Knowing how to set and accomplish goals is the single most important factor in your success as an entrepreneur. Business owners who master this skill can overcome any obstacle and create incredible empires, seemingly from nothing. In this article I will teach you a Powerful way to create goals that not only give you direction, but motivate and compel you to put your heart and soul into achieving them.
The goal-setting method I am about to share with you I learned from several mentors over a period of more than 10 years. Ever since, I have been using and honing this system in my personal and professional life. I hope that after learning it, this system will bring you the kind of success that it has brought me.
When I was a teenager, my mentor Walter Hailey told me that "By the time they reach the age of sixty, 95% of people are broke, dead, or dead broke. Only 5% are wealthy enough to retire with no debt, without needing social security."
I thought about this, and asked him, "How do I become one of those 5%?"
"Well, they all do three things in common that the other 95% don't do," he said.
I wanted to know. And he told me:
1. They set goals and write them down.
2. They read their goals every day.
3. They carry their goals with them everywhere.
I wondered how this simple practice could be so effective, so I decided to test it by trying it. The results were astronomical.
I have since designed my own system of writing and accomplishing goals, and along the way I have come to understand that the traditional way of thinking about success is wrong.
Myth: Success comes to people who Do what it takes to Have the result, then they Become successful people.
Reality: Success comes to people who decide they are going to Become the kind of person who Does what it takes, THEN they Have the result naturally.
In this article, I am going to teach you to use powerful goal-setting techniques to create a compelling vision for yourself and your business that will help you become the kind of person who gets the goals you seek - before you have obtained the goal.
This process may seem backward to you at first, and that's normal. However, I encourage you to try it out before you dismiss it, because I have seen this method create incredible results for people I know personally - including an Olympic Gold Medalist who used it in his training and teaches a version of this approach to professional athletes. Trust me - it works and it is Powerful if you take it seriously and put your heart into it.
Step 1: Set Your Goals.
If you own a business, you have probably been taught how to set effective goals before, so I will be brief in this section.
Most importantly, your goals should be between "too easy" and "unrealistic." Find that feeling of butterflies in your stomach when reading the goal - it's exciting to think about, it would take a stretch to make it happen, and the results would be spectacular. You can almost taste it, and you know how great it would feel to have it, but it would take some stretching to get there.
Step 2: Write Them Down.
When writing your goals, make sure they are present tense, positive, specific, and have a time limit. It is Very Important that you follow these simple guidelines when writing your goals down, because it makes a huge difference. To illustrate, read the following three pairs of goals and choose which one of the two is more exciting, compelling, and inspiring to you:
1. "I will not allow my business to stagnate this year."
2. "I grow my business 20% in the first quarter of 2009."
1. "I will spend more time this year making my website better."
2. "I spend 2-3 hours per week improving and editing my website from February, 2009 through the end of May, 2009."
1. "I will spend more time planning for the week ahead."
2. "I take one hour every Sunday, from 4:00pm-5:00pm to plan, schedule and prioritize my business activities for the upcoming week."
I hope you chose the second one. And remember, the purpose of this wording is to convince your subconscious mind that you are the type of person who gets the goal you are setting. When the description is specific enough, it gives you the motivation and focus to achieve it.
Step 3: Add a Compelling Vision.
After each goal, add a compelling vision of the result of achieving your goal. Write how it feels and what thoughts you have when you accomplish it. Write them in present tense, be specific, and get excited about them! For the three examples above, I have written Compelling Visions that are exciting to me:
"I make an extra 10,000 before May of 2009, and take my whole family on our dream vacation to Hawaii in June. I feel confident and at-ease with my finances, and start a savings program for my children's future. It feels so good to be financially free!"
"My website is generating hundreds of hits every day, boosting my sales, increasing my commissions, and making more money than ever. People look up to me and trust me, leaving glowing comments and recommending me to their friends. It feels so good to finally get the recognition I deserve!"
"I am feeling more on top of my business than ever. My work is more efficient, I have more leisure time with my family, and I feel in control of my life. I always accomplish my tasks for the week, and I sleep better at night. I am unstoppable."
Can you feel that? When you read your Vision, you should be able to feel it in your gut. Use that feeling to motivate you when you get discouraged, and push you when you get complacent.
Step 4: Make Five Copies and Put them Up
The five copies of your goal should go in the five places you see the most every day. Here are some places I've put mine in the past:
Wallet
Bathroom mirror
Above the T.V.
Computer screen
Above the kitchen sink
In a kitchen cabinet
On the fridge
Briefcase
Gym bag or locker
Sock drawer
Get Creative! You should see your goals several times each day, and when you do, stop and read them. Take a moment to feel what it is like to achieve your goal - breath deeply, and see it in your mind's eye. Then continue with your day. It should take less than two minutes each time.
At first, your family and friends will wonder what you're doing. They may be skeptical and that's okay. Ask for their support, and enroll them in sharing that vivid vision of success with you. Ask your partner, spouse or best friend how they would feel if you accomplished your goal, and invite them to share in your vision.
IMPORTANT:
You should practice this method in waves or cycles, with a period of "blitzing" your goals followed by a period of rest. The ideal length of time to "blitz" is between 3 and 5 weeks. After that, take a break. Leave one goal sheet in your wallet or purse, to keep it with you as a reminder. After a break of 2-3 weeks, re-write your goals and visions, and start another "blitz" with five new copies in different places.
Doing this method in waves or cycles is the most effective way, or you will get sick of reading the same thing every day, and it will become monotonous and boring. The LAST thing you want is to be bored by your goals! If it starts becoming a chore, that's your mind telling you to take a break and re-write them after a couple weeks.
Stay consistent, put real feeling into your goals, take risks, and fantastic new doors with open up in your business. Don't waste any more time - get started now!
Do Good, and Be Well,
Colin J. Turner
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