When you begin to work out your goals you need to make them as specific as possible. A vague idea or generalization will not excite your imagination and get your subconscious mind behind it, so you need to be as specific and vivid as possible. You can always refine and change your goals as time passes and situations change. You can always add to your goal later too, so don’t let some uncertainty stop you making a goal initially. Just go for it!

Try to make your goals realistic and achievable. Don’t set a goal which are too difficult, but likewise don’t set a goal which is so easy that it will fail to excite and inspire you. Set lots of small, achievable goals and work step by step to achieve your road to success. Stay positive. Believe in yourself and your abilities to succeed, even if other people doubt you or try to put you off your goals.

Here is a step by step process to go through when setting your goals, to ensure that they are practical, achievable and recordable.

1. You may want to begin your goal setting with the big picture. Start with a general theme of what or where you want to improve.

2. Assess your current situation. Where are you now? What don’t you like about it? What could happen if things don’t change?

3. What do you want instead? Identify what goal you are moving toward because that should be your final, ultimate outcome.  This is very important in goal setting. If your mind doesn’t have a picture of what you are moving towards, how can you get there?

4. Are you capable of achieving this goal? Are there things that you need to learn or skills you need to acquire? Do you need other people to help you if you are going to successfully achieve this goal?

5. How have you progressed? Compare how much better it is now with a benchmark in the past. This step is almost always missing in goal setting directions. Take the time to celebrate your movement towards a goal. By noticing how far you have come, and allowing yourself a small reward for progress made, it gives you a renewed impetus to move forward again.

6. Where, when, how, with whom will you achieve your goal? You should adjust your goal to make sure that it fits.

7. Make your Goal Multi-sensory. Engage all of your senses in the description of your goals. This works by employing more of your brain and nervous system and investing more power in the achievement of your goals.

What will you see, hear, feel, etc., when you have achieved your goal?

What is the ‘evidence’ that you’ve achieved it? 

8. What steps are involved in Reaching your goal? Take things one step at a time and you can achieve your goals.

9. Be specific about what you want in terms of your overall goal.

10. List all the resources (people, psychological states, time, capital, equipment, or material) necessary for you to achieve your goal and think about where and how you will get those.

11. Name all the possible obstacles to overcome and try to think pf them in order of importance or severity. 

12. Based on the obstacles listed you identified think of all the necessary actions to overcome those obstacles. 

13. Make sure you put your goal into a format which you find compelling.

When you see your goal, make sure you see yourself having obtained your goal.

Do you need someone to help you implement reaching your goals? Let me know and I will make it happen for you. 

Many people carry around with them a lot of “burden” or “scatter” in their minds.

When I say this I mean that they still hold the things they say they should do but do not. Get rid of the could have and should haves that are holding you prison.

These people carry around with them a lot of emotional attention and let the truth be told they could be focusing on something more productive instead!

Are you one of the lucky one’s?

If you are, I know it has been a negative effect on your confidence and self esteem. But that is about to change as of today!

Follow this approach

Look at your life and get rid of this baggage by asking yourself a series of questions and by completing the following exercise.

As a result, we are doing certain tasks to make things “complete”, drawing a line under it and moving on.

Another term for this is “psychological completion” or just “finish”

The following set of questions can be taken in one sitting or over several hours / days.

By writing your answers it becomes more formal.

Get your confidence and watch it soar!

1. Putting up!

• Make a list of 10 things that you put up with at your house

• Make a list of 10 things that you put up with at work

• Make a list of 10 things that you put up with in any other areas of your life

• Make a plan of action to get rid of / talk about these things that you put up with

2. Unfinished things!

• Make a list of things that have not been resolved / not done in your life

• Make a plan of action on how to reduce this amount!

• Do you need to clear the air with anyone? If so, get your head in the game and just do it! Life is whey too short!

• Do you ever say you will call someone or keep in touch with other people and have done nothing? If yes, call them or email them now

• Remove as many could, woulds, necessity, perhaps, and ought as you can. Write them down.

3.Your standard!

• List the criteria that you tell yourself that you have to have, drop them and write a list of criteria you will have in your life starting today.

• List 5 people you most admire. Identify their greatest attributes, behaviors and how they live their lives. So what is their special criteria? What is the criteria that you can improve starting today to become more like them?

• Respect other people standards differ from your own. Think of five close associates or friends – what criteria they are and how they differ from you?

By completing the training you will be able to focus more on the right now ,so you can prepare for the future you.

You can now let go of some things that take care of your precious time- the things that have caused your self-esteem to drop. Once you have done this, I want you to come back here and keep me posted on your progress.

As the year 2010 approaches quickly I wanted to share this video with you on having a positive mental attitude. It doesn’t matter where you are currently with your business or personal life unless you start with a positive mental attitude, you will have a hard time moving forward overall.

From my family to yours, have a Happy New Year and we are looking forward to our continued connection.

Cheers,

Charlotte
About the Author:

Charlotte Howard is a Business Consultant and Founder of Charlotte Howard Consulting LLC. Grab Charlotte’s FREE click by click training for Traditional Business Owners and Home-Based Business Owners.

Copyright © 2009 Charlotte Howard Consulting, LLC. All rights reserved.