“People with goals succeed because they know where they’re going” Earl Nightingale
Why have written goals? Why not just take life as it comes? This is the thinking of someone that is just reacting to life, someone who is just drifting through life with no clear written goals. “There is no reason to be disappointed if things don’t work out as planed, after all there was no plan in the first place.” But think of your life like a sail boat; if your sails are down then the winds of opportunity are passing you by. This is what happens when our goals are not clearly defined.
“In the absence of clearly defined goals, we become strangely loyal to daily trivia”- Robert Heinlein
Being loyal to daily trivia sounds inoffensive until the definition of trivia is understood:
Trivia – (noun) “Details, considerations, or pieces of information of little importance or value.” – Oxford English dictionary
A goal gives your mind something to work for. Without a goal, your mind is going to wander, taking in the trivia of it’s surroundings. Because we live in an environment that is surrounded by negative news and gossip, left unattained, our minds can become pessimistic when they absorb their surroundings.
A goal gives your life direction. It enables your mind to scan all the information that it is receiving, allowing your mind to only focus on the things that will help you to accomplish your goal. It is at that moment your sails will be raised, you will start to move towards the opportunities that are around you.
Below is a 3 step process to identify and complete your goal.
1)Write it Down
Sit down and think about a goal you want your mind to focus on. After you have it defined in your head, write your goal down to give it clarity it. Having it in writing gives you the advantage to read and review your goal.
2)Break it Down
Imagine a stair case and at the top is your goal. The way you are going to accomplish your goal is by taking it one step at a time. Dedicate time to writing down each step to completing your goal. Try to break down each step into bite-sized pieces if possible, that way they can be accomplished in a day.
*WARNING* Don’t linger too long in this process of establishing the series of steps. It is easy to lose momentum when your think too long about the process. Once you have your first set of steps clarified, it is time to move forward.
3)Action
In order for you to accomplish your goal, you need to take action. As it is said “where your attention goes energy flows” What is that first step you need to complete in order to accomplish your goal? Do that one thing today, and tomorrow take the next step. If you keep moving forward, before you know it, you will attain the larger goal you have been striving for.
It all starts with writing your goal down. Just make sure its your goal, not your parents’, spouse’s or friends. If you don’t know were to start, do some research on what it is you want to accomplish. You will find out that someone somewhere has accomplish what you want to accomplish.
As Tony Robbins says, “If you want to be successful, find someone who has achieved the results you want , copy what they do, and you’ll achieve the same results.”
Thank you,
Rogelio H. Charles