| We all have dreams and goals. Some of them are | | | | it! If you want to lose weight, don't blame your |
| simply "wishes", like winning the lottery or sailing to | | | | spouse for buying ice cream if they don't know and |
| Tahiti. But we also have goals that are vital to our | | | | understand your goal! Talking about your goals makes |
| futures and the well-being of our families. And yet | | | | them emotionally real and powerful. It allows people |
| many of us make little or no progress toward | | | | to help you reach your goal and support you along |
| achieving our most important goals. We wait and | | | | the way. Some people will also criticize or undermine |
| hope, but get no closer to our dreams. It doesn't | | | | you. Don't talk to them.4. Write it down. This is basic, |
| have to be that way! We all know people who soar | | | | and one of the oldest, simplest and most powerful |
| from one project to another, achieving their goals | | | | techniques for achieving any goal. Write it down! |
| and living the life they want. How do they do it?1. | | | | Describe precisely what you want, how you will earn |
| Clarity of purpose. For a dream to become a goal, it | | | | it, when you will have it, and the benefits you'll |
| must be specific. While it's fun to dream about being | | | | receive from achieving your goal. Write the details. |
| rich, it takes courage and hard choices to decide | | | | Write the colors, the shapes and the dates.5. Write it |
| exactly how much money you want and how you | | | | every day! Every morning, use a small card or a |
| are going to earn it. Being "thin" is an image; losing 23 | | | | corner of your appointment book to record a short |
| pounds by your birthday is a goal. In life, we probably | | | | description of your goal where you will see it all day |
| can't have it all. You can lose 23 pounds, or you can | | | | long. Don't carry the same card day after day! If |
| have the cake and ice cream. Your choice. Be clear.2. | | | | your goal is worth anything, it's worth a minute of |
| Commitment. There's a story from ancient Greece | | | | your time to write a simple sentence describing your |
| about a general who landed his troops on the beach, | | | | dream and focusing on your priorities. Do this every |
| then burned his ships. He wanted each soldier to | | | | morning.6. Have a plan. Create a map for getting |
| know there was no turning back, no retreat, no | | | | there. And put dates on it! A goal to retire at age 40 |
| alternative to victory. Once your goal is clear, | | | | has no meaning without a savings and investment |
| emotionally commit to achieving it. There are no | | | | strategy. A goal to create your own business is just |
| alternatives.3. Talk about it. This is called | | | | a fantasy without a plan to attract investors, find a |
| "accountability". Once you've defined your goal and | | | | location, hire staff and sell your goods or services. |
| committed yourself to achieve it, start talking about | | | | |