By Jack Perry
Everyone has goals. In fact, no one would be able to function day-to-day without them. However, most people don’t choose to invest the time and effort to go through a deliberate process of selecting and implementing their goals. Statistics show that less than one percent of adults in the United States and Canada actually write down their goals. And even fewer people create action plans based on achieving them!
Every goal you have requires a deadline and a deliberate, pro-active system that keeps you marching forward. So if goal achieving simply requires deadlines and action, why isn’t everyone out there enjoying a dream life? Well, some people see goal achieving as more trouble than pleasure in their lives. It makes you face your target. Goals introduce accountability. Think about it:
Without goals, you can coast through life.
Goals conflict with the status quo.
Goals mean change.
Remaining at the status quo is easier than changing.
With change, things can become uncomfortable.
You could possibly fail to achieve some of your goals.
But as Beverly Sills said, “You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don’t try.” So why settle for coasting through your life when you can achieve one big goal after another? If you want to achieve your goals, then use the following two part program for developing your goals and maintaining your motivation:
Part One: Your Deliberate 10-Step Goal Process
Think big and get specific. List one or more goals for each focus area of your life. Suggestions include: your spirituality, mental growth, physical health, family life, friendships, net worth, yearly savings, and community involvement.
What is the use of running if you’re not on the right road? Goal setting will put you on the right road, not a sidetrack. Next, decide one thing you could change that would bring you closer to achieving your number one goal in each chosen area of your life. If you want to get healthier, you could exercise every day. If you want a better home life, you could eat dinner with your family every night. If you want to increase your business success, you could hire a success coach.
If you have a mentor, personal board of directors, or a family member that is appropriate, consider discussing your goals with them. However, beware of the naysayer/doomsayer – the people who might try to sabotage your goals. You want support and fellow creativity in helping you achieve these goals.
Review each goal to determine if any conflict with the true priorities in your life. At the same time, seriously look at the goal as yours. Are they your goals or actually the goals someone else has for you?
Write a few “taking action” sentences or bullets about each goal. For example, “My goal for my physical health is to become more active. I will pursue this goal by exercising daily.”
Determine if any serious, temporary challenges or roadblocks exist in pursuing each goal. If you want to buy a bigger house, you may have financial roadblocks. Or if a career change is your goal, you may have experience or education roadblocks.
How are you going to overcome these challenges/roadblocks? For each roadblock and challenge, consider a few ways to overcome it. What actions do you need to take? Write them down.
Ask yourself: When I achieve this goal, will the result benefit me? My family? My community? How? Consider the benefits in detail, and be as specific as possible.
Rank your goals in terms of importance. Time frame is not an issue. How you chose and rank your goals is a personal choice.
Put your goals into short (30-90 days), medium (3-6 months), and long-term (6 months plus) time frames. But resist the impulse to put the biggest, scariest goals in the long-term frames because you just don’t see how they could possibly happen. Go back to each goal and ask yourself why you gave it that deadline. Some goals take longer to achieve than others, but you want to be sure you’re not avoiding action on a goal because it takes you out of your comfort zone.
Part Two: Affirmations
Once you’ve identified, examined, and accepted your goals, the affirmation process will help make them come true. Fully embrace the affirmation process, believe in it, remain committed, and follow these three steps every day:
1. Create Your Affirmations
An affirmation is a sentence that you have documented. That’s right; it must be written down (ideally, written on something the size of a business card or index card so you can carry it with you), and it declares something you choose to bring about in your life.
As you write your affirmation, use the first person point of view, or “I,” rather than the third person, or “you.” Also write in the present tense as if your affirmation has already happened (i.e.: “I take great pride in being a great listener.”). Finally, avoid negative words and phrases, or words like “don’t” and “can’t” (i.e.: “I don’t interrupt people.”).
2. Implement Your Affirmations
Carry your affirmations with you at all times, written on a small card. At least twice daily you must read the affirmations. If you can, read them aloud.Then close your eyes and visualize every possible feeling and emotion related to achieving your goal. But don’t see yourself in the background, as a supporting player. See yourself as the main character in the play of your life, doing the things you choose to do and achieving the goals you want to achieve.
Each evening, just prior to falling asleep, focus on one of your goals. While you sleep, your subconscious mind works at finding ways to draw you closer to that goal. Implementing your affirmations with these methods will help keep you focused on your goals and your success.
3. Periodically Review Your Affirmations
As you work towards your goals, you’ll eventually achieve them. Therefore, your affirmations will need to change. As you achieve success, celebrate and eliminate the accomplished goals. Then add exciting new goals that pertain to your future.
Reaching Your Goals for the Future
With these proven steps and the affirmation-making process that follows, you’re already on your way with an organized, action-oriented plan. Imagine: just by taking these steps, you’ve already placed yourself in the rare category of extraordinary achievers. When you use these steps, you will be mindful of both your specific goals and the action-taking steps necessary to achieve your goals.
Goal-Process From The Respect Factor® Series, ©Jack Perry 2005. All rights reserved
THE RESPECT FACTOR® is a trademark of Jack Perry in the United States and other countries. Used with permission. ©2009 Jack Perry. All rights reserved
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