Goal Setting Part 1

“For me, goals are my roadmap to the life I want.  They helped me accomplish things I once though were impossible.” – Catherine Pulsifer

When we think of setting goals, we often think about starting them at the first of the year.  If we are planning for 2012, we need to enter 2012 first, right?  Actually that is not right.  January of 2012 is going to be too late to plan the year.  You need to start the year already in motion.  You need to start now.

 NO SMOKE

Success-Minded People know they must start setting goals and creating action plans early in order to start the New Year in full swing.  Too often people will wait until January to set goals that never get beyond a list of what they want in the coming year. We all have heard the stories of New Year’s resolutions that last only long enough to write them down.  That makes it a wish list, not a set of goals.  Wishes are made of smoke and blow away with the first breeze.  Success-Minded People know that goals must have a plan, not just something to write down.  As Ernest Hemingway said, “Never confuse movement with action.”

 ACTION

So, what do we need to do to get our goals set and action plans ready for the New Year?  There are some simple steps that can put you on the road to success.  These are all things you can do if you will take action.  No matter how good a plan is, without taking action it is just a suggestion and has no power.  By taking action and doing what you need to do in setting goals, you will be well on your way to success before you finish writing them down.  Author and speaker, Tony Robbins said, “Lots of people know what to do, but few people actually do what they know.  Knowing is not enough!  You must take action.”

 KNOW WHAT YOU WANT

 “All successful people have a goal.” said Dr. Norman Vincent Peale.  “No one can get anywhere unless he knows where he wants to go and what he wants to be and do.”   The first and most important thing is to know what you want.  That may sound simple, but you will be shocked to know that most people do not know.  Some may say, “I want a new job.”  Well, what kind of job?  Where do you want it?  What do you want to do?  “A new job” is not a goal, it is an idea.  Goals must be specific and clear.

 IN 24 HOURS

Next you need to write it down and read your goals daily to anchor them in your mind.  When we do not write them down we change what we want from day to day.  And lastly you must take action.  Do something toward the achievement of your goal within 24 hours of setting it.  Napoleon Hill said, “Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire and begin at once, whether ready or not, to put this plan into action.”  I cannot express enough how key this is to your success.  Fail to take action right away and you most likely will not take action at all.

 © 2011 John Patrick Hickey