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Success and Goals are Linked

Here are some articles on goal setting that I found on this great site called www.MyGoalManager.com.

Requirements to Succeed

Getting Organized for Goal Setting Achievement

Making Goal Setting Work

Let Zig Ziglar teach you about Goal setting and then I will “See You at the Top!”

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Every book I have read on success (and there are many) says that to achieve success you must have goals and practically obsess on them before you can get what you want. And it is not so simple either.  Some people spend their whole lives and never even figure out what they want let alone set specific, measurable, goals to get it.

It is a powerful thing to declare your intentions to the universe. And that is what you are doing when you set a goal. You are saying not only am I going to accomplish such and such but I am going to do it by this date. As I said, that is powerful!

I never understood goal setting until I took this class given by the “At a Glance” people in 1996. I was working for the federal government at the time.  And I have got to say that it was another one of those incidents that changed my life and started me on a path that led me where I am today.

In the planners, they had this one page that was made of plastic where you wrote your long term goals. This page moved as you worked you way through the month so your goals where in front of you at all times.

I remember I wrote that I wanted to be “Job Free” by some date in 1997.  And by seeing it font of me, day in and day out, I was motivated to make a plan and implement it.  I achieved the goal but ended up back in a job within a year. It was my first attempt to “make a living without a job”.  While I ended up reentering the work force, I was able to get a job that allowed me to learn many of the skills that have enabled me to stay “job free” this time. The goal setting had worked.  But after that one experience, I went back to my old ways and did not do any more serious goal setting until this year.

So if I discovered the power of goal setting in 1996, why did it take me until 2005 to actually start using this power? Well it’s like losing weight.  We all know that if we stop eating so much and start exercising regularly, we will lose weight.  I mean it is not rocket science. The problem is that we have to stick with it.  We must work at it every day and frankly that can be a drag.

What I found helps me stay on track is audio tapes.  I listen to Tony Robbins, Zig Ziglar (My favorite on goal setting), Jack Canfield, and Barbara Winter.  I listen to these tapes over and over again while I am exercising or driving in the car. These guys keep at me day after day to think about what I really want, to plan how to get it, and then to chip away each day until my goal is met.

To me, goal-setting is almost magical. I think the universe rewards those of us who are willing to declare ourselves.  I think is throws us extra help.  Like I said, it is not rocket science and lots of folks can focus on their goals without help.   But for me, the difference has been sticking in a tape.

To see some of my favorites
Check out my new Audio Tape Page

For more information on audio programs, check out: Nightingale-Conant

- by Jeanne Russell

(c) Jeanne Russell - All Rights reserved

So state your goals and put them front and center in your life.

My Goals

Here are some articles on goal setting that I found on this great site called www.MyGoalManager.com.

Requirements for Successful Goal Setting and Achievement

 by MyGoalManager.com

 Goal Setting is an extremely powerful technique for accomplishment, but for Goal Setting to really be effective requires more than just writing a list of dreams and filing it away. This article will present important steps that will help to define and achieve goals with more success.

 Benefits of Goal Setting

 Goal setting helps us determine our priorities, get organized, make big decisions, and realize our dreams.  The act of merely setting a goal brings about positive change for many people. When  you set a goal you are creating an exciting challenge for yourself. Almost all motivational experts incorporate goal setting as an important part of their programs.  The effectiveness of Goal Setting can be seen in the incredible accomplishments of people such as: Henry Ford who wanted to make cars affordable for everyone, Bill Gates whose goal was to have a computer in every household, and John F. Kennedy who set out  to put a man on the moon within a decade. There is a famous story about Jim Carrey who, while struggling as an actor in 1987, drove his car up on Mulholland Drive in the  Hollywood hills to think about the future. While sitting there overlooking the city of Los Angeles he wrote a check made out to himself for "acting services rendered" in the amount of $10 million. He  dated the check for Thanksgiving of 1995. Jim's Goal turned out to be conservative because by  the time 1995 rolled around he was making $20 million a movie.

 The objective of MyGoalManager.com is to direct the user through the entire Goal  process from definition to achievement. This Goal Achievement process  entails the following requirements:

1. Well formed Goal Statements
2. Breaking goals down into manageable Steps
3. Motivation and Commitment
4. Reminders and Keeping on track
5. Frequent Review and Re-assessment

 1. Well formed Goal Statements

The Goal Statement forms the basis for the entire process so careful attention should be placed on formulating a clear and accurate goal statement. A good way to remember how a goal statement should be defined is the old S.M.A.R.T. acronym used by many experts in goal setting. SMART stands for:

Specific
Measurable
Action-Oriented
Realistic
Tangible


The Goal should be specific enough so that we know exactly what we are striving for, measurable so we know exactly what is to be accomplished and when it has been reached, action-oriented declaring positive activity that will produce results, realistic in that it is practical and can be achieved given the limited availability of resources, and tangible meaning concrete and not vague. The goal statement  “Increase sales 25% by the end of the fiscal year without increasing advertising spending” is an example that follows these rules.

 2. Breaking down Goals into manageable Steps

Once we have a well-formed Goal Statement we need some direction to follow to achieve this Goal. While the goal “Increase sales 25% by the end of the fiscal year without increasing advertising spending” is a great goal statement, this is a monumental task without being broken down into smaller detailed steps. The creation of Goal Steps gives us an "Action Plan" that when completed will lead to Goal Achievement. Steps also allow for tracking of progress towards the goal. Goal Steps should be positive and not used to list obstacles that must be overcome which focuses on the negative. Negativity can kill motivation but there is power in positive thinking.

 3. Motivation and Commitment

 Motivation and commitment are what make us strive to achievement. They give us the push, desire, and resolve to complete all of the other steps in the Goal process. This motivation can be obtained by developing a personal statement that creates a high level of emotion and energy that guarantees achievement. One self help expert said that as a child he was kicked out of his local country club pool because he was not a member, in response he later made a goal that he would one day have a pool that is one foot bigger than that country club's pool. The motivation of being asked to leave the pool provided the necessary fuel for him to achieve this goal. Commitment creates more accountability and is what sets us on direct course to reach our goals. It may create costly negative consequences upon failure to attain a goal. Making a commitment might be something like having invested your savings in your new business which you will lose if it fails. Motivation and commitment are specific to your situation and life and only you can form statements that will ensure you reach your goal the quickest. The more personal you make your motivation and commitment statements for each goal, the more motivated you will be to accomplish your goal.

 4. Reminders and Keeping on Track

Reaching our goals requires persistence and regular attention. We need some sort of system to keep us reminded and accountable. MyGoalManager.com uses a combination reminder emails, calendars, and reports to keep users organized and on track. Sharing goals with others who can give you help and support is a highly effective way to increase your chances for success. If some accountability system is not used then we are likely to lose sight and fail.

 5. Frequent Review and Re-assessment

When we first sit down and start to define goals it can seem like a difficult and daunting task but over time it begins to get much easier. Patience is required. Goal Setting is definitely an ongoing process that is accomplished over time. Any goals program that defines goals and then ignores them will fail. All goals due in the next year should be reviewed at least once a week and daily if possible. The great thing about frequent review is that this forces us to make big decisions and determine priorities in our life. We should keep watch for goals that are not being achieved on time or for goals on which we keep extending the deadline.

 I hope this article will help you achieve your goals and give you more focus and direction. Good luck as you realize all of your greatest dreams. Click here to get started on your goals now!


MyGoalManager.com is an easy to use Goal Setting and Achievement System that directs you step-by-step through prioritized goal definition, plan of action formulation, motivation, reminders, and guidance reviews. MyGoalManager.com is owned and operated by Gruve International (http://www.gruveintl.com).


Editors and publishers are free to reprint this article as long as it's reprinted in its entirety and the signature line remains intact.
 

 Getting Organized for Achievement

 by MyGoalManager.com

 Getting and staying organized is critical to achieving your goals. A well organized person is more productive, has more free time, wastes less money, and experiences less stress. This article will outline a simple, effective,  and flexible system to help you get and stay organized by using a top down approach. This system will allow you to keep some of your current scheduling systems in place, if they are currently working for you, and makes suggestions with some new ideas and changes that can be made to make you more productive and organized.

Productivity isn't so much about getting more things done as it is about getting the right things done. Dr. Stephen Covey, who is author of the book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, has as one of his key beliefs to "begin with the end in mind" and says that goals give a framework for motivation. A top down approach to Time Management means that you start with your goals and work down to your smallest todo tasks. This approach to scheduling your time makes sure your priorities are really being observed and gives more meaning to even your smallest task. You may also find that some of your current activities are not needed or are misguided towards achieving what is really important to you.
 Top to Bottom Scheduling Breakdown:
 

Goals

Goal Steps

Email

Calendar/Todo List
 

1. Goals

Start by determining your true Goals and Prioritizing. Use MyGoalManager.com's Goals  Worksheet to build your prioritized goals list. Once you have your goals list you can create  well formed goal statements and set deadlines.
 

2. Goal Steps

The next step is to create a plan of action for your goals and develop timelines. Read more  about properly setting your goals and creating your plan of action for achievement in the article Steps for Successful Goal Setting and Achievement.
 

3. Email


Your email account is a great tool because its like an automatic todo list that is checked  on a regular basis. Emails that require immediate action should be addressed and then deleted.  Emails that require action at a later date should be recorded in your calendar then deleted. Always try to keep your inbox empty.
 

4. Calendar

Many people use a software calendar system such as Microsoft's Outlook, a PDA, or other online calendars to keep track of their appointments. Some people prefer a paper day planner or master list, the most important thing is to find whatever works best for you and stick to it.  One very effective method of keeping on track is your mobile phone. Most new phones have a built-in Calendars which is an excellent place to keep your todo list since it is almost always with you. If your in sales or some other profession that requires you to keep an extensive contact list and frequently schedule calls and meetings then you should also look into getting Contact Management Software.
 

 Now that you have a simple organizational structure set up all that is needed is a plan to follow to stay organized. Your Goals and Goal Steps should be reviewed at least once a day. MyGoalManager.com has a "Home Page" (designed to be made your  browsers home page so frequent goal reviews are automatic) which the perfect starting place  for each day. The system has an automated Goal Review which analyzes all your goals and  alerts you to items that need attention. The goal system also can send you email reminders  for your Goal Plan which place them in your todo inbox. You can create and modify your todo  lists and/or Day Planners from this goal review.

Good luck implementing these new organization methods. Click here to get started on your goals now!

MyGoalManager.com
info@MyGoalManager.com