What is a Goal?
The average human being has the ability to achieve almost anything. Lack of basic capability is rarely the problem, but rather, finding out what you want and being willing to sacrifice, change, and grow to satisfy that want.
Here’s a step-by-step system of goal-setting to help you achieve your wants that can be applied to all walks of life.
1. If it’s not in writing, it’s not a goal. An unwritten want is a wish, a dream, a never-happen. If it’s in writing, it’s a commitment.
2. If it’s not specific, it’s not a goal. Broad desires and lofty aims have no effect. It must be concrete.
3. Set vivid goals. Define not only what you want, but also when you want it, and concentrate on it for a few moments each day.
4. Goals must be believable. If you don’t believe you can achieve a goal, you won’t pay the price for it. An effective goal is an exciting challenge. It must demand your best and a bit more, or it isn’t going to change your ways, and elevate your lifestyle.
5. Don’t set short-term goals for more than 90 days. If you set a short-term goal that takes more than 90 days, you may lose interest.
6. Maintain a balance between long-term and short-term goals. Long-term goals tend to be hidden in the future, so have some short-term goals — like clothes, cars, vacations — to keep your excitement up.
7. Include your loved ones in your goals. Involve them and they’ll back you up when you need help and encouragement.
8. Set goals in all areas of your life. Have other goals besides career objectives.
9. Your goals must harmonize. Whenever you detect a conflict, set priorities that will eliminate the conflict.
10. Review your goals regularly. Remember, long-term goals can only be achieved if they are the culmination of short-term goals.
Reach into the future. The idea of goal-setting is to plan your life, rather than taking it as it comes. Begin by setting 20-year goals, then 10-year goals. Move on to 5-year, 30-month, 12-month, monthly, weekly, and finally, your goals for tomorrow, and each day of the coming week.
Have a set of goals for each day, and review the results every night.
Set activity goals, not production goals. Activity will lead to production by itself.
Start now. Give goal setting two hours of concentrated thought today. Then set aside 10 minutes each day, for the next 21 days to review and revise. After that, two minutes a day and one hour a week is all it will take to keep you on track.
Try this system if you want to achieve your goals and within 21 days you’ll be well on your way to an immensely and richer future.
This information is copyrighted by Tom Hopkins International, Inc. for reprint permission, contact Judy Slack (judys@tomhopkins.com).
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Tags: achieving goals, goal setting, success
June 19th, 2010 at 10:05 pm
Goal-setting has helped me immensely. Never thought to set a 20-year goal, and have the steps (more immediate goals) building up to my ultimate goal.
Thank you for this article. I loved ‘The Art of Selling Anything’, and listen to it as I’m driving between jobs. :)
.:: tom ::.
December 27th, 2010 at 5:09 pm
Tom: You’re the Greatest! Since I became one of your Sales Champions after learning from you during one of your Toronto visits in many years ago, I have never stopped applying what you taught me on a daily basis. You have a played a big part in my overall success. Thank you. Rod Cunningham
December 28th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
Tom’s Goal Setting Committment form is something I’ve used for the past 15 years along with his Life’s Blue Print. These two tools have helped me accomplish so many things in my life. Not just financially, but spiritually, physically and I’ve even trained my son to use these tools and he is now ready to graduate high school and got accepted to FSU and UCF for engineering.
Thank you so much Tom for teaching me how to add real value to my life. You’re an awesome man of God and I know He is so proud of you.
Be Well, Be Blessed and Always B.PEPE
Bob Pepe