"Without goals, and plans to reach them, you are like a ship that has set sail with no destination." Fitzhugh Dodson That quote says it all.
From athletes to business professionals, everyone seems to be talking about goal setting, and with good reason.
Having goals means you have a long-term vision. A vision you can reach through hard work and determination.
Goals fuel your desire to reach your dreams. They give you the inspiration necessary to aim for the stars. Goals help you take control of your life.
They help you focus on what's most important. Goals can help you get better organized and work more efficiently.
Goals help you be more self-confident and enthusiastic about what you're doing.
Everyone needs to have goals they are working towards each day. If your daily actions are not working towards your goals then it's time to make some changes.
If you're not getting what you want from life, chances are you are lacking in goals or are not actively working towards them every day.
Goals are not one size fits all. Your goals should be what you want; not what others want for you.
Your goals should be part of your long-term vision.
Where you see yourself in 1, 5 or 10 years from now. Your goals should motivate you. They should be attainable and specific.
Once you have goals, you can create a plan with short-term motivators to keep you going until you successfully reach your vision.
Using a journal can help you reach your goals. By writing down your goals, you are taking them from a desire or thought to written commitment.
Journaling your goals forces you to be accountable. It helps you stay motivated and focused. Nobody wants to write "I did absolutely nothing today that helped me reach my dreams".
By documenting your goals, you are able to plan and prioritize the steps to achieve success. You are able to track your progress and cross off items you've completed.
To ensure you're making the most of your goal reaching efforts:
Write in your journal every day. Take five or ten minutes each day to write about your goals and how you plan to achieve them. Document what you did during the day to bring you closer to your goals.
Not all goals have to be huge. Small goals you can reach quickly and easily will help keep you motivated. When you do have a big goal, break it into smaller mini-goals so it becomes more achievable.
Make sure your goals are working from most important to least important.
There is no right or wrong way to journal your goals.
Document your failures so you can look back and see what went wrong and how you can avoid it in the future.
Document your successes so you stay motivated and can look at them when feeling down.
If you run into an obstacle, journal about it. This can help you see ways to overcome it. Be sure to document how you solved the problem too!
The power lies in documenting the information and doing something every day to work towards your goals.
About the Author: The creator of this Journal, Alun Hill, is the owner of 32 profitable business. He has long credited a large part of his success to Journal keeping.
By following his notes and advice, you too can emulate this success.
If you would like further training or help, his website at AlunHill.com offers his free 70 page monthly magazine, showing many ways to improve your income and lifestyle.
The newsletter contains no adverts or affiliate links etc - just independent, usable, advice and help.
His many courses on setting up and running small businesses, asking "Would An Extra $1,000 A Month Help You?", are available at Tetmo.com. These have already sold over 250,000 copies, worldwide.
Alun can be emailed at alun@alunhill.com.
