Goal Setting Articles

Dreams tend to be unfocused and non-specific. To turn a dream into a goal, clients need to decide on two things - how much, and by when!nnFor instance, Heather's dream is to be slim, healthy and happy with her appearance. Her goals are specific, and include: to weigh 185 pounds by 6 p.m. on Tuesday 16 May 2006.nnHere is another example:nn The Dream - to live in a beautiful house in the country with a big garden and a stream.nn The Goal - to own a house with five bedrooms and

Copyright by Patric Chan 2004.nnI’m writing this article because I thought you might want to know my formula for success. nnThis sounds very simple and yet, it mightchange your whole mindset. It applies whetheryou are working in a job or building your own business. nnThroughout my journey to achieve success,I’ve encountered many people who struggled to achieve success. Most of themask me questions like, ‘how to achieve success’. nnOr questions like, ‘how to make

Your Most Important Decision of 2005nnIn the next couple of weeks, some of us will be thinking about what we really want for our lives in 2005, and some of won't be. Perhaps some of will make the time to write down a New Year's resolution.nnYour most important decision of 2005 will be your first big decision of 2005.nnThis decision will set the tone for your entire year. This decision will be with you in the coming months. Even in November, you will remember this decision.nnN

It’s mid-March already. How are those New Year’s Resolutions or intentions coming along? Are you like most people who have long-since abandoned their resolutions (sometime around Jan 28th) or are yours limping along, but with less vim and vigor than you would like? If you are going strong…you can stop reading. For the rest of you, this article gives some simple strategies to overcome the top 5 ways we shoot ourselves in the foot.nn1. PROCRASTINATIONnnTopping the list is

Do you KNOW why you get out of bed every morning, eager to start a new day. Do you have a burning desire to achieve something that keeps you going against all odds until you eventually succeed. If you answered no to either of these questions, you need to find your Major Definite Purpose!nn What do you mean by major definite purpose? nnYour major definite purpose is the most important thing you are working on in your life at this moment. It isn’t necessarily the same as

How many people do you hear complaining about their job, where they live, how little money they have, or how they can never take a vacation? nnHow many times have you heard those same people, when they hear about someone else who made a lot of money from an idea, say, nn“I could have done that!” But yet, they didn’t. nnAnd they continue to complain about where they are in life.nnA friend of mine owns a dog grooming business, and she buys supplies from another pet busine

Every January, I write down a set of goals. Some are financial. Some relate to my business. And some are personal. When I put my new list down on paper, I feel powerful and confident. Here are the things I will accomplish this year. Clean and simple. I imagine how I will feel when they are completed, and that feeling is good.nnWhen I first started using goal setting as a means to success, I made one big mistake: I was too specific. Since then, I have learned that goals are be

To achieve any goal, all you need to do is COMMIT yourself to achieving it.nnSounds simple... but what that really means is committing yourself to doing every single thing that's necessary to achieve that goal.nnAnd that's where it can be challenging...nnYou may tell yourself that you're "committed" to getting a new job... or to start a business... or to become wealthy... or to get a book published...nnBut have you really committed yourself to doing ALL the little -- and big

Sounds like an invitation to visit a tailor or your favourite clothes shop, doesn’t it? And as you read this article you can start to think about the way you feel as you walk into the world in smart and well-formed clothes, and as you do you will find how easy it is to imagine how even more positive you’ll feel when your own inner mental clothing is expertly cut and stitched. The quality of your inner clothing, the way it feels, has a direct relationship to the purpose an

We all have goals and aspirations. Sometimes we have difficulty knowing where to start. We want that new body, or want to be healthy and have more energy, but we just do not know what the first step is. In addition, the road to our goals is sometimes a rocky one. It is difficult to transgress and sometimes we just want to give up. We sometimes forget that our current situation did not occur overnight and so changing it will not happen overnight either. It will take time and h

Did you know that you can use hypnosis to change your life and achieve your goals? Hypnosis is an amazing mind-body state. Although it's been understood for thousands of years, no one quite knows how or why it works as well as it does, or even what it is.nnIn this article, we're going to look at how hypnosis, which is essentially just deep relaxation, helps you to success.nnStart by creating a goal you'd like to achieve. This goal may be simple: you may want to eliminate a ha

How would you like to be able to prioritize the truly important things in life - your family, your health and your personal dreams?nnLike most of us, you probably answered 'yes' to this question. Just as likely, your mind began chattering away with a number of excuses about why you simply can't do more than you already are.nnThere are only 24 hours in the day, after all. I'm not a time traveler. I'm doing the very best I can with what I've got.nnI know all the excuses... I've

Do you know what you want? Are you sure? nnMark Twain said it over a hundred years ago: “I can teach anybody how to get what they want out of life. The problem is I can't find anybody who can tell me what they want.” nnAnd it's as true today as it was in the 1800s. nnMost of the people I talk with do NOT know. They might think they know, but most don't. nnI've been doing an informal survey recently and less than 10% can tell me clearly what they want to achieve. Less than

Goal setting and personal planning are skills that have to be learned, developed and honed to perfection by repeated use. One common question about goals setting and personal planning is: “Where do I start?” nn Start with a finished picture nnYou might be tempted to start at the beginning – after all it seems logical, and it is good advice in many circumstances. The beginning is you next step, so you set some goals for the next step you want to take. nnThe problem with

As we approach the holidays, it’s a good time to get a handle on your money matters before all the retailers gets their hands on your money! nnAccording to a study by the APA (American Psychological Association) 61% of Americans listed money issues as the top cause of holiday stress. nnTaking ownership of your finances during the holidays will significantly reduce stress, and bring greater peace and happiness to your holiday season. Your happiness hinges not on what you mak

We all have dreams. We all carry movies in our minds about how life could be for us in a better world. Sally dreams of a big house with a built-in pool. Harry dreams of an eight-car garage filled with vintage Porsches. Jill fantasizes about painting pictures at the seashore. Jack wants that corner office with the view.nnChances are, Sally and Harry and Jill and Jack will never get what they dream about. They will go on playing those mental movies for themselves or talking abo

On a recent cross country flight I looked out over the Rocky Mountains from 30,000 feet and saw hundreds of paths sort of heading towards the summits of the various peaks.nnI write “sort of” because looking at these zigzagging paths made it very clear why they are called switchbacks. Those switchbacks occupied my thinking for most of the rest of the flight to Oakland and have been on my mind often since.nnIt occurred to me that those switchback paths are much like the pat

Like umbrellas and pens, unwritten goals almost always end in loss!nnWritten goals are catalysts, transforming agents for success and achievement. You will achieve far greater and more consistent results when you take the time to write down your goals.nnWriting goals sets off a chain of events that allows you and others to see and evaluate your goals so that you can develop plans to achieve them. Goals kept only in your mind have an uncanny way of remaining figments of your i

A question, whether you are asking yourself or someone else is asking, causes you to direct your thoughts toward that subject. These directed thoughts are what is known as focus. Your focus directs your feelings and your feelings direct the actions that you take. Your actions will cause you to have certain results and your results ultimately direct your destiny. What this means is you can create your destiny by properly defining your questions. Let’s look at some examples o

A new year is upon us and you are at the beginning of a new chapter in your own life. I wanted to take this time to share with you seven resolutions that will help you take your entire life to a much higher level and truly honor the potential you were blessed with at birth. While this quest is, no doubt, a lifelong pursuit, it must start today with just one person-with you-as you take action on the ideas that I present here. By changing your choices, you will change your life

Action, or better yet, “taking action,” is critical for a successful life. We know that sometimes we just need to get off our butts. Dr. Phil says on his TV show that “life rewards action.” That's actually one of his life rules. Tony Robbins frequently says that we should “take massive action.” One of my favorite quotes comes from Will Rogers, who used to say, “Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.” The Big Challenge—and a Small But But

I’m no philosopher but I am a good observer. And in my 15-years as a Feng Shui consultant, I have met many clients anxious to find their soul mate. When I ask what approach they have taken, I get the usual answer. “My friends try to play Cupid for me.” “I joined an internet dating site.” “I have been in singles group activities.” And when I ask their experience or success with these approach, I usually receive the same reaction…loss of eye contact as they look at their feet in silence!

Ever since my tour of duty in the Marine Corps, I have always aspired to be part of a great team. I have spent most of my career, regardless of what industry I was in, developing teams to help accomplish goals. Even if you work alone, you are still part of a team. Your vendors, clients, and support personnel all make up your team. And every team needs a leader. If you’re not leading your team, who is?

I’ve been thinking a lot about what I believe to be the central challenge facing our clients right now, along with the rest of our society. It’s not an original concept by any means, but more and more I come to believe that it is the key to unlocking every success principle in existence. Discipline. I see the results of real discipline every day. I also see the results of the lack of discipline every day.

What do I mean by “Leadership with a small l”? I wrote about Leadership with a Big L for SelfGrowth.com http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Leadership_with_a_Big_L_-_4_Keys_to_Leading_When_it_is_Your_Job.html - that is being a leader when that is your job and responsibility to set objectives, map a course of action and get results from a group of people. This usually shows up in your job title. For instance, you could be a manager, a coach, a director etc.

I recently spent some time in Door County, Wisconsin on a relaxing little weekend getaway. On my last day there, I set out with a girlfriend to explore Peninsula State Park, a beautiful nature preserve located on a bluff high above the waters of Green Bay. As we went through the park, we stumbled upon Eagle Tower. Eagle Tower is a 75 foot wooden tower built in 1914 that sits on a cliff above Green Bay, exactly 250 feet above the water. For whatever reason, I was attracted to the tower. I quickly assessed it and decided to climb it.

If you live in fear of forgetting prospects' names, sometimes within mere seconds of being introduced to them, you're not alone. Surveys show that 83% of the population worries about their inability to recall people's names. Ironically, while most of us hate having our names forgotten or mispronounced, the majority of us claim we just "aren't good at remembering names" or putting faces together with names when we meet people again.

What’s scarier to most Americans than spiders, heights, or even death? There hasn’t been a horror movie made about it yet, but more than 75% of Americans surveyed report that they suffer from “glossophobia,” a debilitating fear of public speaking. Statistically, far more of us claim that we would prefer death to giving a speech; even comedia Jerry Seinfeld used to joke that at a funeral, most people would rather be lying in the casket than delivering the eulogy. Why is the prospect of trying to communicate information in front of even one person so horrifying?

I want to discuss a defining characteristic of successful people that I’ve met worldwide. I’ve found that successful and joyous people are usually very skilled at counting their blessings. They focus on what’s right about their life instead of what’s wrong. Why is this important? It goes back to the incredibly simple but undeniably profound thought expressed in Earl Nightingale’s great album The Strangest Secret. He said that “you become what you think about all day long.” If you think about that, you’ll realize it’s true.

Can You Create a New Habit in 21 Days? "Fake it 'til you make it." We've all heard the cliche for approaching something that seems out of reach. There may be some method to the madness of that approach. But have you ever given much thought to what it takes to bridge the gap between where you are now and where you want to be when it comes to eliminating old habits and forming new ones? Success is habitual. We have all witnessed those who seemingly achieve amazing feats over and over. Think of Tiger Woods, Michael Phelps, Michael Jordan.

As a reader of SelfGrowth.com, you’ve likely given some thought to the whole idea of your “attitude.” Some offices I've been to usally have a corny but helpful poster with some pithy saying about “attitude” right? Some of the more popular ones: “Attitude is everything!” “It’s your attitude, not your aptitude that determines your altitude” “Attitude is contagious- is yours worth catching?” Or pick your favorite. There are lots of options, and I think that’s great- in fact I have some of those very posters!

I recently was made aware of two comparative statistics that I thought you might find extremely valuable. I learned that the average American reads less than 2 books per year, one and a half to be exact, with almost two thirds of those going unfinished. On the whole, Americans have lost the habit of reading good books. There is a notable exception, however. CEO’s of Fortune 500 companies read, on average, roughly FOUR BOOKS PER WEEK!

Every single day, and I mean literally everyday, there are some decisions that you have to make. Actually, we are all required to make them regardless of our professional position in life. I am going to discuss two of these decisions from a list of seven that I have discovered. When we make these decisions, we have to choose either/or. There is no third option to pick from and there is no such thing as not deciding.

Once you’ve decided to jumpstart the process of getting rid of a negative habit, let me give you two words – just two very powerful words – that will help you tremendously: I can. We human beings are a strange lot. We sign up for college courses in order to build careers. We reduce our food intake and exercise to lose weight. We doll ourselves up in order to attract the man or woman of our dreams.

If you’re a reader of this article, there are a few things I know about you. You are likely more knowledgeable about goals than most. I’d guess that you and most of your peers would describe you as “goal oriented” in the most positive sense of the word.

Leadership with a big L is the kind of leadership that comes with a title: Manager, Vice President, Director, CEO etc. It is when you are responsible for a group of people and providing direction to a predetermined result in a business, church, school or family. I’m going to share 4 keys that apply to anyone who’s in charge of anything involving more than one person. Is that you? I bet it is….. These 4 keys come from an incredible book I read last year called The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive, by Patrick Lencioni.

Many people ask me if I think the real estate market has bottomed out. I don't know. However, for a lot of people, now is the time to buy. Look at the numbers. Every situation is different. My mother is a great example. She was renting a 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo for about $1300 per month. In 2007, she bought a 3 bedroom, 2 bath house. Her payment is about the same as the rent. Her annual cash flow has improved because the interest is deductible and she saves on income tax. Although the value of her house has declined, it has declined by less than she would have paid in rent.

There’s a timeless principle that successful people live by, that I realized can be used as an immediate and powerful boost to your self-esteem and your emotions. Volumes have been written and spoken about this principle over the millennia, but I still see people not understanding or misunderstanding it all the time, and the result is a major amount of unnecessary stress. The principle I’m referring to is what we call Be, Do, Have. I definitely did not invent this terminology, but it IS descriptive.

If you want to grow as a person, professionally or personally, you must overcome some barriers to growth. One barrier to growth I have seen hold people back, time and time again, is an unwillingness to take decisive action. The Solution? You must be willing to take decisive action! Take quick and powerful action if you want to see growth. If you want to see growth, you must begin moving. If what you are currently doing or trying is not working, what should you do?

No matter what your profession, building self-esteem and confidence in yourself is the key to success business interactions. All things being equal, the higher your conviction in yourself, the higher your results will be. So, how do you build your own positive mental attitude, self-esteem and confidence? More importantly, how can you build it immediately and start using it to your advantage today? I am going to borrow this material from Stephen Covey in his great book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

I’m no philosopher but I am a good observer. And in my 15-years as a Feng Shui consultant, I have met many people anxious to find a loving partner and many more who are looking for ways to spice up their marriage. I remind my clients that love isn’t just a “feeling,” it’s an action. And Feng Shui is the perfect ingredient to enhance love and relationships. Here are some ideas and Feng Shui suggestions you can use to enhance your love and relationships:

I have done many informal surveys with people about whether their attitude is a talent or a skill. Talent being something that you are either born with or not; either you have it or you do not.

Do You Have a Big Enough Why? rn rnOnce you get clear on WHAT you want to achieve, it's crucial to know WHY you want it. If you have an important goal, it needs a big why. Otherwise, you won't have the determination and resolve to overcome the inevitable challenges you'll encounter in the process of achieving it. Most people are too focused on the how and they miss the all important why. When it comes to investing our precious time and energy into a worthy objective it makes

Thoughts are powerful. The more you examine your thoughts, the more you'll realize this is the case. Thoughts are actually a form of energy. Don't believe me? Science tells us that thinking a new thought creates a structure in your brain, a connection between neurons. With your mind, you're able to change reality right there in your gray matter.

Some see life as a big test; others see life as something to experience, enjoy and learn from. Whatever you view life as, there is one aspect that keeps you alive and that is your dreams. Ever see the film Shawshank Redemption? Remember it, and check this out. It can literally save your life! Life is an amazing thing. High hopes, arguments with parents, and when we are old enough we become like our parents! Round the Moon clockwise, and whether it is 1950, the year 2009 or the year 3009, pretty much we find life is same.

Maybe you have wondered how successful entrepreneurs got that entrepreneurial killer instinct. They see opportunities and capitalize on them. Are they born with it or is it something that can be learned? There are probably some people where it runs in their blood, but I know that I am not like that. My shift from working for large coporations to entrepreneurship has been a bumpy ride. However, I am sure that, as long as you learn from your mistakes and you have a lot of desir

TRUE Leadership™ The art of leadership has been studied for centuries. Countless theories exist and thousands of books have been written on the topic. People pay top-dollar to learn leadership skills at seminars to enhance their careers. Businesses invest millions of dollars annually to train their employees to become better leaders. Why so much focus on leadership? It’s simple, success follows leadership.

Smart goal setting is the subject I will be dealing with today. It is something that, if only given proper attention, could change people's lives around. It is well known that a lack of specific aims in your life will have you going nowhere fast. So why is that goal setting helps? Because the human brain tends to react only to those things you think about the most, the things you constantly repeat to yourself. What's important is that we can educate our brain to concentrate o

The Most Common Relationship Goals nnWhen it comes to romantic relationships, a handful of goals are necessary to enhance the longevity and success in love. Since each and every relationship is different, setting goals to improve a relationship may include self-improvement (learning how to communicate better), time management (clearing the schedule for quality time), and the personal development regarding the correction of character flaws, such as impatience. Below you will f