  

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Hard work does lead to failure, ooops, I mean success.

The truth behind succeeding.  

You would be surprised by how many people are unaware of the amount of failure experienced when we set out to achieve a goal.  Succeeding is not all of the glitz and glam portrayed on television.  When we view another person's success we only see the result.  We don't get to see the sleepless nights, the worry, or the failures.  All we see is the result of their endurance.

Almost every successful individual I've encountered have shared with me how difficult and trying their journey has been.  They speak of how much they've had to overcome in order to reach their goals.  I've come to realize that the sooner we embrace and understand this principle the easier it will be for us to overcome the roadblocks and obstacles we face in our own journey.  When we're able to associate these difficulties as being normal and part of the journey, we can begin to see success and achievement all lie on the other side of our failures.

"You always pass failure on the way to success." Mickey Rooney

Could you imagine what would've happened if Michael Jordan had given up on his hoop dreams when he was cut from his high school basketball team?  People who succeed in life all possess these key traits;

• Endurance.  Successful people are ready to weather the storm.  They know that the road may be difficult and challenging but the reward outweighs any challenges ahead. 
• Acceptance.  Successful people accept their failures and learn from them.  They don't allow themselves to be defeated by temporary setbacks.  
• Positivity.  Having a positive attitude is an imperative trait to possess when pursuing a goal.  You have to believe that you can achieve your goal.  
• Adaptable. Our world is changing at a rapid pace.  In order to succeed you have to be able to adapt to these changes and change course quickly.
• Reflection.  In order to evolve and develop the skills needed to advance to your next level self reflection is key.  How can you address that which truly stands to halt you in your tracks if you don't acknowledge it?
• Curiosity.  To succeed you have to be willing to constantly expand your current knowledge capacity.  Don't let your own education be something you were told you had to learn!           

“If you are not in the process of becoming the person you want to be, you are automatically engaged in becoming the person you don’t want to be.” - Dale Carnegie

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Change

Did you know there is an actual psychological diagnosis for those that fear change? Metathesiophobia is the medical jargon for it.  Why do people fear change?  For some of us we'd rather stay in a miserable familiar situation than venture out into unfamiliar territory and potentially find something better.

Change by definition is simple; the modification of a situation, environment, mental/physical condition that alters the current path.  Yet, so many struggle with change.  Often the fear of change lies in our lack of confidence in our decision making abilities.  Decision making is often based upon our inner sense of knowing what to do.  This "knowing" is formed by our scope of previous experiences and know how.  The thing about change is that it takes us into an unfamiliar territory.  For many this is when fear sets in.  Because we can't predict the outcome our mind begins to play out all sorts of scenarios (often unfounded).  It is these self limiting beliefs of fear that keep us stagnant.  Originally fear was an emotion to keep us safe from real dangers, like charging animals.  We no longer have those dangers but the emotion of fear has remained but we use it in a manner often inapplicable to the situations involved.

Why do we fear change?

• We seek friends, social situations, and experiences that reinforce our current beliefs.  
• We don't like the illusion of failure.  
• We dislike criticism.
• We don't want to be wrong or make the wrong choice.



Fall is a visual representation of change.










• FEAR (False Evidence Appearing Real)
• We don't understand our core beliefs and how their affect.
• We tend to operate from a place of imagined outcome vs. true intent.  

"Fall is an incredible time of year.  It is a vibrant depiction of change.  You see powerful trees once full of flora and awe becoming dormant and entering a state of dormancy.  Come spring those dormant plants come alive with vibrancy and strength they haven't shown before."

You have this sense of unrest, displeasure or perhaps you just know something just isn't quite right.  Maybe you're unhappy with your social life, work life, relationships, physical appearance, whatever it may be you realize that change is needed.  So how do you go about getting past the fear and making a change?

Planning/Anticipation is the point in the change process where you realize change is needed.  This is often the point where many get hung up and paralyzed.  Often our emotional barriers suspend our decision making abilities and blocks out our ability to focus.  This is where you waiver and are indecisive.  You know what is needed but you may not be fully committed to changing.   Take time to weigh whether or not staying the same is worse than changing.  Debate the pros and cons of change within your mind or write them down.  CALM DOWN!  Excitability and fear all hinder change.  Once you've accepted that change is necessary begin to enact a plan to achieve the desired change.  

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