“A goal properly set is halfway reached.”  ~ Abraham Lincoln.

“You’ll fail at a 100% of the goals you don’t set.”  ~ Mark Victor Hansen.

Goal setting is one of the best ways to get ahead in life – but only if you’re setting your goals effectively!

Are you trying for unattainable goals that you aren’t really passionate about? Do you quickly give up on your goals? It can be easy to get discouraged, but you don’t have to end up there!

With the right strategies, you can set goals that really matter to you and meet them more easily than you ever imagined.

Most importantly, your goals should be yours and not someone else’s. The goals that your parents, friends, and family members have for you may not be the same for yourself.

What’s Important to YOU?

Too many people set goals to be rich, write a best-selling novel, or marry someone who’s famous, wealthy, or otherwise important or influential. If those are truly your dreams, there’s nothing wrong with them. However, if they’re just society’s dreams – and not yours – let them go, and think about what really matters to you. What do you want out of your life?

When you’re setting goals, stop and ask yourself, “What will bring me joy, beauty and happiness?”

Your goals might include things like:

• Getting married
• Having children
• Finishing college
• Starting your own business
• Changing careers
• Helping others
• Buying your own home
• Having material wealth
• Being physically fit
• Attaining spiritual enlightenment

No matter what you choose or how many goals you have, you can reach them if you’re dedicated and committed to making them happen.

Making Your Dreams Come True

Once you’ve decided what really matters to you and you set your goals, you can begin to make them a reality in your life. Although your goals will take some work, watching them come into fruition is exciting and satisfying!

Follow these tips to help you achieve your goals:

1. Keep your focus. Keep a picture of the life you desire at the forefront of your mind. When frivolous things try to distract you, as they will, remember to make choices according to what’s really important to you.

• Take action toward your goal every day. Each day, find something you can do that will bring you a little closer to meeting your goal.
• When challenges arise, getting discouraged won’t change anything, so seek solutions that can put you back on track. Just stay focused and adjust your plans as necessary.

2. Be open to change. Your goals aren’t set in stone. If you choose to change what you’re focused on and set a new goal, that doesn’t mean you’ve given up on your goals. It only means you’ve seen that your goals need to change, just as you change. That’s a sign of growth and wisdom.


3. Set realistic timelines. Some goals can be met in a day or a week, but larger goals often take months or years. When you set goals, it’s important to be realistic about how long you expect them to take.

• If it’s too far away, you might procrastinate, or you may not start at all.
• If it’s too soon, you’ll be frustrated and discouraged if you don’t make your deadline.

4. Divide your goal into small steps. Another great way to reach your goals is to divide big goals into smaller ones. Each small goal is one step, or one task, on the way to achieving your ultimate goal.

• Set individual deadlines for these small steps. This way, you’ll always be moving forward, one step at a time.
• For example, if your goal is to own your own business, there are things you’ll need to look into like licensing, income, credit, location, and others. Each one of these tasks is one step. You could also subdivide these steps into even smaller goals.

5. Avoid giving up. Many people give up on their goals just before they reach them, not even realizing how close they were. Never give up! You may be closer than you think.

These strategies will enable you to not only reach your goal, but also enjoy the journey along the way – all without getting overwhelmed!

Tһе main importance οf goal setting іѕ tһаt іt provides υѕ direction аחԁ purpose. Wһеח wе set goals, wе wіƖƖ know wһаt wе want tο achieve ѕο tһаt wе саח focus ουr minds οח a single worthwhile target аחԁ חοt ɡеt distracted easily.

Personal goal setting аƖѕο provides υѕ wіtһ motivation tο achieve wһаt wе want tο achieve.

Tһе іmрοrtаחt trick wουƖԁ bе tο mаkе ουr goals аѕ detailed аѕ possible. Trying tο vividly imagine οr describe еνеrу thinkable aspect οf іt ѕο tһаt іt becomes clearer іח ουr mind. Tһеח іt becomes relatively easier tο pursue іt. If уου don’t һаνе goals tһеח уου аrе јυѕt wandering іח tһе wild without аחу clear іԁеа οf wһеrе уου want tο ɡο. Tһаt іѕ wһу goal setting іѕ ѕο іmрοrtаחt.

Dο уου know wһаt іѕ one οf tһе mοѕt іmрοrtаחt point іח goal setting? It іѕ tο take action rіɡһt now, һοwеνеr small. A ɡοοԁ technique wουƖԁ bе tο brеаk up уουr future goals іחtο small chunks. Tһеח brеаk those chunks down іחtο further раrtѕ until уου саח find ѕοmе actions wһісһ уου саח ԁο rіɡһt now οr atleast within a week. Take small steps towards уουr destination, day bу day.

Fοr tһіѕ reason іt іѕ іmрοrtаחt tο brеаk уουr goals down bесаυѕе іt wіƖƖ һеƖр уου keep focused аחԁ provide small ԁο-аbƖе action steps rіɡһt now. Many experts аƖѕο advocate writing down goals аחԁ a list οf benefits уου stand tο gain out οf іt. Mаkіחɡ a list οf 50-100 саח really ԁο wonders tο уουr desire аחԁ determination іח going аftеr wһаt уου want.

Many people ѕау different things аbουt goal setting. Sοmе mіɡһt ѕау tһаt уου ѕһουƖԁ develop burning desire, others mіɡһt ѕау tһаt уου ѕһουƖԁ һаνе a desire tο achieve уουr goal bυt аt tһе same time уου ѕһουƖԁ bе ok іf уου fail tο achieve іt.

Tһіѕ іѕ bесаυѕе wһеח уου prepare уουr mind tο try уουr best tο achieve something wһіƖе аt tһе same time уου wіƖƖ חοt bе devastated іf уου somehow fail, іt wіƖƖ keep уου relaxed without аחу unnecessary pressure οח yourself. Sο keep a healthy desire tο achieve уουr ambitions аחԁ аt tһе same time bе ok wіtһ tһе іԁеа tһаt уου саח fail іח achieving tһе desired results.

Iח tһіѕ article I һаνе briefly tried tο аחѕwеr уουr qυеѕtіοח аbουt wһу іѕ goal setting іmрοrtаחt аחԁ provided a few guiding tips. Hope tһеѕе tips wіƖƖ bе useful tο уου. I wουƖԁ bе glad іf уου саח ɡеt аחу benefit out οf tһіѕ article.

Arе уου afraid tο fail? Dο уου tһіחk people wіƖƖ mаkе fun οf уου аחԁ look down οח уου іf уου fail аt something? Thankfully, tһіѕ need חοt bе ѕο. Many times ουr fears аrе irrational. Gеt over уουr fеаr οf failure bу changing уουr viewpoint. Read tһіѕ short article – Fеаr οf failure

Success іח business οr аחу οtһеr field οftеח һаѕ a lot tο ԁο wіtһ уουr people skills. It іѕ іmрοrtаחt tο hone уουr people skills. One aspect οf people skills іѕ tο improve уουr listening skills. Here аrе ѕοmе helpful tips – Effective listening skills

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Syd_Hs

What do you think is the difference between a goal and a dream?

Well, a DREAM is a DREAM. It’s something you’re HOPING to have and it only exists in a dream.  A GOAL, on the other hand, has a detailed PLAN, target date, steps and resources that can be carried out to make that GOAL becomes reality.

But, how do you set financial goals?

First, list down all the financial goals you want to accomplish. For each goal, try to assign an estimated timeframe needed to achieve the goal. The timeframe may change when you spell out the steps and resources needed to accomplish your goals later.

Also, arrange goals that you think can be accomplich in 3 to 6 months under a category “Short-Term Goals”. Similarly, goals that take 6 months to 1 year to accomplish under “Medium-Term Goals” and those that take more than 1 year to accomplish under a category “Long-Term Goals”.

For example, if your goal is to earn an extra income stream of $1,000 a month, and you estimate that it will take you 3 months to accomplish it, then put this goal under the “Short-Term Goals”.

Next, you will need to specify in details the STEPS needed to accomplish each goal and also allocate resources required to implement those steps. Note that the estimated timeframe or target date you set initially may change after you plan and spell out the steps and resources required to accomplish the goal.

Here are some useful tips that can help:

Be realistic. Do not state goal like “I want to earn $10 Million in 3 months”. If you have a big goal, break it down into several milestones and focus on achieving one milestone at a time.

Be persistent and don’t give up! Setbacks will always happen but you should not give up when setbacks occur. Learn and grow from what happened and move forward. Treat your setbacks or failure as lessons learned.

Keep your motivation high by referring to your list of goals often. Track your progress by focusing on accomplishing each milestone.

ACTION ACTION and ACTION. Take action consistently. Without action, nothing will happen. You can only realize your financial goals by taking action!

If you want to learn how to achieve exactly what you want in life step-by-step, check out the following book (click the image below for more info).

Goal setting is important for many reasons. Goals can help bring out our passion and create ambition. Having a goal in life also gives us something to look forward to and purpose in life. However, in order to achieve your goals, you must set them.

When setting a goal, make sure that you set a completion date on it. If the size of your goal is big, break it down into a manageable steps. Each of these steps are the milestones. You should also assign completion date on each milestone.

Milestones with corresponding completion dates assigned are very important, they give a sense of urgency for you to work toward your goal. They make goals become real. Reward yourself as you reach your goal, this can help motivate you for accomplishing bigger goals.

Milestones also allow you to track or see the forward progress you are making toward achieving your goal. You might consider listing all the tasks of a milestone in a form of chart with estimated completion dates assigned. As you reach each milestone you know you’re one step closer to reaching your final goal.

If you think you need to brush up or acquire certain skills through training or personal development in order to accomplish your goal, such training should also be part of your milestones.

Goal setting is very important. When you lay out your goals with specific time frames and milestones, they not only keep you focus but also provide a way for you to measure just how close you are to actually reaching your goals.

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Do you subscribe to the philosophy that resolutions are made to be broken, or do you believe the New Year’s holiday is an opportunity for change?

Resolution makers generally fall into one of three categories.  There are the serious resolution makers who, year after year, dedicate themselves to self-improvement and use the holiday as a launching pad for success.  Then there are the people who start with good intentions; however, they don’t follow through and see their goals to the end.  The last group of people are the ones who make resolutions on the spot.  Someone asks them what their New Year’s Resolution is and they make one up just to have something to say.  I’ve certainly found myself in this group from time to time, and so have many others.

What group do you fall into?

Many people do not take this life-changing opportunity seriously.  New Year is actually the perfect time to dedicate yourself to a goal.  Here’s why:

• You’re in the right frame of mind.  It’s a time of planning and reflection.  There is no better time to make a life change than when you are assessing the past and planning for the future.
• You will have the support of friends and family committing to similar goals.
• It’s a good measurement.  A year is an excellent yardstick.  A year gives you enough time to plan how you’re going to achieve your goals, make mistakes, and still come out successful.

Why do we make resolutions?

When you think about resolutions you’ve made in the past, what were your reasons?  What did you hope to accomplish?  Were you just going along with the crowd or did you really want to change your life?  When you look back, do you find that you were in the group that didn’t take the holiday and the opportunity to improve your life seriously?  If so, why?  Do you subscribe to the philosophy that resolutions are made to be broken, or do you believe the New Year’s holiday is an opportunity for change?

If you fall into the group that believes resolutions are made to be broken, maybe it’s time for a change of heart.  Maybe it’s time to make goals that will improve your life.

Want to give it a try?  Here’s how:

• Choose a resolution that feels attainable.  If you choose a lofty goal that you’re not confident you can achieve, you may end up giving up because you feel overwhelmed or frustrated.  Choosing a goal you’re confident you can attain will help you create a pattern of success.
• Break it up into small steps.  Any large goal can be broken into a series of smaller goals.
• For example, if you want to lose 50 pounds, begin by setting a smaller goal.  Maybe losing five pounds is a good start.
• Make your goals both measurable and timely.  Losing 50 pounds is a measurable goal.
• Losing 50 pounds in 12 months makes it timely.  Now you have a deadline.
• Reward yourself
• Research potential obstacles and prepare for them.

New Year’s Resolutions don’t have to be broken.  With the right frame of mind and proper goal setting techniques, New Year’s Resolutions can be successful, life changing and rewarding experiences.

There is nothing wrong to have BIG dreams and set lofty goals as long as you know how to break them down into a smaller and specific steps. Otherwise they will just remain as dreams and you’re setting yourself up for failure.

Here are some tips for you to follow on how to set realistic goals that you can really achieve.

1. Evaluate yourself. Start by taking an honest look at yourself. What are your strengths and weaknesses? Don’t be afraid to write down all your weaknesses that may be hampering your progress in life. No one is perfect, just write them down without passing any judgement or prejudices.

For instance, some of my weaknesses are procrastination, lack of focus, tend to be egocentric, apprehensive, impatience, etc. When you can look at your own weaknesses honestly, you’re now one step ahead in tackling them. This is very important, so just write them down so that you don’t forget. There is nothing shame about it. Just be honest. In a similar fashion, you can also list down your strengths.

2. Make a list of goals you want to achieve (big and small). I often hear people ask why need to set goals? Well, here is my answer: life is a journey and goals are your guidances; without them, you’ll get lost in life journey. Many people don’t set goal either because they simply don’t know how or they don’t know what they want in life. It’s important that you know what you really want in life before you can start setting goals.

Just ask yourself… what are the things that you really value in life? Family? Health? Money? Recognition? Helping others? Leave a legacy? etc. Then, just write them down.

3. Create goals that are timely and measurable. Always try to set your goals that are measurable because if you can’t measure something, you can’t manage it as well. You should establish a measuring yard stick so that you know whether you accomplish your goal or not.

For example, if you want to earn an extra $1,500 a month online, do not write your goal as…

“I want to earn an extra $1,500 a month online.”  but rather, it should be written as….

“I want to earn an extra $1,500 a month online within 3 months from today (29 November 2008).”

You see goal that has a timeline and measuring stick appears to be much more accountable. Now, you can start your action plan to accomplish your goal, monitor and manage its progress.

4. Keep the ball rolling. Tackle one goal at a time. Once you have achieved success, move to the next goal and keep it going. Always be positive when setting and attaining your goals.

Hope you find this article useful. Go get your goals!

With only 40 days until the New Year, the holidays are right around the corner. It’s perhaps a good time to do some reflections on the past and plan for the future. The New Year’s holidays are also time of celebration with family and friends.

So while you’re doing some reflections, goal-setting or making a New Year’s resolution, don’t forget to enjoy, relax and recharge your biological battery as well.

Here are some tips for making and keeping your New Year’s Resolutions…

1. Create short term goals that lead up to a long term goal. A long term goal is your ultimate destination, it’s where you want to arrive at. However, you also need to have short term goals consisting of specific actions/activities that you can take to move you closer to your destination.

Let’s say losing weight is your resolution. Then, write it down: “I resolve to lose eight pounds a month” for instance. It’s realistic, specific and achievable as we all know that a healthy weight loss is 1-2 pounds a week. Once you have set your goal, stick to it. If you’re crystal clear about your goal, you won’t be sidetracked or lose focus by outrageous promises.

2. Once you have written down your New Year’s resolutions, don’t tuck it away and locked in a drawer. I suggest you write them down on note cards and Post-It® sticky notes all around your house and work place. These will serve as friendly reminders and keep you on track. If you lock them in a drawer, you will tend to forget what you have written down after a while.

3. Find someone who have similar resolutions with you and enlist their help. Two friends with similar goals can keep each other accountable, sharing experiences and encouraging one another. You know there is somebody who shares the same struggles, it can help a great deal to motivate you to follow through your ultimate goals.

4. Never, ever give up! One of the most famous quoted speeches is from Winston Churchill when he visited Harrow School to hear the traditional songs he had sung there as a youth, as well as to speak to the students. “Never, ever give up!” he told the students.

See we all have setbacks in lives, we all made mistakes, we all falter at some point. But you should not succumb and let it stop you from attaining your goals. Don’t dwell on your past mistakes, learn from them, dwell in your present moments and take actions to move forward.

“Life is not about falling down; it is about getting up again.” ~ Vince Lombardi.

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.” ~ Confucius.

5. Remember to give yourself small rewards when you have successfully accomplished a goal or mini-goal. However, break your goals down into smaller, more manageable chunks first. That way you can monitor and give yourself small rewards throughout the entire goal-getting process. This will keep you motivated and stay on track with your goals.

Happy Holidays!